Feedback - what it's like to work together

Having worked one-on-one with Angela previously through her marketing support programs, I was interested when I found out about her Masterminds.

A small business owner for more than a decade, I often feel quite alone with thoughts running in circles in my own head when considering the pros and cons of different elements I want to work on in my business. There is no one really interested in me or my business or there to help me make decisions. Or cheer for me when I have done something well or achieved a goal.

I have used a business coach previously but I find it becomes quite introspective and does not allow for expansive thinking and different points of view. I have also worked in a mentoring / workshop group before and found the shared experiences in such a group valuable.

So when Angela told me about the Circle, I was keen to join.

I didn’t have any fixed ideas or goals when I started, but 12 months down the track I am astounded at what I have achieved!

I have unearthed dreams and goals that had been shelved for years and have implemented them! I have interacted with a giving and generous group of women who all care about each other’s successes and hurdles and who are willing to share wholeheartedly.

I have experienced two great retreats packed full of activities and exercises that get the creative juices going. And have had access to an extensive range of tools to help me build my business through undertaking practical and simple steps.

And, meeting my circle fortnightly for a year has given me knowledge and insights into areas that I would otherwise have no experience of and has given me the opportunity to connect deeply with a circle of motivated business women. I’ve been kept me on track and accountable.

I highly recommend Angela’s Mastermind to any woman who is starting out or changing direction in business who is willing to both share with and accept help from others.

I’ve already signed up for my next year! See you in a circle!

I’ve had a personal executive coach before and that was a little helpful but a Mastermind is much better.  I didn’t always think my old coach ‘understood’ my challenges juggling everything and/or the challenges of running a real business (versus being a one person consultant).  With this Mastermind, I know that the likeminded and experienced business women in our group really ‘get it’ more and when four people tell you that you are great /right/ wrong/ whatever, you believe them. When you have the opportunity to be regularly exposed to four different perspectives, at least one of them will resonate on any particular issue.

Personally – I’ve often felt some things were not quite right in my business, but couldn’t quite work out why and therefore what to do about it. My Mastermind collaborators have helped me to drill down much deeper to identify what the real issues and causes are … which then helps work out what to do about it.  I have improved clarity and therefore, increasing self-confidence.

And business wise – I’ve had my sanity restored through having a sounding board to work out “Am I imagining things? Is it just me? What is reasonable/not reasonable?” I’ve developed different and better ways of approaching things, how to prioritise, how to listen better, how to think more broadly, deeply and creatively, how to communicate better. I’ve improved my sales skills too.

If you want unconditional support and a different perspective (or the honest truth!) from a group of like-minded ladies who understand the ups & downs and challenges of running a business … who can help you fine tune your strategies and act as a sounding board (and reality check) for your new ideas, who can provide great advice on everything from how to handle cranky clients or difficult employees, how to prioritise and juggle everything on your plate, how to evaluate opportunities versus jumping onto the next bright shiny thing as well as providing the space to share your success stories.

Angela’s unconditional love and support and honest feedback and bloody persistence in drilling down and insisting that things can and should be different – provides the reassurance and confidence to make the necessary changes to my business. She has an amazing ability to ask the right questions and keep focused on the important things necessary to make our businesses successful. She gives us the confidence to go make it happen!

All I can say is join one of Angela’s Masterminds – Just do it!