A Beginner's Guide to Hosting Your Own Mastermind
When I think about what it means to be a modern-day farm chick, I think about all the women in agriculture who wear so many different hats. Today’s farm women are more than farmers, more than mothers and more than someone’s employees. We are dreamers, writers, entrepreneurs and AGvocates, but often those titles get pushed aside because we are also book-keepers, chauffeurs, lunch-packers, parts-runners, meal planners, calf-feeders and house cleaners.
Raise your hand if you forget to take time for yourself and dive into what inspires you and brings you joy?
Are you really doing what you want to be doing? How do you measure happiness? How do you measure success? What is holding you back from doing the thing you really want to do?
Farm women juggle all the things that come with farm life, doing what we can, when we can. We are women who don’t fit a single stereotype and while no modern-day farm chick is the same, we all have the same heart and drive to preserve our rural lifestyle. And incredible thing happens when you put like-minded women like this in a room together. It’s inspiring, and motivating and lights a fire under your hind end.
Incredible things happen when you put like-minded women like this in a room together. It's inspiring, motivating and lights a fire under your hind end.
This past spring, I had the opportunity to mastermind with a group of rural women and it really changed how I looked at myself, my role on the farm and what I am capable of. I spent a few days journaling and discussing goals and ideas with other women in Ag. It was a place to share, discuss, ask for help and serve others. It inspired me to host my very own mastermind. Over 90 women gathered for conversation, food, drinks and community. It was so fun and inspiring; something I cannot wait to host again.
What exactly is a mastermind?
A mastermind group is a peer-to-peer mentoring group used to help members solve their problems with input and advice from the other group members. They are typically goal-oriented and success driven. They can be in-person or virtual. Typically, these groups are 4 to 8 people but can be as small as 3 or as large as 100. Members should understand your industry but do not necessarily have to BE in your industry.
Master-minding allows you to get honest feedback, practice leadership, get a fresh perspective and improve your people skills. The friends you make and the community you grow is unlike any other.
I highly suggest attending a mastermind event if you can. Can’t? Well then start your own! It’s not difficult and you don’t have to be a pro to host one.
Here are a few tips:
1. Decide how big you want your mastermind to be. Three people at dinner or much larger?
2. Create an intention and goal for the mastermind. Be clear on your why and why you want to host a mastermind.
3. Choose who you would like to invite. It can be as inclusive or exclusive as you like. Make sure you only invite people with an abundance mentality. People that are willing to share and help others.
4. Set a date and decide if the event will be in-person or virtual. Will it be reoccurring? How often will the group meet?
5. If in-person, find a venue that is comfortable and intimate. A place where everyone will feel at ease and happy to share.
6. Create a rough agenda. Prepare a series of questions about success,
happiness and goals to get the ball rolling. The purpose is to have meaningful conversations and dive deep.
7. JUST DO IT.
I cannot stress enough how important community is, especially for farm women.
Oh, and do me a favor, if you ever feel like you’re not enough, make a list of all the things (big and small) that you accomplish in a day. It’s probably a pretty dang, long list.
