Before you drink the water ready to give a credit card to the next business coach or marketing guru, let’s take a moment to historically reflect on networking organizations. One of the original undeniable completely successful groups trained 12 imperfect human beings, to carry a marketing message that has lasted centuries. The leader himself gained such renown that our concepts of time are marked with before or after his existence. Regardless of our religious or philosophical beliefs, one cannot deny the facts that Jesus had masterminding methodology in management talents and relationship skills that could rival any sales strategist today. Factually, such mirrored skills could be applied to any business, service or organization. But more importantly, they can be applied to the sole serial entrepreneur. How many of you actually have taken time to make 12 strategic partners who are in your corner?
In an old management book, Jesus as CEO, Laurie Beth Jones, observed that if you have not been tested by fire, a person does not not know who they are, but they also cannot lead others.” In the marketing of our businesses, we need to be able to lead—to convey our message and engage others for referrals. Reflecting on what we know from stories about Jesus, despite His confidence, He was never arrogant. Applied to common mantras of today, he never labeled people “winners and losers.” He never said to an agnostic, “your not signing here proves you are too stupid to drink the water.” He knew that people would come to him, when they were ready… and there are countless stories of how he turned people around and earned their trust. What we gain from the story is that developing quality referral partners takes time, hospitality and in depth relationship to grow business contacts that truly yield profitable partnerships. You must be personally committed to their success as well as your own.
The disciples were ordinary folks of the day. Several were business men, one a politician, one a banker but none were theologians. Some were “educated” and others were illiterate. For today this means than none of these referral partners were gung ho from the get go about Jesus. They were human full of failure, faults, mistakes, mis-steps as well as success. The Bible documents that Jesus both taught these people as well as were taught by conversations and experiences with them. For the business networker, the legacy lessons are simple. Find 12 professionals that you know, want to like and are willing to trust as well as forgive for their humanity or occasional mishaps. Ensure within that group of people are examples of the disciples, both seasoned diplomats as well as the doubting Thomas. You need personalities to encourage you forward and those who can challenge and hold you back. And several to help play devil’s advocate with your business brainstorms. Because as one of the big mantras goes, its “truth that sets you free”. What I find in sitting down with many business owners and consulting clients is its the thing they most don’t want to hear, talk about and run from that is likely the key to greater business success. They would rather run off blindly in a direction of their dreams than actually follow a statistically proven business development plan to grow their business. Some would rather flit from group to group looking for that big sale instead of staying committed to one group and developing relationships that grow business.
Now as for your role within this mastermind group of disciples for your business, we must take away from Jesus’ life lessons the “higher power” responsibilities. Jesus served as a gate to “the way”. He played a nurturing role accepting people where they were and and lighting the way for them to their destinies. As a mastermind member, you must be willing to think about how to interact with members of your group taking their goals into consideration. How can you help people become their very best selves and help them achieve their business goals in exchange for them helping to carry your business message? Practically, this means who are you introducing them to for business or education? Both, responsibilities have value for helping entrepreneurs grow their business.
Now much of what Jesus gave away was free, but there was considerable cost to those who bought. Most of their disciples gave their lives for gaining their souls. Business development is like that. It’s easy to get much advice and assistance for free, but in order to grow your business, at some point you must invest not only time and energy, but at some point carefully budgeted and planned dollars in other professional’s businesses. You must stop wasting professional’s time talking about your worries and invest in the person offering practical solutions. This raises the question, within who are you investing? Are you investing in the one that can speak to the masses or are you helping the one that really gave you the stepping stones on your professional path. The universe rewards givers and can only give back to you what you give to others. And after two years of running this group, observations are that people who are giving to others are growing. People just coming wading in the water are not. Thus, in closing, these principles are the essentials of a good mastermind group and your proactive role in participating.
