Regarding the recent news about watermarks on AI text (see last week’s post), my mastermind recently roundtabled a discussion on the topic.
I thought this would be a spirited debate.
Every person in the group is an established thought leader in their space, a published (or soon to be) author, and has hit a specific readership count and revenue threshold through their thought leadership.
Hilariously enough, most of them said, “This isn’t a big deal, everything is AI anyway – we are just charging ahead!”
That said, I do think some brands will benefit from capitalizing on the opportunity to build even more trust. We surmised three of us are in that bucket.
So, masterminds are in my mind this week and I thought of passing on a few tips from my own experience. I wasn’t a great student in school but I’ve learned to be a better student at life.
I sent this to my mastermind before we started. I’m hoping it helps you too, no matter who you’re with.
1. Barring an emergency, focus on the outcomes you want instead of solving a problem.
We rarely notice how much our circumstances think for us. Every ounce of energy you burn on cleanup is energy you’re not putting toward the outcomes you want. Fix the flat tire, sure. Keep the final destination the main thing.
Credit to Shane Parrish and his excellent book, Clear Thinking, for that one.
I also love this quote by journalist Walter Lippmann: "Where all think alike, no one thinks very much."
The way I see it, problems yield fixes and outcomes yield strategies. The different strategies, based on other people’s experiences, are what you actually go for.
2. Show up like it’s your own group.
Bring the same energy you would if you were the one running the meeting. If it were your group, you wouldn’t roll in late or half-present, so don’t do that in someone else’s, let alone one you invest in.
I am amazed at people who pay to join a mastermind and show up late, pessimistic, or depressed. Raise your own standard and you’ll receive more benefits, opportunities, and insights.
3. Listen actively, especially when it isn’t your turn.
In most groups you’ll spend the majority of your time participating in other people’s hotseats.
Listen for the one spark, the single idea that can be a catalyst for you. Sometimes it’s just a passing comment, or a book or app recommendation. If you only look for long, drawn-out answers, you’ll miss the sparks.
Every hotseat that isn’t yours is also a mirror. Use it to look at your own business through a different lens. When someone digs into their pricing, their model, or whatever, quietly ask yourself the same question.
It’s a hotseat, not a lounge chair.
4. Contribute as much as you hope to receive.
Years ago I was speaking at a conference alongside entrepreneur Andy Traub. He said, "If you’re not growing from your mastermind, something is wrong with your mastermind or something is wrong with you. It’s probably you."
Be active in your group. Offer your insight freely. Be the person the facilitator is glad to have in the room.
Early in my career, contributing hard to a group I joined opened doors, connections, publicity, and paying clients. Several members told me they felt like having me in the group was like having another leader.
One more note on this. Life will happen. I went through a divorce while I was participating in one of my first masterminds, and some days it was hard to even log on.
My friend Dana Malstaff says something I’ve never forgotten: "You can’t cry out your intelligence."
However heavy the season is, your brain still works. You still know what you know. Give your gift anyway.
5. Be kind, not nice.
Nice avoids the hard truth to keep things comfortable. Kind tells you the truth because it wants you to win. If I have food stuck in my teeth from lunch, I don’t want someone to be nice and avoid telling me. I want them to do the kind thing and tell me.
This does not mean you need to be harsh or cruel. If it’s your turn to weigh in, have the courage to say the useful thing. When it’s your turn to receive it, drop the defense.
Confident people can admit a weakness, acknowledge that someone else might be better at something, and ask for help without flinching.
Outcome over ego, both yours and the person you are helping.
Take even just one of these points into any room you’re in right now, and I think you’ll see an improvement. If not, the room might not be right for you and that is okay.
Onward and upward,
Mike Kim
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