#unemployedmexican

[planetboyrn]

Retreats: I used to...

Retreats. I used to think these were for people who were missing something. Lacking a tool or a part of one's life. I used to think that it was for hugs...and tears...and on the oddball retreats dancing around a fire in your underwear.

I used to.

And then I opened my mind. I allowed myself to receive and to revel in all that could be if I just allowed. I have a good friend named Sam Horn. She actually invited me to my first real retreat. It was at Morro Bay in California and at first I had visions of touchy feely, kleenex boxes and lots of hugs. Well...it was all that. And more.

I met people I would otherwise not have. I ran into a friend from Washington, D.C., Marsha Ralls. I forged new bonds. I committed to being better. I held myself accountable. 

I

Had

A

Blast.

I grew through the experience and I regret that it took me this many years to unveil the power that a retreat can be...if we just allow it.

My thoughts before the retreat and my thoughts after are like Mars and Venus...night and day...

And I'm glad I stretched myself.

What are you gonna do to stretch yourself?

[planetboyrn]

Rage against the dying of the light...

The other day I was watching daytime TV. Not the norm for me but I took it for what's it worth. OK...it wasn't worth all that much but I was sitting in a waiting room with my daughter for her turn for a knee MRI.

But this isn't about the MRI.

It's about Don Rickles. Don is a comedian. An old school one at that. Like...reeeaallly old school. He's 87.

He was a guest on The View I think...I forget...it was one of those silly daytime shows. He is introduced...and he comes out from backstage very slowly. Bent over a bit. Kind of a shuffle walk. He had trouble getting into his chair. He was so kyphotic that he had to strain to look up at the hosts until he was in his seat.

But that's still not what this is about.

See, the lady in the chair next to me, prob in her 60's, said something like..."well, look at him go! At least he's still got his mind!"

Don was funny. Sharp as a tack.

And here is my question.

Is having our mind good enough when we are 70, 80 or 90? Is having a sound mind, and NOT a sound body acceptable?

I say bullish*t. I say no.

I say you'll have to keep me down with straps because I refuse to go gently into the good night. I refuse to be of sound mind and be "OK" with forsaking my body. I say fight. I say rage. I say go down with a sound mind...and a freakingly kick ass and sound body.

CrossFit. Porvida. Rage folks...because I believe that old age should burn and rave at the close of day....

Please share if you agree.

[planetboyrn]

Got goals?

Do you have them? 90 day goals? The things that you want to accomplish and "check off" for the 3rd quarter of 2013? If you are a business owner then the quarterly goals are usually a key part of not only creating alignment within your company but also giving staff something to aim for...a "touchdown" or "win" for everyone to get their eyes on and work together towards.

But they are also important for personal satisfaction. On a personal level isn't it nice to have something we are striving for? Maybe they are as simple as:

1. read 1 book each month

2. give 18 hours of my time to my fav cause

3. schedule and have 4 datenights with my spouse

Boom...goals. Things to reach for and things that will have impact on me when at the end of the quarter I can say "YES!!! Done! I am better for it and accountable." It feels good...it gives meaning and direction...it gives us purpose.

So folks...I'll ask you again...

Got goals?

[planetboyrn]

What makes a good mastermind group?

I thought I'd follow on to the Mastermind post and dig a little deeper into what exactly they are and do.

There are a few key components of these groups that I personally look for, and these are meetings, to be kept accountable, support system and of course, brainpower!

Meetings. For EO (Entrepreneurs Organization) and C12 we have a monthly meeting. EO is 4 hours long and we have a preplanned agenda full of relevant topics related to our business and/or personal lives. The mantra here is "trust and respect" and as such my EO "forum", or board of advisors, are a group of fellow 'treps I can share some really deep stuff with. It's freakin' awesome and to miss forum is usually taboo! C12 is usually 7-8 hours. It is Christ focused and while the 'tone' is not quite as deep as EO, the value is just as incredible. EO and C12 meetings are both structure and have content relevant to us as entrepreneurs. There is rarely a free for all day. We come in to these meetings expecting to learn, grow and share.

Accountability. It's easy for most entrepreneurs to get distracted. Really easy. So the accountability factor both EO and C12 provide is 2nd to none. Knowing I have to report back to my peers keeps me in check. And I need that. Plus having peers to bounce things off when I am stuck is priceless.

Support structure. Who better to lean on then fellow peers who have been there, done that, failed and got the t-shirt? It's hard to share business woes with my barber...or talk hiring practices with mom...or how I'm gonna make payroll with my sister. The support is incredible and knowing that when it's good...and bad...that I have a group of peers to share with. Again...priceless.

Brainpower. Wow. This deserves it's own posting. The combined knowledge and expertise of my peers in these groups is often intimidating. It's often jawdropping for me to know I can share ideas from a $500mm (1/2 billion) sized company CEO and get real, relevant feedback. The combined experience share between our masterminds is truly an awesome thing to be a part of. 

So there you have it. These are the things important for me as I dig into mastermind groups. I want to be surrounded by successful entrepreneurs who can share how we balance it all...AND...grow killer businesses.

Why do you want or need a mastermind group?

Cheers to building better businesses!

[planetboyrn]

The power of the mind...Mastermind that is

Do you belong to a "mastermind group"? Have you ever thought of one, considered it or wondered why one would do this?

I personally think these are fantastic options, especially for entrepreneurs. Because as 'treps we are well aware that nobody really understands us. Our motives...our erratic behavior...our willingness to accept and take risk. So we join special groups. Groups of like minded individuals who share the same drive and the same risk/rewards that come from being an entrepreneur.

I suppose 1st we must figure out WHAT we are looking for in a mastermind group. Is it a place to vent? A place to share best business practices? A place to be held accountable? A place to feel accepted? Well...I would suggest to you that the best 'trep mastermind groups are ALL those and then some. In fact, the ones I belong to and owe a tremendous amount of my personal and professional growth to is called "EO". Or, Entrepreneurs Organization. It's been called "the justice league for entrepreneurs" by Forbes magazine. But in reality...it just plain rocks. 

Then there's the flipside. See, I also belong to C12. Another entrepreneurial group but the beauty of C12 is our commitment to our faith and how we instill as much not only into our lives...but into our business. I love it. One of my biggest takeaways from C12 is the fact that I know that my business' are there for a greater purpose...beyond profit. To glorify God and put to use the tools He has given me to succeed.

Both EO and C12 have filled a part of my life that helps make me better. A better businessman, a better person, a better dad and husband, and a better follower of God's word. Who doesn't wanna be better?

I'm blessed...and I'm grateful.

Mastermind groups...wow...what a concept.

[planetboyrn]

Got scale?

I had a fantastic call with a young trep yesterday. Was wanting to chat about a new startup. The startup?

A CrossFit box.

But here's the cool thing and the stuff that lights my fire. See, the convo wasn't about leases or equipment purchase...it wasn't about how many members do I need or how do I set up a blog...it was about building a business. That's stuff that can be found for free by using Google. 

And it was so refreshing.

It's my opinion and experience after talking with hundreds of nascent entrepreneurs, many of whom are new affiliates, that we often have it all backwards. The simplest question to ask before jumping into any business is why you wanna do it. Then what are you creating? Is this a lifestyle biz or a growth biz? Are you building a 1 story house or a skyscraper.

aka: does it, will it and do you want it to SCALE.

And one of the best...key indicators for scale? Gross profit.

Having mentored a slew of treps in a variety of industries, from real estate, to wealth management, to tech and PR...the key metric we often look at when mentoring and helping achieve growth is can it scale and to distill even more...can we hit $1 million and beyond in gross revenue.

So...to all my fellow treps out there...these are two great questions to start with and the ones that I personally care about the most...WHY? and SCALE?

Food for thought...now go crush it!

[planetboyrn]

Get unemployed...

Seems the moniker of "Unemployed Mexican" is taking taking a little toe-hold. I actually am kinda diggin' it. In fact, as I read more and more about what "success" is, it is usually wrapped around a dollar figure or working a very minimal amount of hours per week...then a step by step map or process on how to do it.

Hooray for all that. 

I kinda share the mindset that when we do what makes us happy the unemployment is a joyful side effect. And there is no map.

I could be coaching FT at our CrossFit box.

I could be nursing FT at an area hospital.

I could be serving FT as a US Army officer.

I could be CEO'ing FT at our staffing firm.

I could be manning a phone FT for our non-profit. 

But that doesn't rattle my cage. My "work" is not actually work. It's joy. I spend the largest chunk of my time as a regional director for Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Accelerator program. I also chair a local, San Antonio based Accelerator program as well. I get to spend my time mentoring, speaking to and just hanging out with early stage entrepreneurs and God willing play a small role in their success. And it's all volunteer.

So the truth is...I AM an Unemployed Mexican. And I firmly believe it's a true state of being...called happiness...that is not defined by $$, stuff or 'paper'.

My challenge to you...get unemployed.

Porvida!