Getting Started
1. Pay to Play or DIY? Yes, we all love a bargain and running a business means cash is always short, but accountability groups are a perfect example of “you get what you pay for.” By paying a relatively nominal amount (anywhere from a few hundred to few thousand dollars, depending on the length of the program — some are a year long!) you and your co-members become invested in the experience and are more likely to show up. Think about when you sign up for a 6 am boutique fitness class and then have to drag yourself out of bed so you don’t forfeit $25 — it’s the same strategy. A payment also goes towards a leader who guides the conversation, makes sure everyone participates and can help the group with mastermind sessions. A few virtual options to try: PowerWeek, AccountabilityWorks, and Savor the Success. Or go to Meetup.com and search for “accountability groups” or “Mastermind groups” in your area. Local business chambers and co-working facilities might also be able to point you towards a group.
Alternatively, there’s the option to create your own. Once you gather a small group (Dawn suggests two to five people for phone and online meetings, four to eight people for in-person meetings), set a defined trial period of a few months, and set times for weekly check-ins, calls and meetings. Set up an easy, mutually accessible way to check in (like a private Google doc or folder) and create a Google group for email messages and reminders.
Need members? Decide if you prefer local and in person or a group that connects via phone and online to help guide your search. For a local group, try posting on Meetup, Facebook or LinkedIn, or post a notice at a local co-working facility or your chamber of business. Even your accountant or lawyer might have other small business owners they can connect you with.