This is the fourth installment of a series on growing our decision-making muscles:

I. Big Money, The Long Game, or Feeling Human
II. Did You Make the Worst Choice?
III. The Trouble With Joe
IV. Jan, The Masterminder -- Or Is She?

If it’s not a "yes," it’s a "no.”

A dear friend of mine has reminded me again today that I said this once upon time. She is generous enough to remind me as often as she thinks I need it. Which brings us to Jan and the Mastermind in our ongoing series about business mindset and making decisions.

As entrepreneurs, we very often face the dilemma of choosing between competing priorities. I presented a typical scenario in Big Money, The Long Game, or Feeling Human, which demanded a choice between The Hustle with Joe, The Growth with Jan, or The Recharge with yourself. Some respondents cleverly tried to choose more than one of these, which is what most of us as business owners are doing every single day. In Did You Make the Worst Choice, I illustrated using trains how choosing multiple options is worse than choosing one option that is not the best – it is the worst choice that can be made, and what the majority of us are battling at this very moment. In The Trouble With Joe, I outlined some deep misgivings I have about the temptation of pursuing The Hustle, and why it could erode our overall success, even if the questionable profits do actually materialize. I wrapped that one up with a promise to assess The Mastermind with Jan.

To refresh your memory, you and Joe were recently in an all day Saturday class led by Jan. She is a sought-after instructor and also runs a highly respected Mastermind, for which she only takes applications twice a year for very limited spots. Right now, she is laser focused on investment type Q, which has been piquing your interest. You are a committed wealth builder and you think Jan has exactly the knowledge and background to help you be very successful with investment type Q. However, it is a significant time and cash commitment. Plus, you have some misgivings about Q and you wish you had more confidence about taking the plunge. On the other hand, if you don’t apply for the Mastermind right now, you’ll have to wait at least six months before you can try again.

As you may recall, I asked for email responses on what readers would choose to do. A recurring theme was that one could always apply for the Mastermind next time around. Respectfully, that’s not true, and that justification does represent one of the flaws in the ways that Entrepreneurs typically think.

When it comes to deals, we tend to believe that this is the last one, or there will never be one like this again, or this is a once in a blue moon opportunity. When it comes to people and relationships, we tend to think that they will always be around.

I’d like to gently suggest that we reverse those two perspectives – there will always be another deal, or another scenario, or another opportunity. But people are like snowflakes – each one is unique and has a defined period of availability. There will never be another Jan - or your significant other, or your best friend, or your [fill in the blank]. For example, Jan might decide to take her own recharge opportunity and stop doing the Mastermind. I’ve seen that happen more than once. God forbid, something could happen to Jan to make her unable to continue the Mastermind, or something could happen to YOU to make you unable to participate.

My point is that the average Entrepreneur/High-Achiever mindset is that we take people for granted. Don’t do that. Don’t be the main character in the age-old story of working hard all your life to finally lift your eyes only to realize that you are alone, or that your relationships are damaged beyond repair. Sure, you may have accomplished an unfathomable lot. And with whom will you celebrate and enjoy?

Another tally mark in the “pros” column for the Mastermind is the other relationships you will almost certainly build should you become a member. Many of us have heard and used the term, “financial friends,” and these Mastermind groups typically have a very high concentration of potentially beneficial relationships. The likelihood of long-term success can increase significantly when spending quality time developing symbiotic relationships in close proximity.

I have to reflect that in our last installment, I made the statement that, “It doesn’t matter how great the deal is, it’s always the people that make it or break it.” I am saying the same thing here, but from the opposite side of the same coin.

While it may seem that I am advocating for choosing the Mastermind, we have not yet addressed some tally marks that belong in the “cons” column. Jan has communicated that she is highly focused on investment type Q at the moment, and that is what the Mastermind will be focused on. While you trust and believe in Jan, type Q is clearly not the right fit for your personality and passions. Cue my dear friend:

If it’s not a "yes," it’s a "no."

She tends to be right about this. Could we research and become excited about it? Probably. Could we make it work because we want to develop the relationships? Almost certainly. But why would we do that?

Allow me to state again that your Capital of Self – your time, your energy, your cognitive load, and your well-being – is your most precious and finite resource. I often teach about concepts like “Your Vital Center,” and the point is not to force a “yes.” Just like underwriting a deal or assessing a strategic decision, we’re not trying to “make it work.” We’re looking for what we can quickly exclude so that we can conserve our resources to dedicate to what we can confidently include.

Personally, I have spent a whole lot of time and energy “making it work” throughout my life and career. Now I am far more interested in waiting for the right opportunity rather than taking an opportunity and trying to make right.

Maybe Jan will continue with the Mastermind, and maybe next time around she’ll be working through an investment type that is more well-suited. This time, though, I am going to accept that it’s a “no” because it’s not a “yes.” Reminder: If you find yourself trying to be convinced of a “yes,” then you probably already have your answer.

Your powers of deduction have no doubt brought you to the realization that the only remaining choice is The Recharge. While it may seem cut and dried, I think that choice is the most worthy of exploration of them all. Let’s discuss it next week.

I still want to hear from you! If you disagree with my assessments, or if you’ve had a new lightbulb moment, let me know. Email me at hello@krisfleming.net and share your thoughts.

https://thegeniuscultivator.com/post/jan-the-masterminder