This is an old picture, somewhere around late 2017, but I remember how I felt when I took it because I felt alone. I was smiling, but I felt alone. I was pretty sad.

I was very much IN my business, and things were going well. I was seeing success, and I was growing. "I should be happy" was on repeat in my head yet I felt like I didn't have anyone to bounce ideas off of who had the time or even wanted to listen.

I spent a lot of time with businesses in my community, but I wasn't sure how to talk to them about what I was experiencing while building my business nationally. I was helping them try to keep their doors open.

I remember coming home from conferences with a magical butterfly-like feeling inside me about everything I learned. But I felt like I had no one to share it with who would give me more than 5 minutes.

I remember feeling like my consulting business was "smallpox" compared to my other local business I was devoted to with my spouse at that time.

I was reminded subtly and sometimes not subtly that when I was prioritizing my business, I was "taking away" from the other, more important things.

I am not telling you this story for pity. I want to tell you this story because it was around this time that I joined my first mastermind (small business cohort) after meeting the facilitator at a conference, Mike, who would later become one of my closest friends.

He and I chatted on the phone after connecting at the conference, and then I joined his business group, even though at the time it felt like a huge risk and a stretch.

Everyone runs masterminds differently. It's not a regulated club or organization. Some have tons of people, some have a few. Some are super expensive, some aren't. Some include training and in-person events, some don't.

I am not exaggerating when I say joining that first mastermind changed the course of my life and business forever.

I made friends who were in similar but different businesses/industries. I felt like I wasn't alone for the first time in a long time.

Suddenly, I had a group of 10 friends who really wanted to hear about the challenges in my business and problem-solve and cheer for me. I had a built-in business coach who wanted to brainstorm with me. I made best friends, travel buddies, and people I ended up calling when I was mangled by life later on.

I have chills while writing this because it's the truth.

I can attribute that business group I joined in 2018 to my first 6-figure year, and then the next, and the next. I can attribute the start of my podcast to that group which is now the top 2% of listened to podcasts worldwide. It gave me power to see things in myself that I never thought I could see, and it stretched me.

It wasn't the specific people I met. It was the fact that I had a facilitated environment to grow with others in a healthy non-conventional way.

This morning, my very supportive partner, Kat, and I were chatting about the mastermind (business coaching group) that I run, host and facilitate, while they were stretching on the floor and I was journaling, drinking my coffee.

"I love my mastermind so much... and I have 2 spots open still, and I am closing it no matter what this week. I really want the right people to fill them," I said.

Kat paused, and then asked me, when I first started these groups, why did I feel so passionate about it––what was at my inner core WHY?

I thought for a second.

It was this.

I have a lot of knowledge to share, yes. The trainings are outstanding. The expert speakers I bring in are impressive as hell. I made it super freaking affordable for accessibility, yes.

I think about my mastermind attendees often, I care about their growth. I want to see them use our group as a stepping stone to whatever the next level is for them, the same way I did.

Many of our members are building HUGE things. Getting speaking engagements, building courses, developing passive income streams, and guesting on their favorite podcasts.

But when I boil it down, MOST of what I have done in life/business grows from a great desire to let people know they aren't alone in their desire for more, in their challenges, and they deserve to be celebrated and encouraged.

They can do it. I know it because against all odds, I did it.

I saved my whole damn life with my business.

And I didn't do it alone.

You are not alone.

I have 2 spots that I am DETERMINED to fill with the exact right people. You can hear firsthand what some of my mastermind folks have to say about our time together here.

If you have any interest and want to know if it's a good fit, just reply here. Happy to jump on the phone or have a *no pressure* email conversation too.

​<< If you're interested, fill this out now >> ​

The doors will close this week.

Lauren V. Davis ​P.S. Curious about working together? See what my clients say. I would love to show you the encouragement and energy you deserve. ​ Links you might be looking for: Want to chat or brainstorm your business? ​Book a call to chat!​

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P.S. Here are some more comments from mastermind members that came in today that made me shed a happy few tears... And no I didn't pay them or ask them to say these nice things. lol!

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