The idea was first captured in 1937 in the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  It’s a small group of people meeting regularly to:

• Support each other
• Challenge each other
• Bring new ideas forward to help each other

Being interested in the concept, I decided to form a group last year which would help me move through the transition from being employed, to looking for a job, to creating my company.  Four of us meet every 3-4 weeks via telephone for 90 minutes, and each of us talks about the progress we’ve made, the actions we’d like to take, and what support would be helpful from the others.  So far, the results are that each of us has valued the support of the group, and achieved important goals.  The only cost is our time, as we’re using a teleconference line graciously supplied by one of our members.

Here are the critical factors for a successful group:

• Small enough so that you can get to know each other personally, but large enough to have some diversity of thinking – I decided 4-6 people was the right size for us.
• Some elements of commonality of background to help quickly form relationships – Our group is formed from people who used to promote coaching at my former employer.
• Some elements of diversity so you get richer depth and breadth of ideas – Our group is two men and two women, physically located around the western US, each looking to take different steps in our lives.
• Being focused on helping each other get useful results.

Some groups will pay someone who facilitates the conversations and logistics, but given the backgrounds of the four of us we were able to do without.  And on the whole, we’ve found this to be quite useful!

If you’re interested in the concept, simply Google “MasterMind Group”; there’s plenty of resources out there.  Maybe this will be a valuable asset at an important point in your career where you’re looking for fresh ideas and personal support!

In general, people like to be helpful.  I suppose part of it is an expectation of getting something in return, but that’s not the core.

The fact is, you get a rush just from knowing you’ve done good.  It actually physically feels good to you, and in many cases that may be enough reward in itself.

Of course, we get rather cynical about all this.  Many charitable organizations prey on our need to be loved and to feel like we’re making a difference.  After a while we get the sense that maybe we’re not actually making the difference that we’d hoped, and that some of the unscrupulous types might be taking advantage of us.

That’s why Peter’s example is so powerful.  It’s about making a difference to someone here and now, in a way that makes a difference that you can actually see.

Here’s what we learn about giving:

• Let people see the difference they’re making, in as immediate a way as possible, and in the way that person values.
• Entering payment into the equation introduces a whole different dynamic – it becomes about the money rather than about the value delivered.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  People like helping.

As I said before, the act of giving has great value.  Remember that in your own life, and those of people who you work with.

Now it’s time to look forward:

• Where would you like to be a year from now?  Five years from now?
• What are your goals for your professional life, your family life, and your personal growth?
• Who can help you on this next step of your life journey?
• What other resources do you have available to help you?

Logically, we all know that there’s nothing really special about January 1st – this kind of introspection would be great to experience any time we have the opportunity.  But this day is a certain emotional event in our year, and for that reason is a good time to sit back and think about the big picture.

I’m not particularly a fan of new year’s resolutions, especially because our culture has become so cynical about them.  We focus on our failure to keep resolutions.

I’d rather focus on successes, on inspirations, on possibilities.

So let’s spend this period thinking about what magnificent possibilities are available for 2010, and beyond.  Here’s to looking forward!

Despite all that, I’ve been blessed with a great number of friends and supporters, a wonderful number of opportunities, and the love of my family.  If you’re going to lose your job and head off into a new career, it’s hard to ask for more.

Thank you.

Now let’s get to work on making 2010 a much better place!

Ten years I was employed in Hewlett-Packard, just beginning to discover this new emerging field called coaching.  I was managing a team that was embroiled in the whole Y2K issue, worried that all our hard preparation might not have been enough to ward off customer problems on January 1st.  As it turns out, things went remarkably well.

On New Year’s Eve 1999, we were captivated by all the celebrations taking place around the world.  We had CNN on TV nonstop for the entire day, and every hour was a new joy.  In the midst of industry growth and optimism – before the “high tech bubble” popped – all we had to look forward to was opportunity and excitement.

The industry downturn, and then 9/11/2001, changed our lives deeply: materially, mentally, spiritually.  We have a much different view of the world and our government now.  Other, more personal, events have become a part of my life and have sent me off on new journeys of discovery.

But it’s unbelievable to me that this decade has disappeared like a flash.  I still clearly recall the experience of “partying like it’s 1999.”  Is the next decade going to go even faster?

The big change, I think, is moving from a world of scarcity (hard to find good business strategy/operations jobs) to a world of abundance.  It’s now my challenge to build my future business based on all the need and opportunity that I perceive.

Another huge shift is the kind of support that I’m getting.  When you’re looking for a job, people:

• sympathize and empathize,
• usually don’t have much help for actually finding an open position, and
• are often more than willing to share their pessimism and scare stories.

On the other hand, when I talk about the creation of a new business, most people:

• help build my confidence in my own abilities,
• are genuinely interested to find out more, and
• are generous with ideas, pointers, and encouragement.

It certainly is scary to move away from a “comfortable” model to one that I’ve never directly experienced before.  I’ve observed, though, for many years, as my brother and friends have built their own businesses.  I hope, and believe, that I’ve learned enough to get going.  I’ve started my business plan and have been talking with a great number of coaches, coaching businesses, and coaching schools.  Possibilities are opening up and are very encouraging.

Here’s what I’m focusing on now, internally and externally:

• Keeping my optimism, fortitude, and focus;
• Creating a solid business plan so that I’m really clear on what I’m doing;
• Figuring out who my most important partners are going to be to get this off the ground;
• Getting lots of help and advice of people who are familiar with this space; and
• Being patient – I’m building a long term business, even if the next year is rather rocky.

Building a business isn’t for everyone, but I truly believe that this is the right decision for me at this point in my life.  This is how I’ll make my best contribution to the world, that part of me which has been aching to break out for the last decade.

But it’s only partially about the coach-skills training itself.  The other part is that it’s a big opportunity to build some important relationships with a coaching company, and to reconnect with some coaches I worked with in the past but never met in person.

What’s the problem?  Well, I’m starting to get a little concerned that maybe my expectations are too high for what’s going to happen.  It would be fantastic if this would lead to a big-time job opportunity – I really hope it does – but I can’t expect that.  If I do, most likely I’ll be quite disappointed.

So I’m forcing myself to focus on the relationship-building part of this, and the learning.  That will definitely happen, and anything above that is icing on the cake.

I can honestly say that I’m not upset about this.  Instead, it’s just the final acknowledgment that I need to say goodbye and move on with my life.

I’m incredibly lucky, actually.  Despite an interesting bout with a crown falling off my tooth Monday – got that all fixed up yesterday – I have my health and as many mental faculties as I’ve ever had.  More important, I have an incredible range of friends, colleagues, and supporters.  It’s amazing how much of a difference that makes for getting through the day.

And for the moment, I have a lot of energy and ideas.  Here’s the current priority list:

1. Complete the HP termination process.
2. Continue to monitor local job listings, looking for opportunities in business management, product line innovation, organizational effectiveness, and coaching.
3. Contact companies which deliver coaching as a primary service, to see if they’d be interested in hiring me as a coach.
4. Start developing the idea that I would independently consult on business planning/operations/effectiveness, connected with organizational coaching.
5. Explore an idea I had on coaching around sacred liturgical music.

But in order to do these effectively, I’ll have to close off a number of action items which are buzzing around my head, inbox, and task list.  I’ve been kind of letting that slide in the last three weeks, so I have to get back to being organized.

And today, my wife and I are going to start swimming regularly – a bit of damage was done to the diet while we were on vacation.  But it was such a great time with our daughter!

One was a piece entitled “You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies” by Yayoi Kusama.  Let’s see if I can try to describe it before giving you a URL.

It’s a completely black room, with mirrors on all surfaces.  As you walk (OK, stumble) through the room, you’re surrounded by a whole bunch of little LED lights hanging from wires.  They’re at all levels, and because everything is mirrored, you perceive that you’re completely surrounded ad infinitum by these lights.  And they slowly change color.

It’s quite disorienting, but fascinating.  It took a minute to collect my brain after getting out of there.

I found a video which does a decent job of showing you what this might look like: check this out.

Well, number one on my list is “Thank you.”  Although it costs nothing, it’s perhaps the most valuable gift you can offer anyone.  And it’s the fundamental tool of conveying gratitude from one person to another.

As 2008 draws to a close, I’d like to express my thanks to you, as someone who reads blogs, for helping me to keep my mind open and wits sharp.  I thank my manager for being one of the best supporters I’ve had in a long time.  I thank my teammates for being really sharp people, always willing to help even when I’m an absolute newbie.

I’d like to thank a whole bunch of really passionate coaches around the company who give me the emotional lift to be excited about my career even after thirty years.

And now it’s time to head off for the much-anticipate break.  Take care, all.