We just had our first Roundtable 2014 meeting. Orlando this time. I passed around the signup sheet. The first person who wanted to go was a brand new member from Asia. 
I’d never met him before. He’s a serial entrepreneur with a thriving business in Japan. His introduction surprised everyone:
“I asked to go first because I have two confessions to make.
“Confession #1 is, I just closed the doors on my second business. It was bleeding cash and I was never quite able to make it work, so I’ve just finished shutting it down.
“Confession #2 is that my wife left me. She found another man and she’s with him now. She’s moved on.”
My goodness. Now that’s an introduction.
“I was feeling sorry for myself for a long time. But something I’ve learned is to look at the things I tell myself and ‘turn it around.’
“Ever since I acknowledged that, I stopped being a victim. I got my power back. So I wanted to tell you all that today.”
It’s only 8:30am on the first day, this guy has flown here from halfway around the world, and this is how he’s introduced himself to 30 total strangers. This is how our meeting has begun.
Everybody’s staring at him with their eyes as big as saucers. ‘I can’t believe you just did that.’ I said, “Dude, that took guts. You must carry your balls around in a wheelbarrow.”
His vulnerability shifted the atmosphere in the room. I’ve been in other mastermind groups where you would not DARE say something that vulnerable, where nobody takes off their gladiator suit, ever. Especially not at 8:30am on the first day.
Nobody judged him for what happened. Who in the room has NOT had a failed business? Who in the room has NOT botched a relationship?
Suddenly, our meeting room on the 3rd floor of the Orlando Science Center (cool spot for a mastermind by the way) became a SAFE space. Members could share anything they wanted without fear of pretense.
Which opened up a space where 22 businesses could “get naked” with each other, without fear – which as we all know is the only way to get the advice you truly need.
A few others had a rough year as well. Four or five are up 30% to 100%. A fourth of the members have the potential to revolutionize the very industry they live in. A couple of ‘em may forge altogether new industries. All in all, an incredibly intense three days of Iron Sharpens Iron.
Before you can be honest with others, you have to be honest with yourself. What belief could YOU turn around, to set yourself free?
Perry Marshall
Photo by Bryan Todd
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.