A ‘mastermind’ is a meeting between a small group of business owners, where each person talks about a specific issue they’re having, and everyone offers advice and suggestions based on their experiences and knowledge. It’s a really effective way to get a different perspective on your business and to consider things you may not have thought of.

I participate in a small mastermind with some local companies and have found it really helpful, so when I saw that business and lifestyle expert Natalie Sisson was running an event in London, I knew I had to go.

Natalie’s business is The Suitcase Entrepreneur, and her focus is on helping people to find their freedom, either at home or while travelling. I read her book last year and have been enthusiastically following her podcasts and participating in her online community.

My ultimate goal is to be able to work from anywhere, to see the world and take my laptop so I can earn money as I go. Remote and virtual working is still a strange concept for a lot of people, as they’re used to traditional office life.

The format of the mastermind involved Natalie sharing some of her tips for business, outsourcing and improving productivity and getting the most out of life. Then each attendee had 30 minutes to talk about what they did and what they were struggling with.

The other participants had come from all over the world and several of them work with international clients, which is what I want to do. Some were like me, and still in the early stages, while others were looking to grow or niche their offering.

Everybody was positive and supportive and it was amazing to be with like-minded people who don’t think you’re crazy for wanting to travel around in a camper van and work as you go (in fact, a couple of them already have!)

What I got from the Mastermind

The group was so welcoming that I felt comfortable by the time it was my turn in the hotseat. However, I was still surprised by my own hesitancy to really open up about what I wanted. With some gentle prodding, though, I got a lot of clarity and a definite plan to use my strengths and do what I enjoy most.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be refining my offering and focusing more on my niche. I want to work with high-impact entrepreneurs around the globe. These are people who are working to make positive changes in their community and improve the lives of others.

I learned such a lot from the day and heard about some really inspiring businesses. I’ve made some great connections who’ll hopefully become friends, and I’m looking forward to hearing about how they get on.

We finished off the day with drinks at the exclusive Shoreditch House and then dinner at Pizza East (check it out if you’re in the area!) and it was nice to chat more with everyone. I’d highly recommend participating in a mastermind and I’m looking forward to my next one already.

Have a look at http://www.suitcaseentrepreneur.com to find out more about lifestyle and business freedom. I’ve given myself six months to be location independent!