Breakthrough The Messy Middle

The messy middle part of business growth can feel like a roller coaster, with high highs and low lows. It’s an inevitable stage that all businesses must go through.

During this period, challenges appear around every corner. Growth stagnates, cash flow dwindles, and the talent pool withers. Exhaustion is overwhelming, and stress accumulates with little to no chance of reprieve.

The only way out of the messy middle is to press through it and come out the other side stronger than before.

One thing we know for sure—what got you here won’t get you there.

The Solution? The Messy Middle Mastermind

Mastermind groups are incredibly effective for moving through the messy middle stage of business growth.

Not only do masterminds provide support from colleagues who share similar experiences, but they allow you to get objective advice from experts in their field who know how to navigate these kinds of challenges.

Pushing through the messy middle isn’t easy—but surrounding yourself with the right people makes all the difference!

Q1 2024 Messy Middle Mastermind Registration is OPEN.

Interested in participating in upcoming Masterminds? Submit your application below.

The Messy Middle Mastermind is a collaborative, collective experience where an exchange of ideas occurs among a network of 6–10 business owners from various industries with similar challenges.

Each Mastermind member is hand-selected to ensure fit for optimal group dynamics.

Complete the application below if you would like to be considered for membership to The Messy Middle Mastermind

“If you’re not setting time aside to grow your business, this is a great way to start doing that without any effort.” ~ Mastermind Member

 

FAQs

Got questions? We’ve got the answers!

The Messy Middle is the time in your business between start-up and smooth sailing. It generally occurs at around $350K -$500K, then about $750K to $1M, and once again at approximately $3-4M. It’s often punctuated by stagnant or slowed growth, dwindling cash flow, a withering talent pool, and missed opportunities. The exhaustion experienced by you and your team from what was once temporarily extended work hours is now untenable. At this point in your business, you realize that what got you here is no longer working. The strategies you use to build your business won’t get you to the next level.

That’s an excellent question. After all, your time is valuable, and you want assurance that the mastermind is a match for you and your business.

Members of The Messy Middle Mastermind share common characteristics, such as:

  • 5+ years in business
  • Proven business mode
  • Aptitude and appetite to continue growing
  • Revenue of $350K+
  • Team of 3+ (employees and/or subcontractors)
  • Desire to balance growth, scalability, and lifestyle with business growth

Also each member is hand-selected to ensure fit. (Apply here.)

“The quality of the conversation is really excellent. Not a lot of groups for this size of business.”    ~ Mastermind Member

Every member’s experience is different; however, the probabilities include:

  • Accountability: The regularity of the group meetings, sharing commitments, and reporting progress (generally 1-2X per month) creates a responsive structure.
  • Collaboration: Goals are accomplished more easily through cooperation, contribution, and respect.
  • Feedback: The willingness to give and receive advice forms a basis for—and enhances—improvement. After all, growing your small business in a silo is bad for business.
  • Resources: Tools such as workbooks, checklists, and information are readily available to strengthen your business.
  • Support: Progress towards goals is more manageable with encouragement, help, perspective, and advice.
  • Facilitation: A well-run meeting guides productivity and success for its participants.
  • Structure: Each meeting is organized and optimized around a specific agenda that creates flow and reduces the risk of chaos, confusion, and running overtime.

“You can’t do what you do for other people for yourself. The diversity of people, and the different types of businesses, gives you that mirror back.” ~ Mastermind Member

Jackie Nagel, the founder of Synnovatia, sets the agenda and guides the discussion. And she comes with 25+ years of experience and expertise working with entrepreneurs aught in the “messy middle.”

The Messy Middle Mastermind is a 3-month commitment of bi-weekly 75-minute meetings. Additionally, a question or action to consider around the micro-focus is published weekly, along with a series of thoughtful and curious questions to serve as triggers for thinking clearly and strategically about the achievements of the past week and the plans for the week ahead. It’s up to you how much, or little time you want to give it. 

                “The value you’re going to receive from the minimal time commitment is a no-brainer.”                    ~ Mastermind Member  

Each quarter, a theme or discussion is included focused on topics vital to growing and scaling your organization through The Messy Middle. This includes strategy, growth planning, implementation, systems thinking, scaling, talent acquisition, etc.

The Messy Middle Mastermind meetings for Q1 2024 are held every other Friday via Zoom from 8:00–9:15 a.m. PT (11:00–12:15 p.m. ET)

Q1 2024  meetings are  01/12 – 01/26 – 02/09 – 02/23 – 03/08 – 03/22.

Member size is limited to 6–10 members to allow each entrepreneur ample opportunity to discuss.

The cost is $675.00/quarter and includes biweekly meetings, a private group for ongoing discussions, and full access to Jackie’s vault of workbooks, tools, and documents created over 25+ years of strategic business coaching.

Have a question that wasn’t covered? Feel free to contact Jackie directly at jackie@synnovatia.com.