I got involved in a personal and professional development “mastermind” group about 4 years ago, and it totally changed my life and my career. For those not familiar, a mastermind group is a peer-to-peer network of like-minded people that use the collective power of the group to coach and advise each other through collaboration. Everyone shares feedback about obstacles they are facing and the group chimes in with guidance based on their own experiences. And yes, you usually have to pay for the really good ones, but the value you get out of those are invaluable.

This program is what got me out of my comfort zone, and I started asking for the actual help that I needed. 

The most beneficial part of a mastermind group is that you get a wide variety of perspectives that can help you solve almost any problem, because you’re approaching the situation from multiple angles without a conscious bias. Plus you're getting first hand accounts of real life situations that relate directly to what you're dealing with at that moment - like receiving personalized case studies.

So here is why I want to mention this to my craft beer community. When you need help, get out of your comfort zone, and learn how to ask for what you need.

There is help out there specifically for our industry and it’s more accessible than ever, thanks to the internet and the evolution of craft beer as a market overall. There are resources, products, and services available for you today that can help you grow your beer business without having to take time to mold yourself into an expert through old school methods.

Every professional on this planet seeks knowledge outside their comfort zone to help them overcome challenges. We’re human, you can’t be an expert in every subject, and no one expects you to be, so I encourage you to change lanes, mix things up, and ask for the help you need. 

Don’t believe me? Read “Brewing Up a Business” by Sam Calagione. He preaches about how he consulted other businesses and industries for advice on how to create the Dogfish Head business plan, and how he depended on knowledge from other experts that had nothing to do with the brewing industry for advice on how to successfully run his beer business.

There’s a reason that old saying exists - “jack of all trades, master of none.” You can’t wear all the hats, you can’t be an expert in all areas of your beer business, but you can ask for help when you need it (just know that you might have to pay for it). Don’t expect to get a full business plan or solid legal advice or a full marketing program on a free social media platform. We covered why a few weeks ago. While peer groups are great for short bursts of help, if you need serious guidance, you have to invest either time (in learning it yourself) or money (investment in professional services or training) to get what you truly need to help your brewery grow.

I can’t tell you how many articles, podcasts, and webinars I’ve consumed lately that stress the importance of being strategic with your brewery business plans if you want to survive in today’s saturated market. And this is not a bubble folks, nothing is going to change anytime soon, so learn to ask for help where you need it. And lucky for you, there’s plenty of help out there for the taking.

I’ll close this week’s blog with a quote from Harper Lee - “many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.”

Cheers friends,

Julie