February 19th, 2013
My Elevate Mastermind Experience with Stratejoy
This year I made a decision to make a big investment in my future. Last year I convinced my husband that Marie Forleo’s B-School was the best investment we could make that year (preach!) but this year I knew that what I really needed was someone to guide me though the inner work I needed so I could be version of myself for everyone I come in contact with. Including myself!
After many years of following the amazing and talented Molly Mahar, I saw the sales page for the Elevate Mastermind group in the fall. It promised a year of one on one coaching with Molly, a kick off retreat in San Francisco, and group work throughout the year with ladies who were working through exactly the same life experiences and challenges as I was. To enroll you needed to fill out an application and wait for a phone call from Molly. I think I made a fan girl “SQUEEEE” noise at my desk that only dogs within a three block radius could hear when my phone started ringing. I barely knew the details and already I knew it in my bones: this was exactly what I’d been waiting for.
Spoiler Alert: my “review” of the kickoff weekend retreat can be summed up in one sentence:
This was exactly what I’d been waiting for!
The weekend was stationed at the Stillheart Institute, outside of San Francisco in the middle of the mountains. You had to crane your neck and look straight up to see the sky from most of the rooms, because the tree canopy is so dense. The best part is that to go there you’ve got to have a mission statement, and we had the entire place to ourselves and our caterer (!) for most of the retreat.
We got to California on Thursday, had Friday & Saturday for dedicated work, and left by Sunday. It went by in a heartbeat, but it was an enriching, hilarious, heartfelt, transformative and amazing experience that I can’t recommend highly enough.
The idea of a Mastermind group is to surround yourself with a small support network of people who are in the same mindset as you, so you can support each other and take yourselves to the next level. They’re espeically popular with entrepreneur & solopreneur communities because having a group of people with different sets of resources, experience and perspective who are accountable to each other is a recipe for amazing things.
For Elevate Mastermind, Molly’s incredible coaching experience with group and one on one clients adds enriches the experience, and because the attendees are handpicked by Molly the group blended together beautifully in our experience, hopes, fears and dreams. The group was fourteen women who want to make the next year their best yet- and what that means differs from person to person. Some of us wanted to quit our day jobs, deepen our relationships, let go of jealousy and judgement, or step closer to being our authentic selves in our day to day lives.
The days were split into three daily sessions with Molly, free time, incredible catered meals and a download hour for feedback. This is what it looked like through my lens…
Ancient trees surround us & in the morning the mist didn’t burn off until the early afternoon.
A gorgeous waterfall at the entrance of Stillheart
Afternoon session in the library, sharing our motto’s for the year.
Round table discussion of our mottos and response to a quote by Brene Brown.
The view from my treehouse room. Heavenly!
Water, Tea, Comfy Seat & Timer: The essential retreat supplies.
… and also Kleenex. Where there are girls, let there be kleenex!
The view from the wraparound deck, where the sun starved Canadians always ended up
There were big. ass. crystals. that meant business.
(Ganseha doesn’t have anything to prove either, for the record)
The path to the treehouse rooms.
The salt water pool! Complete with skylight (and skinny dipping!)
There was lots of journaling, responding to quotes & prompts and discussion every day.
A farewell bonfire accompanied by champagne & cookies on the last night.
Elevate Mastermind: 2013!
We all came to Elevate Mastermind with different hopes for the coming year, and we all left California with thirteen new best friends. We have a big year ahead of us, and I know that we’ll surprise ourselves with everything we accomplish, inside and out.
If you’re considering working with Stratejoy but aren’t sure if it’s for you, I can’t recommend Molly highly enough. Do it! If you’re considering becoming part of the Elevate Mastermind program, you won’t regret it!
Have you worked with a life coach or a mastermind group? Do you think it would be too woo-woo or just what you need?
If you have any questions about my experience, ask them below! I’d love to give you my take and talk about your experiences.
It sounds like a great and valuable year and I am thinking seriously of applying. I am curious to know how much it costs for the year.
Hi Paula, That’s great! It was really transformative experience for me and I can’t recommend it highly enough. If the pricing information isn’t online, just send in an application! Molly meets with applicants and shares all the details live. You can decide if you want to move forward then. If you’re curious, that’s a great indication that it could be a good match. Good luck deciding!
Kyla!
After reading this post about a week and a half ago, I made my way over to Stratejoy to check out what all the fuss was about. I was immediately taken by Molly’s vision and I’ve signed up for the Joy Juice journaling prompts.
I’m so excited to get started on this journey which I’ll be blogging through. Thank you so much for reminding us that refocusing and taking vare of ourselves is so important.
I adore your photos- they tell such a great story! You have a really great eye for composition. XOXO
This sounds like an amazing experience! Due to some life changes, I’ve really felt the need lately to set more goals for myself – work goals, but also “life” and “happiness” goals. Your whole blog has inspired me so much over the years, so thank you for that!
Love, love, love. Thanks for capturing our weekend so beautifully Kyla. You are amazing!!
I have never been interested in the “life coach thing” and would have used your exact words (“woo-woo”) if you had asked me a few years ago.
BUT…!
After transitioning from a full-time desk job to a yoga teacher/freelancey lifestyle I have started to see the places where I really need some kick-in-the-pants tough love and serious inspiration-motivation. And alas, I have eaten my woo-woo words and am now working with a life coaching group. It has been, of course, profound and helpful for me professionally and personally.
I think we benefit from these kinds of programs when we are most open to receiving their benefits. It sounds like the universe saw you were ready to receive, and sent you there to soak it all in. (Wow, now THAT’S pretty woo-woo, isn’t it?)
Thanks for this! I’m so happy to have these recaps and gorgeous pictures to remember our weekend :)
Yes! I’ve been waiting for this post – so happy to see it was exactly what you needed! Those photos are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!
Ha! I love your question at the end. It’s exactly what I was thinking as I read. I love the idea of a support network like this but I can be really uncomfortable in workshop-type settings or anything involving too much enforced earnestness and kleenex. I would need to be allowed to be a bit self-deprecating and sarcastic when sharing my own big life goals. Although it looks and sounds like you had a blast and no shortage of laughter, so who knows? At any rate, congratulations! It sounds like it’s just the ticket for you!
I find that too, Sarah. I’m very much a sarcastic introvert but there was lots of laughing, sarcasm, and being real with each other too. And I’m sure Molly had to say “Just bear with me and try this, I swear! There’s wine soon!” more than once. It might be your scene or it might not be- but either way I love that we’re each other’s kinda people :)
hahaha. I could probably get through anything with enough laughter and a promise of wine to come!
Sounds like you had a lovely time, Kyla, and that’s what’s important. I follow Molly’s site too and heard about the Elevate Mastermind weekend. Problem is, I don’t think I “fit” the age group for this retreat – most appear to be 30 and under and I’m well over 40. :) Looks like the shirt you wore for the group photo sums up your time there!
That’s true, Denise! I wore that on the last day to help us from getting down because we were leaving. While you might not be the exact same age as everyone in the Elevate group, Molly’s groups are about what you’re working through at that moment more than they’re about anything else. The online groups could be a fun piece for you to test it out. If it resonates, I bet you’ll have a great time :)
Wow, this sounds amazing. I think I may have to spend some serious time browsing the Stratejoy site later…
It was amazing- and aside from the wonderful connection time it was great to finally be warm. All the Canadians kept migrating out to the deck to soak up the sunshine! lol
Kyla – this sounds amazing. I’m inspired to check out Molly’s site!
Thanks Maggie, it was really exciting to have such an intense feeling of community for a weekend. Molly’s great at fostering that and all of her other programs offer that :)
I’m so happy for you that you got to go on this Kyla!
I was thinking about you and LA yesterday and wondering how you are both doing both personally and business wise. Let me know if you have time for a little friendly skype next week, I’d love to catch up and hear about your inspiring and empowering trip!
xo Moorea
I would love to, Moorea! Absolutely- let’s find a time :)
A blogging friend of mine is in training to become a life coach. My initial reaction is to say it’s a bit fluffy. That said, I’m trying to be more open to the path she’s pursuing and do believe if a person is open to receiving, life coaching can probably make a big difference. The idea of a weekend retreat full of what you experienced actually sounds pretty amazing, regardless of what I think about life coaching. =)
Ooh, that must be interesting for you to be processing! I think there’s a lot of cynicism about coaching out there, but I love that your friend wants to help people and is exploring ways to do that. Maybe what you love about her as a friend will make her an amazing coach for her clients :)
This sounds amazing! I am so glad you had an opportunity to participate. I loved hearing about it during our last video chat. I am glad that the experience was exactly what you needed. I think that’s a fantastic way to kick off your year!
Thanks Lisa, it was a really unique experience that I’ve been curious about for a while and it came at the right time :)