Problem Solvers is a peer mentor group that provides advice, support, accountability and resources for independent business owners.

 

As you know, being an independent business owner is exciting and terrifying at the same time. You’re in complete control of your destiny, but sometimes not sure how to get there, or even where you’re trying to get to.

One of the things I miss about working at a larger company is having coworkers. Well, some of them. It can be beneficial to have colleagues around because you have people to ask for help, and someone who’ll listen if you just want to vent.

Running your own business can also be lonely at times. The majority of your interactions are with vendors, prospects and clients. Your friends and family support your mission, but they also don’t want to hear about it every time they see you.

That’s were Problem Solvers comes in. This peer mentoring group will consist of 6-7 independent business owners who collaboratively support and advise their fellow members.

 

I'VE FOUND YOUR PEERS

The group will be small by design. I’m personally vetting members based on what stage their business is in as well as their commitment to support other members.

You can expect to be in a group comprised of:

  • Freelancers

  • Consultants

  • Startup Founders

  • Other independent business owners

What you won’t find are direct competitors, or people who aren’t open to collaborative problem solving.

This is an opportunity to leverage the resources and experience of the group, including:

Peer Feedback

  • We’ll listen to your pitch deck, proposal, Digital Marketing strategy, etc and provide honest feedback.

Accountability

  • How well are you progressing towards your goals?

Tips on 3rd party tools and apps

  • Spending too much time on repetitive? There's probably an app for that.

Business Referrals

  • Leverage the power of a network who knows how to tell your story.

Recommendations for agencies and freelancers

  • Find a developer who won’t ghost on you.

Input on your pricing, packaging and positioning

  • Does this rate make me look inexperienced?

Advice on how to deal with challenging clients and business partners

  • You’re not the only one encountering these issues. It's not you, it's them.

 

THE PROCESS

I’ll first meet with every member independently to map out your goals for the next 60-90 days. We’ll then identify the associated subgoals that ladder up to your overall goal. This will help us keep you on track, and provide a more immediate indication of progress.  

At the beginning of each week, you’ll plan and document your most impactful action items in the app I Done This, which should take around 15 minutes. I’ll have visibility to these action items, and you’ll discuss your progress with the group during weekly meetings.

All meetings will take place remotely via Zoom. You’ll need to come prepared with your weekly update, as well as your goals for the upcoming week. You’re welcome to share as much detail as you feel comfortable with.

Most importantly, have a problem for us to solve!

  • Where are you stuck?

  • What can we help with?

  • Just need a sanity check? That’s cool too.

In addition to open discussion, every member will be in the “Hot Seat” twice a month. During this time, the entire group will focus solely on you and your current opportunities/challenges for 20 minutes.

Between meetings, we’ll keep in touch via a private Slack group. You’re also welcome to contact me directly if you have an issue that can’t wait until our next group meeting.

I understand it's challenging to make it to a standing meeting every week. Each member should aim to attend at least 3 out of 4 meetings every month. If you're unable to attend a meeting, you're still expected to update your weekly progress. 

 

TIMING, FEE AND NEXT STEPS

The first cohort will start Thursday September 6th. We’ll then meet every Thursday at the same time. Please note, I'm currently determining the best time(s) for meetings. Tentatively, it will be 4:00 - 5:00 EDT and/or 6:30-7:30 EDT.  

The membership fee for the first instance will be $150/mo.

As you may have guessed, I can probably find an easier way to make $900. I’m offering this at a discounted rate because this is my first time running a peer mentoring group. With that, I expect to make some adjustments along the way. Your feedback will be extremely valuable to the long-term growth of this community, hence the discount. Beyond that, as a founding member, you’ll never pay more than $300/mo.

 

Ready to get started, or have additional questions? Fill out the form below and I’ll follow up shortly. 

MY BACKGROUND

In addition to being a business owner, I’ve served as a mentor at Techstars and the New York University Entrepreneurial Institute. I’ve also led workshops for thousands of Freelancers and Consultants at General Assembly, including Hustle Smarter: Tactics and Routines to Scale your Business.

Here’s what people are saying:

"Terry Rice's 'Hustle Smarter' workshop was just what I needed to help me set processes in place to maximize my productivity and growth for my start-up! As an entrepreneur, you wear many hats and it can be a challenge to prioritize when so many things are coming at you at once. Terry taught me valuable skills to help to deal with running a successful business. I highly recommend this class for anyone who is starting their own business or even just looking to maximize each workday to achieve their highest potential!"

- Adriane Kiss:  founder, Kiss Beauty Company