Courage & Clarity Podcast: Episode 102 Summary

Title: Practical Tips to Guarantee Your Success in a Mastermind with Mara Eller
Host: Steph Crowder
Guest: Mara Eller
Release Date: September 27, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 102 of the Courage & Clarity podcast, host Steph Crowder welcomes Mara Eller, a dedicated teacher, writer, editor, and coach. Mara shares her transformative year-long journey within Steph's Mastermind program, now known as Sold Out Group Programs, offering invaluable insights and practical strategies for achieving success in any coaching or entrepreneurial endeavor.

Guest Background and Program Overview ([00:04] - [04:30])

Mara Eller introduces herself as a passionate storyteller focused on transforming pain into purpose. She offers two signature programs:

• Unearthing Beauty: A personal narrative writing program.
• The Soul and Science of Great Writing: A course on prescriptive nonfiction writing.

Mara underscores her significant growth through the Mastermind, both professionally and personally, highlighting mindset shifts, enhanced self-care, and self-coaching abilities developed over the year.

Key Lessons and Practical Tips

1. Understanding Client Pain Points ([10:15])

Mara emphasizes the importance of deeply understanding your clients' struggles to tailor effective solutions. She recounts a pivotal coaching session where Steph advised her to focus on her favorite product despite initial sales challenges. This led Mara to successfully double her program's price and significantly grow her email list from 240 to nearly 500 subscribers.

Notable Quote:

"The better you understand your client's pain points, the better you'll be able to reach them." ([10:15])

2. Selling Results, Not Features ([35:45])

Mara learned to prioritize the tangible outcomes her clients would achieve over merely listing program features. By clearly defining the results her programs deliver, she was able to attract and retain clients more effectively.

Notable Quote:

"What you're selling is results, not features." ([35:45])

3. Embracing the Messiness of Growth ([50:30])

Steph's coaching taught Mara to accept the inherent messiness of business growth. Instead of striving for perfection, Mara learned to prioritize actions and make progress amidst uncertainty.

Notable Quote:

"We have to name our priorities, pick a target, lay out some basic steps to help us get there, and then dive in." ([50:30])

4. Courage Leads to Clarity ([65:00])

Mara discovered that taking courageous actions, such as asking questions and trying new strategies, leads to greater clarity and business progression. This mindset shift helped her overcome anxiety and take decisive steps toward her goals.

Notable Quote:

"Courage leads to clarity, not the other way around." ([65:00])

Strategies for Mastermind Success

Commitment to Live Participation ([16:20])

Mara committed to attending live coaching calls every Tuesday, ensuring she remained engaged and accountable. When unable to attend live, she made it a point to listen to recordings.

Active Participation by Asking Questions ([21:10])

By setting a goal to ask at least one question each week during live coaching, Mara actively engaged with the material, leading to deeper business insights and personal growth.

Notable Quote:

"By having that goal of asking something, I pushed myself to think more about my business and to pinpoint areas where I could use a little more clarity." ([21:10])

Submitting Work for Feedback ([40:25])

Mara utilized the program's feedback mechanism, submitting up to four items per month for critique. This practice refined her offerings and ensured continuous improvement.

Notable Quote:

"Submitting something for feedback every week or two helped me fine-tune my programs and messaging." ([40:25])

Leveraging Group Coaching and Mimetic Learning ([55:40])

Participating in group coaching sessions enabled Mara to learn from Steph's interactions with other members, enhancing her problem-solving skills through mimetic learning—internalizing Steph's coaching approaches to apply to her own business challenges.

Notable Quote:

"Listening to her coach others activates mimetic learning, helping me coach myself through my own struggles." ([55:40])

Sales and Marketing Enhancements

Doubling Email List and Clarifying Messaging ([30:10])

Through targeted email marketing and refined messaging focused on client impact, Mara successfully doubled her email subscriber list and filled her programs even at higher price points.

Notable Quote:

"By focusing on the results my people really wanted, I was able to completely change and improve my messaging." ([30:10])

Personalized Outreach with Integrity ([60:50])

Mara applied Steph's non-sleazy sales strategies, conducting heartfelt conversations that emphasized genuine understanding and value, leading to increased client trust and program enrollments.

Notable Quote:

"Using Steph's sales strategies, I was able to move the needle in serious, serious ways." ([60:50])

Transformational Concepts

Minimum Viable Output ([75:30])

Mara adopted the concept of Minimum Viable Output (MVO)—the simplest, most efficient actions required to achieve her Minimum Viable Income (MVI). This approach encouraged actionable progress without getting bogged down by perfectionism.

Notable Quote:

"Minimum viable output to reach your minimum viable income balances progress and quality." ([75:30])

Overcoming Overthinking ([80:20])

Steph introduced Mara to the concept of "indulging in confusion," helping her recognize and overcome overthinking that led to inaction. By naming and confronting these thought patterns, Mara gained the confidence to make decisive moves in her business.

Notable Quote:

"Naming it now, I can recognize when I start indulging in confusion and push myself to take action." ([80:20])

Results and Achievements

Over the past year in the Mastermind program, Mara achieved significant milestones:

• Doubled her email list from approximately 240 to nearly 500 subscribers.
• Filled her Unearthing Beauty program at double the price point.
• Launched her Substack publication, "One True Sentence," focusing on language, emotion, and the lived experience through a Christian lens.
• Successfully transitioned to part-time employment, moving closer to making her business her sole source of income.
• Enhanced her email marketing strategy, increasing consistency and quality.
• Conducted effective, integrity-driven sales calls that converted hesitant prospects into committed clients.

Conclusion and Call to Action ([95:10] - End)

Mara's journey exemplifies the profound impact of Steph Crowder's Mastermind program. Her experience highlights the importance of commitment, active participation, embracing messiness, and focusing on delivering genuine results. Mara encourages listeners to consider joining the program to experience similar transformations, emphasizing that with courage and clarity, achieving business and personal goals is attainable.

Final Notable Quote:

"Take the leap, stop indulging in confusion, and take courageous action toward clarity." ([95:10])

For more information about Mara Eller and her programs, visit Mara Eller's Instagram, Substack, or Unearthing Beauty.

Additional Resources

• Mastermind Enrollment: Applications for Steph Crowder's Mastermind are open until October 2nd, 2024. Visit stephcrowder.com/mastermind to apply.
• Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with Steph Crowder’s latest episodes by subscribing to the Courage & Clarity podcast and following her on social media.

This episode serves as a masterclass in leveraging mastermind programs for business and personal growth, offering actionable insights and inspiring stories for aspiring entrepreneurs and coaches.