Maverick Miles & Musings
Maverick Miles & Musings
22 Excuses For Playing Too Small and Not Living Your Destiny
This weekend I watched the movie “Finding Joe.” It’s about a concept Joseph Campbell researched which he describes as the Hero’s Journey. It’s a saga seen across nearly every kind of myth in just about every culture – and is still being played out today in Hollywood blockbusters. (Think Star Wars, Shrek or Lord of the Rings.) The hero discovers they are more than they imagined and in the process, they overcome obstacles to ‘slay’ their own dragons. Then they return transformed in some way and share their “magical” gifts.
I see the Hero’s Journey playing out with Maverick Entrepreneurs repeatedly.
At many of the recent 3X Multiplier Retreats and at the M3 Summit, I’ve asked a somewhat strange question…
“Do you feel like you’re destined for greatness?”
Not in an egotistical type of way — but simply knowing that you’ve been tapped to contribute something more. I’ve always heard that quiet voice in my ear along with the devastating echo of “I could fall short of my potential.”
Maverick1000 was created to intentionally give you the push and support that is essential for one to accomplish what truly matters.
I believe Mavericks share an interconnected destiny of greatness. It’s through ‘serendipitous’ meetings, connections and synchronistic events that we can push, propel, support and catalyze each other to be a bigger version of ourselves, reflecting our true essence. You put awesome, like-minded people together in unique situations and magic WILL happen.
But what stops us from living up to our potential? Or from following our bliss as Joseph Campbell calls it?
Our logical mind is sometimes the biggest culprit by stepping up and rationalizing all kinds of reasons why we can’t or shouldn’t do something meaningful right now, something that “sings” to you. I would bet you don’t have as many of these excuses since you’re already well accomplished but if you were honest with yourself, there might be a handful of pesky ones that are keeping you from truly doing what nourishes you.
See if any of the following excuses strike home…
Time:
- I’ve got plenty of time to get around to that later…
- I don’t have time to do that.
- It’s just not the right time. I need to finish <whatever> first. I want to sell my business first. When the kids <leave the house>, etc.
Money:
- I can’t see how that will pay my bills.
- I really need to work on other things that make me money right now.
Reputation:
- What will my <friends/neighbors/colleagues/family/pets> think of me?
- No one would be interested in receiving this from me.
- This is not what I’m known for. That’s not what I’ve done before and my “identity/positioning” can’t be confused in the <marketplace>.
- My team is not the right one for this next phase.
- What if it doesn’t work and I fail? I would look pretty stupid and everybody would say “I told you so…”
Trust:
- I doubt it will work anyway so why try it?
- I don’t even know exactly what I want to do… so I’ll just keep doing this.
- I tried something like this before and it never worked.
- What if I ‘leap’ and the net doesn’t actually appear?
- I cannot commit to one thing – I have too many ideas.
Unknown:
- I don’t know the exact next steps.
- I need to talk to a <consultant/friend/colleague/snake charmer> first. I need more information.
- It’s easy for <Richard Branson> because they have <connections> but I could never do that.
Waiting:
- I’d do it if I <was older/younger, prettier/cooler/didn’t have kids, etc>.
- I’m doing just fine right now as I am.
- It doesn’t really matter if I do this or not.
- I need to get it just right before I put it out into the world.
All of these excuses could be stopping you from the next phase in your life or just from starting something you’ve been afraid to do (i.e. write a book on a totally different subject, switch paths, etc.)
Aligning with what gives us more joy, bliss and happiness naturally expands who you are. Sometimes we have to come to the edge of what and who we think we are in order to transform. Transformation is central for Mavericks who are constantly growing, learning and pushing their boundaries.
For me personally, the last few years have been one of the biggest periods of change in my life. Many of the old ways I looked at my identity just don’t fit anymore. I can’t see myself being only an Internet Marketing guru for years and years. It forced me to dig deeper into what my gifts truly are and how I can use them to live in a more authentic state. Part of that exploration has been starting and building Maverick. (I’ve shared a bit of that in the Open Letter – please see below – you should have received.)
I’m looking forward to sharing the Hero’s Journey with so many of you. And one of the best places to start is at our annual Maverick M3 Summit, coming up Dec 5-7, 2013 in Jamaica. All members in good standing are invited to help create one of the biggest single gatherings of Mavericks in one place to Re-Work, Re-Think and Re-Invent yourself and your business.
All the best!
Yanik
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An Open Letter to Maverick Members
September 9, 2013
Dear Maverick,
With a few months left in 2013, I wanted to draft this note to give you a bit of a ‘state of the union’, hopefully clear up a few things and also give you a glimpse into what’s next…
Every July, on my daughter Zoe’s birthday, I take stock of where we are with Maverick, since I started it in earnest right around her birth. It’s been about 6 years now since starting off on this “adventure” and it’s been quite a ride. Like any venture, things have evolved throughout the years, but I’m proud to say that the core fundamental pillars of ‘More Profits, More Fun and More Impact’ are still the driving force behind everything we do.
I can still remember the very first adventure we ran in Jan 2008, off-road Baja racing. The idea for Maverick was floating around in my journal for quite some time but I decided to finally go for it without quite knowing how I’d pull it off or how we’d bring in a unique business celebrity. But it all worked out and the individuals on that trip raved about it and wanted more…
Why I created Maverick
I founded Maverick after many other CEO groups, masterminds and peer-to-peer networks left me feeling a bit flat. I simply couldn’t find an organization that combined everything I wanted to not only grow my different companies, but also bring more joy, happiness and greater meaning into my life.
Originally it was mostly about the epic experiences and adventures. Now it’s evolved to not only incorporate the adventures, but also much more of a global network of exceptional entrepreneurs who come together several times a year to create business breakthroughs, transformational experiences and find ways to create an IMPACT.
Through the first years, as I tried to find the right model and make sure extraordinary individuals shared in this journey, I sunk about $400,000 of my own money into the company. Quite frankly, my passion for what I know the group can be overwhelmed most rational & objective business sense. In fact, it still does since Maverick is a tremendous labor of love and not created to make me “rich” from membership dues. Yes, I’ve heard some members’ comments about the money that’s coming in and I can assure you it’s significantly less than you might think. (In fact, I just finally took my first small distribution 2 months ago).
Some members have also speculated the changes to $1,000/mo in membership dues were to make the
group more profitable for me. It’s not the case. My goal has been to keep the “lights on”, maintain the incredible team we have and provide exceptional experiences and impact opportunities for members. With the additional funds, we can collectively bring in more guests icons and create amazing experiences that we just couldn’t do multiple times a year. So no, it’s not because more profits are funneled into my pocket. Fact is, my online publishing company still funds the vast majority of my income.
Do I want Maverick to become profitable? Of course. Otherwise, we couldn’t keep it going to support members and do some of the big things we have in the Painted Picture. http://maverick1000.com/#!/painted-picture But profitability is not the main focus. There’s something much bigger…
“The group has a soul to it!”
Those exact words were used by one of our Maverick members on a recent 3X Multiplier Retreat to describe why our network is different than any other group he’s been a part of. And that’s exactly what I wanted to create. A truly transformational group of exceptional entrepreneurs who are destined for greatness.
Mavericks are that perfect, weird little mix of a successful entrepreneur who values growth & sharing and someone that really enjoys living life to the fullest. They have big dreams and aspirations but also don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s this ultimate combination that makes Maverick1000 more like a family than just another “mastermind” group or any other peer-to-peer organization.
What’s more, comparatively speaking, Maverick members actually get more and pay less than pretty much any other type of comparable group, including ones I’ve previously run like my own mastermind (which I shut down last year to focus more on Maverick and integrate those folks into our network).
In fact, this last year when we were on Necker Island, one of the members told me that Maverick changed his life completely and he is indebted to me for life. (BTW – it looks like we’ll be doing another beach party with Richard Branson in 2014!) That’s the kind of stuff that makes this venture worthwhile to me. I believe the deepest and most meaningful connections come from the live, in-person events when people really connect and grow.
3X Multiplier Retreats and Different ‘Levels’?
Being true to that belief as well as our commitment to providing more growth, impact and fun – we introduced the new 3X Multiplier Retreats. These retreats allow members to get together more frequently and get out of “the office” on a regular basis for some much needed re-working, re-charging and re-connecting.
The 3X Multiplier Retreats were designed to be that unique combination of business building, extraordinary experiences and IMPACT. A few highlights of previous retreats are special guests like Chip Conley, Carrie Schwab, Bill Donius and Tony Hsieh (upcoming for Vegas). And, of course, there’s always a bit of the Maverick Mayhem thrown in the mix – from zombie bar crawls to trapeze circus training and roller derby. It’s great hearing from members saying that not only did they get plenty of unique memories plus business and personal insights – but they really enjoyed being a part of the mentoring sessions for non- profits and new startups on the Impact day.
I’m proud to say that over 90+% of members eligible to attend 3X Retreats are doing so regularly so they’ve become must-attend events. But I also know that the new structure with these 3X Retreats has caused some dissonance from our ‘Legacy’ members.
It’s not my intention to leave behind any of the Legacy members who are still committed to being an active part of the community, including the identity we all love and enjoy that comes with being a ‘Maverick’. I realize the change in structure may have been too much of a unilateral change for a member-centered organization.
So, it’s for this reason (and many others) that we’re forming a member council…
Advisory Panel Formation
I’m excited to report that Mike Lally (who was on that inaugural Baja trip in Jan 2008) has agreed to spearhead the formation of a true member advisory board. I’m so incredibly thankful and excited to have Mike heading this up and be so committed and passionate about what we’re doing.
We’re looking to you to get involved. There will be groups and committees around the general direction of Maverick plus more specialized ones like the IMPACT fund, young entrepreneurs, etc.
The IMPACT Fund is a big piece that we want to cover with the board. (Reminder: 1/3 of monthly fees currently go into this fund to work with non-profits and new startups). We want to make sure the fund is not simply giving out ‘free money’ but creating a multiplier effect as intended.
Mike has already been in contact with quite a few members to do a general check-in but if being part of the board or committee excites you in some way – please reach out to Mike at mlally@modalshop.com. Mike will be sending out another email in the next few weeks to outline his ideas on the structure and operation of the advisory board.
Something that continually came up in Mike’s conversations with members was the word… “Exceptional”.
Maverick is all about exceptional experiences….exceptional entrepreneurs and exceptional impact. To me, that’s the perfect word to describe all of you and what we want to do together and continue doing in the future.
So What’s Next?
For Maverick1000 to be sustainable, we’re looking to slowly and organically grow the membership. As you know, we’ve never done any type of big launch or promotion, so we’re really interested in keeping the integrity of the group intact by gradually adding individuals who share the Maverick DNA and bring something valuable to the table. We’ve brought on Ian Lingwood, who is the official ‘DNA Decoder’ and his job is to uncover exceptional like-minded entrepreneurs that continue to strengthen the network. And if you know someone who fits the bill this is a great time for them to be involved.
Some of the major Maverick1000 initiatives are around quantifying members “3 C’s” inside the Maverick Matrix. The 3 C’s are members Connections, Channels and Capabilities. That way you can piggyback on resources and distribution channels that the growing network shares in a high-trust environment.
We’re also looking at a more formal assembly ‘Extended Network’ for Mavericks of experts, thought leaders and advisors to make themselves available to you. Think of it like a “Super Hero Profit Network” covering key profit drivers to accelerate your business like sales & marketing, digital marketing, media, innovation, leadership and beyond.
Maverick NEXT: A new initiative headed up by Dima Kozlov, is all about working with young and successful founders under the age of 25; essentially we’re looking for the next generation of Maverick entrepreneurs. I mentioned NEXT at the Chicago 3X Retreat and now we’re looking for Mavericks to mentor some of these younger prodigies. The benefits I see are multi-fold; 1) Opportunity to give forward and create an impact. 2) Potential deal- flow opportunity. 3) Chance to learn from a younger generation leading the way in the digital and mobile space.
Contact dima@maverickDNA.com for more info. The commitment can be as little as popping into the NEXT private Facebook group for some as-needed help or a little more formal with forming personal relationships with NEXT members or presenting at NEXT events. (The first one is Nov 1- 3, 2013 in Austin, TX)
Maverick Business Adventures: As we originally started just with adventures, my plan is to open up the business adventures piece again in 2014 to entrepreneurs who want to do remarkable experiences like Zero-G flight, Air Combat, racing, etc. together and combine these adventures with our unique business sessions and in some cases celebrity icons and thought leaders.
Regional Groups: In 2014 we’re looking to do some beta testing of regional groups. Maverick1000 members will be invited to join other entrepreneurs in their areas for unique Dangerous Dinners, gatherings and ‘Think Tanks’. I’m really passionate about the leverage the regional network can have working with young entrepreneurs and mentorship opportunities locally. If you’d like to potentially head up or host a regional group – let us know.
Yanik’s Role
I look at my role as being the catalyst of other remarkable catalysts, to connect and co-create something bigger than what we could do on our own. I see Mavericks as coming together on an
interconnected destiny of greatness!
I think 1 bold entrepreneur can change an industry but 1,000 Mavericks can change the world!
Thanks for reading and, as always, I definitely appreciate your feedback, comments and involvement. I hope to see many of you in Vegas next month for the next 3X Multiplier retreat. Please reach out directly anytime via email – yaniksilver@maverick1000.com or my cell, 301-758-8824.
All the best,
Yanik Silver, Founder & CEO
P.S. Please make sure to save the date for the annual Maverick M3 Summit coming up Dec 5-7, 2013 in Jamaica. All members in good standing are invited to help create one of the biggest single gatherings of Mavericks in one place.
