INTENTIONAL GROWTH CIRCLES – IN PERSON
Western Wisconsin Business Owner Roundtable Groups
Learn more about what’s involved in joining an Intentional Growth Circle and how it can help you and your business.
Who qualifies?
All The Hats
Does running your business feel like you’re flying the plane while building it? Are you overwhelmed with decisions and not sure where to turn?
If you have been in business for at least two years, experienced some growth, and have at least two employees, then this is the group for you! Our members typically generate between $1 million and $10 million in annual revenue.
Join your fellow business owners to share experiences, discuss issues, and solve problems at a roundtable group!
Benefits
Experience Sharing –
Decision Making
Roundtable groups for business owners provide a valuable outlet for addressing difficult situations, exposing you to new approaches, and dedicating time to focus on business growth alongside peers who truly understand your challenges. These groups have been shown to accelerate business growth and serve as a vital source of support for small business owners.
Western WI Circles
No customers, No selling –
Just Problem Solving!
Members of the Western Wisconsin Intentional Growth Circles represent a diverse array of industries and business types, providing unique perspectives on the issues each owner faces. Common topics of discussion include hiring, firing, succession planning, financial planning, handling difficult customers, marketing, and more. Our monthly meetings also cover strategy and goal-setting, discussions on marketing planning, and time management. Guest speakers are brought in as needs for specific knowledge or skillsets arise at no additional cost.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS AN INTENTIONAL GROWTH CIRCLE?
Intentional Growth Circles are groups of 6-10 business owners who meet once a month in a confidential environment to discuss business issues using a structured format with a professional facilitator, with an emphasis on sharing experiences, encouraging accountability and developing connections with the group members. Their goal is to find new ways to grow their business.
WHO QUALIFIES TO BE IN A GROUP?
Intentional Growth Circles work best if the group members are in a similar stage of business growth, as the issues encountered tend to be similar, regardless of industry. Business owners should have been in business for at least two years, and bring in at least $750k in annual revenue (up to about $10M). No competitors or referral sources can be in the same group, so if there is already someone in the group that you work with or compete against, you cannot join that group.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Group members meet once a month for about half a day, with a focus on confidentiality and honest communication among members. Members are from non-competing, non-referring businesses and focus on experience sharing to aid in executive problem solving. The licensed facilitator keeps the group on schedule, making sure all discussions are relevant and no one person dominates the discussion.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
This roundtable process has proven to be successful in helping business owners find a way to discuss sensitive issues about work with peers rather than employees or family members. Participants gain insight through experience-sharing that helps address problems and identify opportunities. The group members hold each other accountable when making difficult decisions, but ease the process by emphasizing sharing similar experiences and not giving advice. Group members develop trusted relationships to share both business and personal issues.
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM A NETWORKING GROUP? OR A MASTERMIND? OR AN EXECUTIVE COACH?
This is NOT a networking group. The purpose of these groups is to create a confidential environment where business owners feel free to share financial troubles, personnel problems, concerns about growing too fast or too slow, and other business challenges. A group should consist of businesses that don’t want to do business together, as members would feel uncomfortable sharing their challenges in front of potential customers or vendors.
An Intentional Growth Circle is certainly more similar to a Mastermind Group than to a Networking Group, as both Intentional Growth Circles and Mastermind groups focus on regular peer-to-peer conversations about work. Some Mastermind groups are led by a facilitator and some are not. An Intentional Growth Circle is always facilitator-led and follows a proven agenda to ensure confidentiality, experience sharing and balanced discussion. Groups tend to be a bit larger than Mastermind groups, averaging 6-10 rather than 2-4 members.
Typically, an executive coach works one-on-one with executives to help advance their professional careers. The relationship is more uneven, rather than peer-focused. Intentional Growth Circles benefit greatly from the confidential, experience-sharing process among peers. Members are welcome to seek out executive coaching for themselves, separate from the Circle if they desire. Contact Kelly for some names of coaches that might be a good fit for you and your situation.
HOW DO THE DISCUSSIONS STAY CONFIDENTIAL?
Confidentiality of the Intentional Growth Circle discussions is the most important aspect of the entire process. Members must feel completely comfortable sharing very sensitive issues about their financial situation, personnel issues, personal health and other components that factor into running the business. The facilitator and members all sign a confidentiality agreement. Sponsors, hosts, visitors and potential members are not permitted to sit in for the discussion. The conference room should ideally not be visible to others. We find that the issues being discussed in the group get more and more sensitive and emotionally charged as the group gets more and more comfortable with each other and the process.
WILL ANY COMPETITORS BE IN THE GROUP WITH ME?
No. All members have the right to veto any potential new members, and no groups will be put together without the express agreement of each member to be in the group with the others. We do not allow competitors, customers or vendors to be in the same group. Ideally, every member will be from a different industry, as the diversity of the group enhances the conversation.
CAN I SIT IN ON A GROUP BEFORE I DECIDE TO JOIN?
Yes and no. An existing group will decide if they want to accept a particular new group member. Potential new group members can meet with the group at the start of a meeting, BEFORE they begin the formal peer group roundtable meeting format. But they cannot listen in to the actual meeting, as it is only for members. And if there are guest speakers coming to a monthly meeting, potential members may be invited to sit in for that portion of the meeting.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
For most Intentional Growth Circle members, the commitment of time is more significant than the financial investment. However, being part of a peer group is worth every minute—and every penny!
We ask members to commit to a full year of participation and to attend every month (with some exceptions) for consistency. Your fee includes monthly meetings in a private business meeting room with light refreshments, a professional facilitator, and access to speakers and resources to help grow your business.
2025 Pricing
Members can pay monthly or annually for their membership, at a price of $3,000 per year or 12 monthly payments of $260.
Members can add quarterly one-on-one check-in meetings with Kelly to discuss goal-setting and business growth. The combined cost for the peer group and the four 90-minute quarterly check-in meetings is $4,500 per year, or 12 monthly payments of $400.
JOIN AN INTENTIONAL GROWTH CIRCLE!
If you are interested in joining the Western Wisconsin Circle, click on the link below, or contact Kelly directly at 715-830-8244 or kelly@secondstagegrowth.com.
Groups are limited to 10 members, so there may not always be an available opening depending on the current make-up of the groups. If there are openings, you can request to come to visit a portion of an upcoming meeting to meet the current members and determine if the group would be a good fit for you, and vice versa. Reach out to learn more.
