In this episode, Tina Tower dives deep into the world of masterminds—what makes them magical, how they differ from memberships, and how to create an unforgettable mastermind experience within your course creator business.
Membership vs. Mastermind:
Memberships are scalable, group-focused, and often larger in size with less personal touch.
Masterminds are smaller, more curated, higher touch—and while less scalable, they foster deep connections and high transformation.
Tina’s Offer Suite and Ascension Model:
Starts with a low-cost, high-volume evergreen offer → signature offer → back-end membership → high-level mastermind
This tiered system has helped many hit the million-dollar mark in their businesses.
Real-life Evolution:
Her Empire Builder started as a mastermind, evolved into a scalable membership model as numbers grew.
Original small group became the Empress Circle Mastermind for higher touch and intimacy.
Curriculum and Facilitation:
The Empress Circle is more information-heavy, with teaching and small group accountability.
The Impact Mastermind is peer-to-peer focused and supports 7-figure+ business owners with connection and facilitation rather than explicit teaching.
Designing Your Mastermind:
Get crystal clear on your ideal (“hell yes!”) mastermind client.
Curate members through an application process for group harmony and energy.
Decide on the purpose: connection, strategy, or support.
Transformational Experiences:
Psychological safety is a must—what’s shared in the mastermind stays in the mastermind.
Live retreats and in-person events are crucial for creating lasting bonds, especially in the age of AI.
Personal touches like favorite snacks, drinks, and personalized gifts (hello, monogrammed pajamas!) make members feel truly seen.
Structure & Flow:
Strike a balance between structured learning and downtime at live events.
Prioritize generous break times and early finish for dinners to accommodate different lifestyles.
Keeping Connection Alive:
Use platforms like Slack, WhatsApp, or Voxer (Tina’s favorite!) for ongoing relationship building.
Encourage collaborations, celebrate wins, and recognize growth privately.
Onboarding and Engagement:
Thoughtful onboarding with surveys, welcome gifts, and public shout-outs help new members feel valued from day one.
Tina’s insights serve as a practical guide for course creators considering adding masterminds to their offer suite and emphasize that, with the right structure and intention, masterminds can provide transformational experiences that go beyond business strategy, nurturing long-term relationships and personal growth.
If you have a successful course or membership, adding a mastermind might just be the next logical step in your business ascension model—and as Tina says, when you pay attention to all the details, that’s where the real magic happens.
Where to find Tina:
Her Empire Builder: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tina_tower/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@herempirebuilder
Resources mentioned:
