http://www.womenentrepreneur.com/2010/02/womens-only-networking-grows.html

Some highlights:

Why women-only groups?

“You can get help, keep your sanity, get other opinions and talk with other moms who might also be working from home with little kids,” she says.

When it comes to networking, apparently, men really are from Mars and women from Venus. In this post-feminist era, you’d think co-ed networking would work fine, but many women business owners say they prefer to stick to their women-only groups.

Women networkers say they relate better to other women business owners, who share their compassionate, helpful approach to networking.

Women’s groups have continued to grow because women feel more at ease in all-women groups, says experienced networker Annette Walden Mason, whose Painted Lady Enterprises sells greeting cards and promotional items.

“We’re more nurturing, we’re more caring, and we generally want to help each other,” she says.

“Women network differently,” she says. “I thought I needed to help women get back to a sense of community.”

Guys… two questions:

1. Do you agree that men and women network differently?
2. If so, why don’t men have their own networking groups?

The boys from the movie 'Old School.' A graduate level fraternity?

I’m not exactly sure.  Precisely the reason why I would like your input.

Now, I am not talking about the type of fraternity so vividly portrayed on the silver screen.  You know the one: college guys living in a big house spending most of their time partying or trying to get laid.

Instead, picture this: a group of professional young men in their 20′s or 30′s that gets together to network, share ideas, hold each other accountable and, dare I say it, develop deeper friendships.

Instead of living together in a house this group meets over coffee… or beers… or after playing touch football outside.

And here is the key: instead of just talking about sports, women, and cars, they also talk about deeper things.

Like dreams. Or vision. Or their big, hairy, audacious goals. Or maybe the contribution they want to make in the world before they take their last breath.

And sometimes they talk about their doubts and fears – where they get stuck or bad habits they just can’t seem to shake.

In other words, a band of brothers – guys that have a lot of fun together but also talk about the important things and aren’t afraid to be vulnerable and admit to weaknesses.

I think it could work.

What do you think?

And asked: “What do you see?”

Most likely, you saw a “black spot” (or maybe a bullet hole like my friend, Will.)

But there’s something else there that most people don’t see. It’s the white space surrounding the black spot.

Think about that for a second:

• What makes us seem to always focus on the obvious first?
• In your own life, what do you tend to notice first?
• What’s the “white space” in your life?  (not as obvious or noticeable but definitely there if you open yourself up to more possibility)

In our lives, if we focus only on what’s currently happening, we miss out on seeing what’s possible (the white space.)  Why?  Because what’s possible is usually outside the limits we have established for our present lives.

A lot of people notice what’s flawed or damaged in their lives first.  Don’t be that person.  Find the “white space.”

In your life, is there a ___________:

• business idea
• course
• book
• trip
• job
• home
• relationship
• amount of $

…that you automatically dismiss because you think you don’t have the ____________:

• time
• money
• intelligence
• connections
• experience

Stop for a second.  Take a deep breath. Consider something:

What if you’re wrong?

Have you ever wonder how the most successful people:

• Seem to achieve everything they set their minds to?
• Appear to always be doing what it is they love and enjoy?
• Look so calm and confident?
• Fulfill their passions and wildest dreams?

The majority of people who have achieved a high level of success in their life developed their success through utilizing the same basic powerful principles. There’s no real secret to their success. Just a 3 step process:

1. Clearly define a future vision.
2. Put a plan in place to get there that includes 3-5 key actions.
3. Complete those 3-5 actions every single day for at least 21 days so that they become automatic habits.

That’s it… not overly complex, eh?  Just incredibly difficult to do.

Needs some help with this? Click here to learn more about my new E-Book: ‘A Man’s Guide to Vision and Goal Setting.’

But what if there was a way you could get back in touch with those dreams, and set a course of action to get to where you really want to go?

Here is a secret weapon (clothed in the form of a powerful question which I call ‘The Question’) designed to do just that. Check it out:

Here is ‘The Question’ again:

“If we were having this discussion 3 years from today, and you were looking back over those 3 years, what has to have happened in your life, both personally and professionally for you to be happy with your progress?”

Click here to learn more about my new E-Book: ‘A Man’s Guide to Vision and Goal Setting.’

Spend a minute thinking about that. If you were making a journey of this length, I see three things as absolutely crucial to getting you there:

1. Food and Water (ie. Nourishment or Fuel)

2. A place to rest after each day’s journey.

3. A Support Team to help you stay motivated.

Do you have all of these on the walk towards your vision?