The Unfortunate Tale of a Leader Who Flew Alone

I’ll be launching a new small-group, do-it-with-you mastermind after the holidays to help you attract more leads, engage them with captivating content, and persuade them to hire you.

If you’d like to hear the details, reply to this email with “tell me more.”

But first…

…read on for a cautionary tale about…

…the power of masterminds…

I love how in olden days, famous figures were named as others described them…

Ivan the Terrible.

Catherine the Great.

Vlad the Impaler.

Richard the Lionheart.

Erik the Red.

Suleiman the Magnificent.

And this guy:

Piero the Unfortunate.

As names go, that one’s…

…ummm…

…unfortunate.

(Worse yet, he was also known as Piero the Fatuous. )

Piero di Lorenzo de’ Medici ruled Florence from 1492 to 1494.

He inherited the throne from his father, and he flubbed the job.

It didn’t help that Daddy was called “Lorenzo the MAGNIFICENT.”

Lorenzo helped establish the “Italian League,” a coalition of regional leaders who collaborated to counter external threats.

But in 1494, when King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy and laid claim to the Kingdom of Naples, Piero did not consult his allies.

He flew alone.

He negotiated with Charles without the support or counsel of the Italian League.

Piero made significant concessions to Charles without securing benefits for Florence. He surrendered several fortresses and agreed to big bucks to Charles.

This weakened Florence’s defensive position and humiliated its residents.

(Unfortunate).

The people rebelled, and…

…on this day in 1494, Piero surrendered the throne and fled Florence.

So it goes when you fly alone.

Piero’s pop established a council of peers (dare I call it a “mastermind” group?).

Lorenzo the Magnificent knew: When you join a mastermind group, you benefit from group genius. You see things from multiple perspectives. You discover insights and solutions you otherwise would not.

So it goes when ruling the cradle of the Italian Renaissance.

So it goes when running a business.

If all is hunky-dory with your marketing, if you’re consistently attracting followers, engaging them, and persuading them to hire you, fly on little bird. You’re Magnificent.

But if you’re feeling less than fortunate about your marketing results, maybe it’s time for some masterminding.

Reply with “tell me more,” and I will tell.