LU 320: How Entrepreneur Jayson Gaignard Went from $250K in Debt to Hosting an $84K Event with Tim Ferriss (podcast)

Hey everyone! In today’s episode, I share the mic with Jayson Gaignard who is a Canadian entrepreneur, super-connector, author and Founder of Mastermind Talks (MMT), an invitation-only conference for entrepreneurs.

Tune in to hear how Jayson pulled off an $84,000 opportunity to host an event with Tim Ferriss, how you should be hosting successful masterminds and how Jayson reaps the many ROI benefits from strong relationships he’s nurtured.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:41] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
• [01:35] Jayson’s story and what lead him to where he is today.
• [02:23] The business that landed Jayson a quarter of a million dollars in debt.
• [03:24] A transformational experience at Seth Godin’s workshop.
• [04:15] When Jayson first started to host his Mastermind Dinners.
• [05:48] How Jayson pulled off an $84,000 opportunity to host an event with Tim Ferriss.
• [07:55] Transition and evolution of the Mastermind Talk events.
• [08:40] The economics and profitability of the Mastermind Talks business.
• [09:43] An overview of the complete Mastermind Talks experience.
• [11:29] Jayson’s focus on scaling community trust rather than business revenue.
• [14:02] The intimacy and strong relationships within the MMT community.
• [17:05] Unforeseen benefits and case studies from Jayson’s Mastermind Dinners.
• [18:38] Jayson’s $10,000 leap of faith attending Tim Ferriss’ event, Opening the Kimono.
• [21:37] The process Jayson follows for nurturing relationships and staying in touch.
• [23:24] Why Jayson capped Mastermind Talks to 150 people initially.
• [25:27] The five types of connections: fringe, fans, community, connectors, and core.
• [29:48] Jayson’s reason for disliking the question “How can I help you?”
• [31:26] Making the most out of a mentor relationship; uncovering their incredible value.
• [31:57] Why Jayson turns down the opportunity to go to Richard Branson’s island.
• [35:35] Top 3 Do’s and don’ts of hosting a successful mastermind dinner.
• [39:29] Two schools of thought: charging for mastermind dinners or not.
• [42:06] One new tool that Jayson has added to his life.
• [43:56] Jayson recommends the book Seeking Wisdom, by Peter Bevelin.

Resources From The Interview:

• Jayson Gaignard’s Website
• Jayson on Twitter
• Jayson on Instagram
• Jayson on Facebook
• Mastermind Talks
• Mastermind Dinners
• Community Made Podcast
• Seth Godin
• Tim Ferriss
• The 4-Hour Work Week
• The 4-Hour Chef
• No Man’s Land
• Singularity Executive Program
• Entrepreneurs’ Organization
• Richard Branson
• Ryan Holiday
• Gino Wickman
• Traction
• Rocket Fuel
• Must read book: Seeking Wisdom

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