About Peer Groups
1. Why join a peer group?
Many ambitious, effective, successful leaders join peer groups because they have arrived at a perplexing situation. They can’t work harder; won’t work longer; and aren’t working smarter fast enough.
In an act of entrepreneurial experimentation, they try something new, investing a day each month to be on their work rather than in it.
Members report that, during their first meeting, they are relieved from professional, familial, and communal isolation. They aren’t lonely at the top, because they are surrounded by people. But they are isolated, because when they speak — however informally — their words become policy.
Within 90 days, many members say, they stop doing other people’s work. They stop competing with their own people. They start getting home earlier, able to attend to the most important people in their lives.
Within the first year, many members say, they have made better decisions, achieving better outcomes — 10x or 100x the cost of membership.
People who participate in peer groups share confidential, encouraging experiences and insights.
People who are not surrounded by the challenge of worthy peers have a higher potential of being buffoons.
2. What happens at a peer group meeting?
3. Who gets the most out of the peer group experience?
4. Resources
For reading:
- Change Your Questions, Change Your Life, Marilee Adams
- Firece Conversations, Susan Scott
- The Artists Way, Julia Cameron
5. Testimonials
“Through ten years with Artie Isaac, I experienced the development of a supportive, challenging CEO peer group that held me accountable for personal and business growth. As a result, I have developed lifetime relationships with terrific people, achieved 300% growth over five years, and gained insights about all aspects of running a business I might otherwise never had. That’s ROI. That’s Artie.”
Doug Lunne
President & Creative Director
LMG – Lunne Marketing Group
(former peer group member)
“The time with Artie and especially my peer group members has been invaluable for my company, my career, and my life beyond the office. I would encourage anyone interested in learning more about themselves and their business, while connecting with others, to contact Artie in order to find a peer group group that is right for them. I am grateful that someone cared enough to suggest Vistage to me years ago, and now I am encouraging others reach out and engage as well. I am confident that you will find value through membership that far outpaces the costs.“
Mike Davis
President
Engineered Profiles LLC
“I have grown as a leader throughout my time in a peer group, with Artie as the facilitator. The camaraderie, mentorship, professional development, collaboration, and support I’ve received have been key to my own professional growth and thus the growth of Bridgeway Academy. This has been especially relevant while working through leading an organization through a pandemic. My peer group has been a lifeline for me and Artie has a way of drawing out the best in others through his supportive nature. He asks tough questions and is supportive and generous in his time and resources. I am so fortunate to have Vistage, and Artie Isaac in my life.”
Erin Nealy
Co-Founder/ CEO
Bridgeway Academy
“Artie has been a trusted coach and advisor since I joined a peer group in 2012. He’s highly trained in many coaching methods and has a deep wisdom when it comes to asking the questions that are difficult to answer, but must be answered for positive growth. During the challenging days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there are no easy answers and great uncertainty, Vistage serves as a lifeline for processing issues and finding solutions to challenges alongside trusted colleagues.“
Christy Farnbauch
Executive Director
CATCO
“As a new Executive Director, the peer group team and chair have been helpful and gave me great strategies to work closely with my Board to achieve organizational outcomes.“
Angel Harris
Executive Director
Dress for Success Columbus
(former peer group member)
“With depth and consciousness as a leader, Artie provides excellent support, knowing when to let the group process and when to gracefully move conversation forward. I always walk away with new nuggets of wisdom, challenged to deepen my self-awareness, and re-energized to do the hard work that leadership requires.“
Rebecca Wiggins
Organizational & Leadership Consulting
Row Together
(former peer group member)
“Leadership can be lonely. My business partner and I had recently parted ways. I felt lost, angry at the events, and alone. I struggled with direction. A good friend pointed me to Artie Isaac, saying, “If he cannot help you, he will point you to someone who can.” Artie chairs several Vistage peer groups where, once a month, about 15 of us solve our most pressing business challenges. We meet one-on-one outside of the group as well. I value the confidentiality. It allows us to share issues which are deep and personal. We often laugh. We sometimes cry. We always grow. Their honesty and friendship have taken the loneliness out of leadership, and they have helped me build a better more profitable business. I also value the leadership artistry Artie Isaac demonstrates as our Chair. If you don’t know him, I encourage you to introduce yourself. If you’ve found leadership to be lonely, make community your priority this week. You cannot afford to wait any longer.”
John McNeal
Vistage Chair
2reveal
(former peer group member)
“Artie is the reason I fly back from San Francisco to Columbus monthly for my peer group meetings. He has curated a great collection of business owners for our group and does a masterful job of facilitating the discussion. He asks insightful questions, brings theory and outside expert ideas in when appropriate, and challenges us to think in new ways.”
Scott Ihrig
CEO
IMC | An Experience Studio
(former peer group member)
“Artie blends his unique brand of intentional calm with a prismatic view of issues and the world. He masterfully imparts this way of life to members of his Vistage groups. Through his expert coaching: Problems become issues. Issues become actions. Actions reinforce calm.“
“My Vistage experience has been amazing. My peers are smart, thoughtful, kind people who put challenges into perspective, and take a holistic approach to every issue. Artie is a highly skilled chair who facilitates when necessary, brings us excellent speakers, and holds us accountable for our actions. I have been so lucky to be in one of his groups.“
Blythe Coons
Executive Communication Coach & Trainer
Articulation
(former peer group member)
I greatly admire Artie’s heart-centered ability to improve lives through his coaching and peer support processes. Artie creates peer groups of unlike-minded individuals who show up to work, play, and challenge each other in profound ways. I was stuck and searching for motivation when Artie invited me into the Working Surface group. I was enthusiastically welcomed and offered unconditional encouragement and positive regard. I experienced an immediate improvement in the quality of my work and my days. Also – it is really fun. Artie makes plenty of room for that, too.”
Matt Slaybaugh
Achievement Skills Coach
CoachMatt.co
(former peer group member)
“Vistage has been an incredible experience for me both personally and professionally. Artie is hands-down the best facilitator I have ever worked with and I so value the opportunity to be vulnerable amongst peers and process issues that I’m navigating.“
“At first, my peer group helped me with business. What I didn’t understand at the time, and am not sure I will ever understand, is that it helped me form as a better human. From business person, to husband, to son, to brother, to an other-centered human, Vistage has impacted every aspect of my life. I am a better person, in every way, having known my peer group and Artie Isaac.“
Timmy McCarthy
Entrepreneur & Social Change Advocate
(former peer group member)
“My peer group has been completely transformative for my business during my eight years with Artie Isaac in a CEO group. Every month I come away with new insights, actionable tools, and invaluable peer review. Artie’s leadership in a room of leaders is thoughtful and passionate. I’m looking forward to year nine!”
April Zimmerman Katz
President
The Zimmerman Companies
“My membership has been instrumental for me as an entrepreneur and has paid for itself four-fold in my first year as a member. The input and counsel that I receive from Artie and my peers is invaluable. Not only has my peer group been a profitable investment in my business, but it has genuinely made me a better person. I grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually from each monthly meeting.“
Kristen Schmitt
Principal
Thrive to Lead
“I have had the pleasure and benefit of being a member of one of Artie’s peer groups for three years. The members of our group truly care about each other’s success, which leads to extremely focused and engaging meetings. I always come away with actionable items. I highly recommend meeting with Artie. Within five minutes, you will understand why Artie has become one of the most well-known and well-respected Vistage chairs in the country.”
Travis Timmons
Founder and CEO
Fitness Matters
(former peer group member)
“Artie Isaac masterfully harnesses our group’s talent, insight, wisdom, and expertise through organized and perceptive facilitation. I benefit greatly from my investment in the group. It’s helpful to get away from the business for a day each month to gain a unique perspective, and in times of great need, processing issues with my peers has been immeasurably valuable. Artie leads with his head, his heart, and some (very dry) humor. I feel as though I have a room full of consultants who are there — all in — to support me. Sometimes it’s tough to break away from my rigorous schedule, but every time I do, I am grateful for the learning. I recommend Artie Isaac to any smart, ambitious, open-minded leaders of growing businesses.”
Rachel Friedman-Webb
Founder + CEO
TENFOLD
(former peer group member)
“I am the executive director of a Columbus-based nonprofit and Vistage is helping me grow into a better leader and human being. Through my peer group, I develop genuine and authentic relationships with more than 20 nonprofit colleagues. Together, we forge new opportunities to do good in the community. We share our fears and work together to overcome what is holding us back. We meditate together and we laugh together. Artie’s Vistage experience is invaluable. If you are considering a peer group, I highly recommend a conversation with Artie.“
Matthew Goldstein
Executive Director
Besa
“Artie Isaac is an extraordinary human being. He is intelligent, open-minded, creative, intuitive, hilarious, candid, interesting, interested, and of very high integrity. I have only the highest praise for Artie. As a member of one of Artie’s peer groups, I have grown as a person and as a business owner. He is a key reason our group is so functional, productive, and connected. I highly recommend Artie as a speaker, facilitator, chair, and friend.”
Casey Brown
Founder and President
Boost
(former peer group member)
“Artie is a remarkable leader, mentor, facilitator, coach, speaker, and consultant. I have had the opportunity to know Artie over the last few years as a member of one of his highly functioning peer groups. Through his efforts and facilitation, I continually receive a tremendous return on my investment. I highly recommend Artie as a chair, speaker, consultant, and coach.“
Alec Broadfoot
Founder and CEO
Vision-Spark
(former peer group member)