You’ve probably heard the old expression, the whole is
greater than the sum of its parts. This concept proves
itself over and over with the exponential power of the
Mastermind Group. The idea of a mastermind collective was
formally coined in Napoleon Hill’s classic book, “Think and
Grow Rich.” Hill wrote, “No two minds ever come together
without thereby creating a third, invisible intangible
force, which may be likened to a third mind.”
Today, more and more people are harnessing the power of the
Mastermind Group to help them think bigger. This concept
can be applied to business, social causes, politics,
relationships, health, and artistic endeavors. Combining
the abilities of multiple individuals to solve problems,
brainstorm ideas, seek solutions, and develop strategies
creates greater results than going it alone as a “lone
ranger.”
The size of a Mastermind can range from two to eight
members. Any more than that can get chaotic. The group can
meet in person if they are in a similar geographic
location. Or if the Masterminders live in different states
or countries, they can also meet via a bridge line. The
members of the group make a commitment to show up regularly
and to contribute to each others’ success.
The types of groups can be as varied as your imagination.
However, compatibility is vital to the success of the
group. Members should have similar interests and/or should
be at a similar “level.” For example, participants can be
in a similar area of business like realtors or life
coaches. Or the group’s members can have a common goal like
writing a book, building an Internet subscriber list, or
losing 30 pounds.
In this way, stronger bonds are formed and the group
creates win-win situations for all of its members. When
selecting members, only invite participants who have a
strong desire to succeed and a demonstrated ability to
contribute. Your group will be the most successful when you
have members who are passionate about Masterminding.
If you want to start your own Mastermind Group, here are
some guidelines:
1) Define the purpose to the group: What will your
objectives be when you meet? What do you want to accomplish
together? For instance a Mastermind of college students
could set a goal of academic excellence.
2) Decide on the groups’ ground rules: What is acceptable?
And how will the ground rules be enforced? One of the
groups was extremely committed to attendance and promptness
- we decided that if a person was late showing up for a
call, he or she paid $1 per minute to your charity of
choice. Miss the whole meeting and it was $60.
3) Determine the structure of the groups’ time together:
You can have an agenda and a facilitator. Or, you can
rotate leadership. You can have freely-flowing
conversation. You can also decide to have closely monitored
time frames for each person to speak.
4) Plan the groups’ logistics: Where, how often, and how
long will you meet? When will your group start and when
will it be completed? For instance, one of my Mastermind
groups met every week for one hour for a period of four
months.
5) State wants and needs: Mastermind groups can only reach
their full potential if each member is willing to think big
and ask powerful questions. At your meetings, each
Mastermind group member can tell the group exactly what he
or she wants – the member does not have to know how it will
be accomplished. Case in point, a group member might start
off – “This is Jane. I am facing a problem in my business
[describe] and I need the group’s ideas on how to solve
it.” Another group member might say, “This is Tyler. I want
the group to help me develop a strategy to make me an
additional $100,000 in my consulting business this year.”
6) Commit to contributing: Your Mastermind group’s success
depends on you. Make a commitment to listen carefully, be
present, show up on time, and fully support your fellow
Masterminders. In this way, you exponentially increase the
groups’ synergy and other members will rise to your level
of contribution.
Being a part of a successful Mastermind group is an
enriching experience that will accelerate you
professionally and personally in ways you can’t imagine.
You don’t have to be a lone ranger and you don’t have to
figure things out on your own. So, don’t wait to start or
join one!
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Wendy Maynard of GoMarketingMaven.com created the Maven
Marketing System specifically for small business owners,
coaches, consultants, and solo-preneurs. She also publishes
a free weekly marketing ezine. Subscribe at
http://www.gomarketingmaven.com/ezine_3.html
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