| Mastermind groups are nothing new. In
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| | 3. Limit your number of participants. I
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| fact, Napoleon Hill writes about them in
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| | think the ideal group size is 4-6. We
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| his classic, "Think and Grow Rich", in
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| | currently have 5 members, and may decide
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| which he defines "Master Mind" as the
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| | to include a sixth at some point. A
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| "coordination of knowledge and effort, in
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| | smaller number of members will ensure
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| a spirit of harmony, between two or more
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| | that all get to be heard in the group and
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| people for the attainment of a definite
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| | that all get to participate.
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| purpose." He further adds, "No two minds
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| | 4. Establish guidelines for how the
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| ever come together without thereby
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| | group operates. You'll need to determine
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| creating a third, invisible intangible
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| | the date, time, length, and location for
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| force, which may be likened to a third
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| | the meeting. You may have someone to
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| mind." He believed that a group of
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| | volunteer to host the meeting each month,
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| like-minded, achievement-oriented people
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| | rotate hosts, or meet in a restaurant or
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| could dramatically leverage each other's
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| | coffee shop. Your group will also want
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| success.
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| | to discuss some "rules of the road", like
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| I recently joined forces with a business
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| | issues of confidentiality, respect, how
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| colleague and we have begun our own
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| | or if you share info about colleagues or
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| mastermind group for solo entrepreneurs
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| | other businesses, etc. Keep the rules
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| who want to build their businesses
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| | short, simple, and clear to maximize the
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| online. We're a diverse group -- we have
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| | effectiveness of your group.
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| a business coach (me), a website
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| | 5. Set a general agenda for the group
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| designer, a college entertainment
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| | meetings. You may want to pick a topic or
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| provider (wax hands, 3-D photo collages,
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| | focus for each meeting, from discussing
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| build-a-bear, party inflatables), a
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| | tax strategies to valuable resources you
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| wrought-iron fence installer, and a
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| | use to evaluating each other's marketing
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| voiceover/website narration specialist.
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| | materials. We're trying out two
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| As we're starting to determine who we are
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| | things--sharing a recent success or
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| and what we do and how we operate, here
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| | breakthrough (either business or
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| are the steps we're using to figure out
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| | personal) and sharing a resource that the
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| our direction in the establishment of
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| | others might find valuable. I'm going to
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| this group:
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| | suggest adding a time where each of us
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| 1. Ensure all participants have similar
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| | gets a limited amount of time to share a
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| interests. In our case, we've only
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| | problem or issue with which we need help.
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| invited others who are self-employed and
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| | Our proposed meeting agenda is noted
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| either currently have their business
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| | below:
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| online or want to create a viable online
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| | -- Welcome -- Share a recent success or
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| business. I like the diversity of
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| | breakthrough (personal or professional)
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| industries in our group, and think the
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| | -- What do you need help with? --
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| fact that we don't know a great deal
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| | Tonight's topic: -- Share a resource --
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| about each other's industries will enable
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| | Next meeting topic -- Adjourn
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| us to bring great new perspectives to the
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| | 6. Establish group leadership
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| table, as we'll force each other to
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| | guidelines. There should be some
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| "think outside the box", since we won't
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| | consensus as to whether or not the group
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| be constrained by preconceived notions of
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| | will have a facilitator or leader, and
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| what will or won't work in each industry.
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| | what role that person will play. I think
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| You may want to have all members from
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| | groups have a better survival rate if
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| the same industry but who serve different
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| | there is a facilitator in charge to move
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| segments of the same industry, like
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| | the meeting along. Your group needs to
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| insurance agents, or bring people
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| | decide if that role will be permanent for
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| together who have some other common
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| | a defined length of time, or will rotate
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| interests, like a hobby.
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| | among group members from meeting to
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| 2. Screen your applicants. My colleague
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| | meeting.
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| and I simply brainstormed about people
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| | 7. If at first it doesn't work, try
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| that we knew who all happen to share
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| | something different! Your first stab at
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| similar values: -- the desire and passion
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| | establishing how your group operates may
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| to create extraordinary businesses --
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| | not work. If some aspect of the group
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| love to help others create success and
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| | isn't working, be flexible enough to try
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| are supportive -- have integrity and are
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| | something different until you find the
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| trustworthy -- respond well to feedback
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| | right combination of factors that works
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| -- seek win-win agreements and solutions
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| | well for your group.
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| -- commitment to attending the meetings
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| | I love the energy present at our
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| -- want to get to know each other on a
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| | mastermind group meetings, and can't wait
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| personal, as well as professional, level
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| | to see the results at the end of the year
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| If you open membership to the general
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| | from the synergistic power of the group.
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| public to increase your numbers, you will
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| | If you feel like that you're isolated and
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| want to determine some key core
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| | that no one understands the problems of
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| characteristics that you're seeking in
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| | your business, create your own mastermind
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| new members and ask the appropriate
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| | group using the guidelines above. It may
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| questions to ascertain if the applicants
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| | be the best step you take for your
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| possess these characteristics.
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| | business this year!
|
