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