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