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“Great power can be accumulated through no other principle than that of the master mind.” Napoleon Hill
In 1987, I joined my first master mind group. If you are not familiar with the term “master mind,” it is a group of like-minded individuals who come together in a spirit of encouragement and support. Growandimprove.com defines the Mastermind as “a small group that you meet with for the purpose of reinforcing growth and success while offering support to one another; a group that has been identified and set aside to concentrate specifically on growth and manifesting success in the following areas; finances, spirituality, relationships, and or health. Mastermind groups achieve success by visualizing goals, creating intentions, setting achievable goals, and sharing resources. History has revealed that many successful inventors, scientists, and businessmen/women were members of a mastermind group.”
In my original group, I was introduced to powerful books and concepts that still impact my life today including: Think and Grow Rich, The Magic of Thinking Big, and How to Win Friends and Influence People. My mind was stretched, never to revert to its original dimensions. Since then I have been involved in a number of groups. Currently I participate in three different groups. One that meets in person for 1 1/2 hours every week; one that meets over the phone every other week; and a third that meets in person once a month for an entire day. Each group is completely different, and my goals are different for each of them as well.
A mastermind can be managed in a variety of way – whatever works best for the group is appropriate. It is important to have some kind of structure. Without structure, a mastermind can become more of a “coffee clutch” or social event. The point of meeting with your mastermind group is to set up and accomplish specific goals in the group. It should be a safe, encouraging environment where people are free to give and receive feedback. If someone is easily offended with honest critique, they are probably not a good fit. The goal of the group is honesty with encouragement. Members need to know that what they share during a session will stay in the group. Members should also feel that they feedback they get is from the heart and given in their best interest. Of course, the person receiving the advice can also choose whether or not he or she wants to use it. Look at your group as a forum to brainstorm ideas as well as a way to encourage action.
To form a master mind group, chose members who are at different levels in their expertise and career. If you’re the smartest or the wealthiest person in the group, it’s probably not the right group for you, unless you are there to take on a mentoring role. Look for people who have achieved the level of success you want. This helps you learn from the experience (and mistakes) of others, helping you progress at a more rapid rate.
How do you join an already established master mind group? Ask. Some groups have been around awhile and because of the relationships built are not open to accepting new members. Don’t take it personally; you’ll want that same type of commitment in your group. If you can’t find one that’s already launched, find a few people that have similar goals and set a time to meet consistently. Make sure it is set up so that everyone gets what they need out of the group.
You can literally feel it when the minds of the people in your group synchronize and become a “master mind.” You’ll find that when you associate with people that encourage you to “go for it” when it comes to your dreams and goals, that you’ll reach the pinnacle of your professional pursuits faster than you ever thought possible.
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This is the ninth of a series based on the successful principles of Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich.
