Jack Canfield on Mastermind Group

Jack Canfield, of Chicken Soup fame, wrote about Mastermind Groups in his recent newsletter. The information is valuable and I thought I would share it with you:

How to Accelerate Your Success with a Mastermind Group
by Jack Canfield

We all know that two heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem or creating a result. So imagine having a permanent group of five or six people who meet every week for the purpose of problem solving, brainstorming, networking, and encouraging and motivating each other!

This process is called masterminding and is one of the most effective success tools you can adopt! It is a powerful way to support your dreams and bring unlimited resources to your business and personal life.

Participating in a mastermind group has been critical to me. I can't imagine achieving all I have without one, and it certaily made my goals happen much faster.

A Process for Accelerating Your Growth

The basic philosophy of a mastermind group is that more can be achieved in less time when people work together. Sometimes called a "dream team", your mastermind group is made up of two or more individuals who voluntarily come together on a regular basis - weekly, biweekly, or monthly - to share ideas, thoughts, information, feedback and resources.

Your group can be composed of people from your own industry or profession or people from all walks of life. You can focus on business, increasing each other's income, building a business, raising better kids, or solving a social problem.

Within your mastermind group, you benefit from the other members who empower you and draw out your full talents, resources and abilities. They trigger, stimulate, and motivate you to become all you are capable of being.

Creating Your Dream Team

The key is to choose people who are already where you'd like to be in your life - or who are at least a level above you. In forming your mastermind group, start by carefully enrolling another friendly, on-purpose, like-minded individual. Start by meeting together and then adding other selected, unanimously agreed-upon individuals who will work in total harmony for the good of each other and for the good of the group.

1. Your Dream Team should consist of 4-8 people. Most people find that 6 is the ideal number.

2. Meet weekly, if possible, for an hour to an hour and a half. This meeting must be held sacred as a life-enhancing priority. The meetings should be upbeat, enriching, encouraging and beneficial to each individual and the group's purposes. I always start our meetings with a prayer or an invocation. You could also start with an inspiring story.

3. Each member must agree to play all out -- to openly share ideas, support, contacts, information, feedback, and anything else that will help advance the individual and group goals.

4. Start by having each member share something positive and good that happened since the last meeting.

5. Next, have each member share an opportunity or problem they have experienced since the last meeting and ask for whatever support they would like on it. Appoint a time-keeper to make sure that everyone gets the same amount of time. This is important if you want your group to last. Everyone must get value at each meeting.

6. End by sharing appreciations and acknowledgements.

You'll find one of the real values of a mastermind group is the accountability factor - other members checking up on you to make sure you meet your stated commitments. It's one way to ensure you'll accomplish a lot more!

Marketing Mastermind Group

One of the most common challenges that Mastermind Group members have is how to effectively market their business. This is often the main reason that the members sign up for a group - to learn what is working for other business owners and what best practices can be learned.

This morning I found a blog called The Marketing Mindshare Project. They had an interesting post on 7 Key Steps for Bringing Your Information Product to Market, Faster and Better.

Their 7 steps included:

• Take one giant step backwards by writing down your goals.
• Set a launch date for your information product and make it public.
• Listen to audio. You can advance your education by listening to audio from information marketing experts on CD or via a MP3 player.
• Take action everyday.
• Make a list of skills and knowledge that you'll need to bring your product to market, then create a plan to how to acquire some of knowledge and skills that you are lacking.
• Create an environment of productivity and positive energy.

And...

Form a mastermind group with 1 to 5 other entrepreneurs with similar interests and needs. Mastermind groups are terrific for exchanging best practices and resources, but their greatest value is as an "accountability partnership". Ask your mastermind partners to keep you on course by challenging you when they see a deviation from your original plan. If done in a positive and constructive manner, this will provide balance to rationalizations that you come up with to justify your delays. The best place to find mastermind partners is at information marketing seminars.

Mastermind Links for 2007-03-29

• Why Internet Marketing Is Not Like Making A Sandwich - form a mastermind group to tap on unique talents and skills to create a product quickly.
  
  
• How to Build Momentum to Make Great Progress Toward Your Goal - Often you'll find the home crowd is a big factor in games because they can cheer the team on and the team literally "feeds" off the electricity. I don't know if you've ever been to a live sporting event but when the announcer says "You can feel the electricity in the air" - he really means it. This is all the more reason to get a mastermind group going. It's one of the best things you can do to build momentum. A mastermind can help build the groundwork more efficiently and can "spark" your momentum in the form of network contacts, resources, ideas, etc.
  

Mastermind Membership And Logistics

I was pointed to the Life Two Midlife Improvement blog this morning (I'm not close to my midlife yet) because of a post written by Dave the Coach about who to invite and how to run a Mastermind Group. His advice is:

Who Should be a member?

You want people who have a similar interest. For example, a group of executives starting their own consulting companies.

They should be willing to make a commitment for a year to give a chance for the group to work. Note: It takes at least 4-6 months for the group to really gel and get to a consistent level of performing.

Interview people you are considering. Ask them what they can bring to the group and share what you bring to the table as well.

You all will need to be able to give each other feedback and be honest and willing to discuss when things are not going well. This is the most challenging aspect. And the most rewarding.

This needs to be a group that is passionate about blowing through the roadblocks and really exceeding everyone's goals.

What are the logistics?

I recommend meeting every two to four weeks at the same time. That way you can protect the time in your calendar. It means protecting that time as part of your commitment to each other.

You generally start a meeting with a check-in to share what you need to discuss. That drives the agenda with equal time given. Sometimes, my MM group will devote an entire meeting to working on a single issue for one member. We then make sure subsequent meetings shift their focus to the rest of the group. It is very democratic.

Whether you are mid-life or not, Mastermind Groups are a great way to help you connect with your passions and build a plan to accomplish your goals.

5 Steps To Creating A Mastermind Group

Brian Bartes is a business coach who posted an entry discussing Mastermind Groups to the Networking Business Talks blog. It included 5 steps to creating a Mastermind Group and I thought I would share it for those of you considering creating a group of your own:

1. Form the group. Contact a number of prospective members. They should work in non-competing fields, and be people that will contribute to the synergy of the group. An ideal group size is 4-6.

2. Create a systematic schedule. Monthly seems to work well, and a systematic day and time is best. All members should be dedicated to this schedule.

3. Formulate a plan. A set format causes the meetings to run more efficiently. For example, the first 30 minutes could be open for general discussion. Then, each member could receive an allotted quantity of time (15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the group) to discuss his or her "issue of the month."

4. Include an occasional guest (optional). Some mastermind groups include guests as part of their format. These guests could be invited to speak on a specific topic (e.g., an attorney who specializes in estate planning), or could participate in the deliberate format.

5. Take action. One of the benefits of a mastermind group is built-in accountability. Be certain to take action on the ideas that were generated at the meeting. Furthermore, develop a support structure that includes follow-up reporting at the next meeting. Be certain to report both your successes, and your challenges.

Have you found success creating a group? I would love to hear your story.

How To Promote Your Mastermind Group

I came across a LinkedIn Answers site today about a LA Mastermind Group looking for 2 new members. It got me thinking as to what the best ways are to promote a Mastermind Group.

My first group was started through my existing network of entrepreneurs. They were people who I met with on an individual basis to discuss the idea and see if they had an interest in joining. We had our first 4 members join that group and it has slowly built itself up. We've now created 2 new groups as well.

I think it's a good idea to start with your existing network because you know them and can gauge how well they will work together and what everybody is trying to learn to grow their businesses. You need the right mix of intentions, industry backgrounds, and personalities to make it work.

After creating the founding team of 4 for the first group, we've expanded our promotional efforts to include:

• Online - this blog, targeted niche articles on my website, a few related websites that target local groups
  
  
• Referrals - this is always the best way to drive new members since existing members know who would be a good fit with the rest of the group
  
  
• Media - I've created an identity as a local expert in Mastermind Groups and have done numerous interviews with the local media about the topic

How else have you promoted your groups or how are you planning on doing it?

How To Stay In Touch Between Meetings

After a successful Mastermind Group meeting members usually leave full of energy and ideas and are ready to take on the world. The momentum may last a week or two and then life gets in the way again and you fall back into your normal routine.

How can you keep the momentum going and stay in touch with your group members if you only meet once a month or less frequently?

For my groups, every member is partnered up with another member and they are responsible for calling each other every week to make sure they are both following through on their goals. We have also created a private forum for our members to be able to log in and share ideas / brainstorm challenges between meetings.

A new technique that I recently came across is to have a Mastermind blog where each member is responsible for posting every day what they have done to move forward on their goals. While a daily posting might be excessive for some, it can help you keep on track and make sure your attention does not get diverted when life "gets in the way."

I came across this idea from The Prosperity Guy Blog:

What I've found real helpful and has given me a lot of motivation in my new group is our mastermind blog. We post what we have accomplished day by day. Just that is really keeping me on track. I want to share with my group what I've gotten done day by day. The blog is a great tool for between mastermind meeting.

You can get your own blog for free at WordPress, Blogger, or TypePad.

Make the blog private so no one besides your group can see it. I have my blog professional hosted at my own domain name (TheProsperityGuy.com) but for your Mastermind blog one of the above free blog sites is good because only your group members are going to visit it.

What techniques do you use to stay in touch with your fellow Mastermind Group members?

Use A Mastermind Group To Get You Into Gear

One of the greatest things about effective goal setting is that when you commit to someone else you are more likely to follow through. When you get involved in a Mastermind Group, make sure that you use your fellow members to hold you accountable to doing the things you said you were going to do.

A great example of this is Naadi Salaam. Naadi is a startup entrepreneur who always wanted to create a company in the hair industry. With the help of a newly formed Mastermind Group, Naadi was able to get the support and ideas she needed to launch her business.

I decided to embark upon the exploration and creation of a mastermind group in order to pursue my life's passion (natural hair and make-up). i'll have to expound more on the mastermind group, but i HIGHLY recommend the book think and grow rich by napoleon hill. since the creation of the mastermind group, 7 weeks ago, i have finally legitimized my hair business and created promotional materials and an advertising plan for the south asian bridal make-up service! ever since i got the ball rolling, it has grown and taken on a life of its own. i am now considering pursuing a home study course in aromatherapy so that i can better understand essential oils and their healing properties, in an effort to grow and expand my business by offering different services and products. i would have never thought that i would have gotten so much out of a simple networking seminar, but i did.

Have you had any similar experiences where your Mastermind Group really helped you get into gear?

New Mastermind Group Excitement!

Kerry-Ann writes the A Happy Inspired Life blog and recently posted about a new Mastermind Group she was setting up.

There is always a lot of excitement that goes with creating a new Mastermind group - it is the opportunity to find a group of peers that can contribute to your success and hold you accountable to actually following through on what you say you are going to do.

In Kerry-Ann's words:

I was very excited about the thought of being in a mastermind group because I feel the accountability will be in valuable. When it is just me it is so easy to have good intentions but also to let them be swept under the carpet and promise myself tomorrow.

But with a mastermind group I have to state what it is I want to do this week, knowing that next week I am going to have to report on what I have and have not done. This is a huge incentive to get off my butt and do what I say I'm going to.

Your mastermind group will also support you when things are tough and can be a great place for resources when you're not sure where to turn.

It is so nice to know that some one out there cares and has your back but does not have emotional attachment to you achieving your dreams. They can also help you to see a different point of view and hopefully help you stay light and happy even in the face of difficulties.

What have you found to be the greatest benefits of your Mastermind Groups?

Making The Case For Online Mastermind Groups

Lisa Egan writes a blog on MasterMinding and is a supporter of having the groups online. Regular blog readers will know that I've touched on online Mastermind Groups before and while I'm still skeptical that they can have the same impact as a face to face meeting, I like to present you with the options and let you pick which option best suits you.

Lisa wrote a recent post highlighting the benefits of the online model:

I demonstrated how a typical mastermind group set-up would operate in our online groups. These are not chat rooms, bulletin boards, or webinars; they are complete home-away-from-home, full featured, multi-media rich spaces where you can conduct every on ground meeting task and then some.

Masterminding online is actually better, faster, more efficient, productive, broader, and deeper. I guess you can tell I'm passionate about this. I absolutely believe in it. Ten to fifteen members in an on ground group cannot achieve the necessary knowledge, and information exchange that is required to be effective in the time alotted for a typical meeting. Being a member of an online group means you have access to your group 24/7 when you need to tap into the mastermind, and as a participant, you can respond when the brainstorm strikes and at your convenience ... maybe after you've had dinner or the kids have gone to bed.

Do any of you have experiences or thoughts of online versus face to face Masterminding?

Know What You Want From Your Mastermind Group

Guest Contributor: Tony D. Clark
Tony's Posts - Tony's Blog


"What's in it for me?"

That's a question we often ask. It's human nature.

If you're a considerate person, you ask it in your head. If you're rude, it's probably out loud.

But it's not necessarily a bad thing.

There's a difference between being selfish and being self-aware. A selfish person only looks out for himself. A self-aware person takes others into consideration, but not at the expense of their own needs.

When you join a mastermind group, it's important to ask, "what's in it for me?" Knowing what you want to get out of the group is as important as knowing what you can contribute.

The Right Fit

Different groups have different dynamics. Often, a mastermind group may evolve into a something other than a textbook group, or may not follow the guidelines established. This is why it's critical to know what you are looking for when you join the group.

Some groups become support groups or bitch sessions. Members may drop out, others stay on but mostly complain. If you don't have a clear goal for your involvement from the beginning, it can be easy to just go with the flow of the group. Rarely is this kind of group helpful to those looking for the true benefits of a mastermind group.

A group may evolve into a jam session or book group. A jam session is where a group folks of a similar craft get together and spends the time working on something - a project, a song, a program. This isn't a bad thing. It's actually very beneficial. I've been involved with groups like this before.

A group that becomes a meeting to discuss personal development books or other resources can be a natural progression of a mastermind group. I've seen it happen. Again, not a bad thing. But if it's not what you had in mind, these types of groups may not provide you with what you're looking for.

The group I belong to currently does a great job of following the core guidelines of a mastermind group. This is what I was looking for in a group. I wrote down goals and had a clear idea of what I wanted to gain from the group - along with what I felt I could contribute. I know at least some of the members did the same. Knowing "what's in it for me" has helped shape the group dynamic. Making it fit the plans we each had in mind.

When you set out to join a mastermind group, have a clear idea of what you're looking for. Ask the other members to do the same, and allow that to be the foundation for the group.

Remember, a mastermind group with a clear vision is formed by individuals with a clear vision. Knowing what's in it for you will help ensure everyone gets what they need from the group.

Starting Your Own Mastermind

Guest Contributor: Janet Napora
Janet's Posts - Janet's Blog


Starting your own Mastermind can be simple...if you know what your goal is. A Mastermind group doesn't have to be a complicated task. You have to know what the questions are before you can answer them.

• What do I want to accomplish?
• Who do I want in my group?
• Do I want to charge a fee?
• What will the schedule be?

Knowing what you want to accomplish is very important. Be specific about your goal for the group. You need to have a plan as to how you're going to reach your goal. It doesn't have to be complicated. It could be as simple as picking a topic to discuss. You are the leader of the group as far as the structure is concerned. You are not the boss however. You are there to guide your group, to help them work towards their goals.

The members of your group will set the tone for your meetings. The process by which you invite new members is up to you. You set the guidelines. Flexibility is also important. You never know how a person will conduct themselves. If you feel a member is not contributing in a way that is helpful to the entire group don't be afraid of asking them to leave the group. There are also people who will surprise you as time goes by. The person who you thought may not be right for the group could turn out to a valuable asset. Be patient, look beyond the person's obvious behavior. What you find may surprise you.

Charging a fee is a personal choice. You may just want to cover expenses or build a fund for future events. Building a fund is also a good way to provide tools for your group. It could be a personal development book to help your group between meetings or a practical guide to help your group reach specific business goals. The amount of the fee is also a personal choice. The amount of the fee will have an impact on the accessibility of the group for some people.

The schedule for the group at first will be something you need to decide as well as where it will be. Whatever you decide it doesn't have to be written in stone. Remember flexibility is important. As your Mastermind grows you need to do what's best for the group. Although every member is important you won't be able to accommodate everyone. That's where you come in as a leader and make the final decision.

Starting and maintaining a Mastermind group does require dedication. Don't start one if you're not willing or able to follow through. Understand what is involved and that people will be counting on you for guidance. Every member contributes to the group but you as the leader are the glue that holds everything together.

How To Prevent Your Mastermind Group From Failing

I've had a number of people contact me from Mastermind Groups that are failing and what they can do about it. Most of the time it's because they have the wrong members in the group and conflicts arise.

This morning I came across a blog entry by Melanie Benson Strick where she discusses some of the common pitfalls of Mastermind Groups and how you can avoid them. I found it very useful and thought I would share some of the key points:

Most Common Mastermind Challenges

• The group gets comfortable and doesn't motivate each other for greater results.
  
  
• Someone in the group feels like the unwilling mentor and leader and spends more energy 'pulling the group up.'
  
  
• A member starts showing up late, missing calls or is routinely disinterested.
  
  
• The mastermind becomes a social club and loses sight of the original charter or focus.
  
  
• It's not challenging you in a good way and everyone in the group is grating your nerves and you hate going to the meetings.
  
  

How To Ensure A Successful Group

• Elect 'roles' that each member of the team will hold. For instance, time keeper, note taker, meeting scheduler, mediator, etc.
  
  
• Have written guidelines and agreements for how your program will be run. Include things like confidentiality, timeliness, regular meeting schedules, etc.
  
  
• Bring in an outside facilitator or join a third-party program. A few years ago, my group joined a three month intensive program. Boy, were we on fire!
  
  
• Identify written goals and check in with each other regularly. I suggest at least once a month.
  
  
• Uplevel the game - create unique challenges to each other to achieve more. Create some stakes that everyone can have fun with. This works well when someone needs to handle an issue or energy drain - like clutter.

Do you have any other suggestions for creating a successful Mastermind Group

The Top 10 Secrets To Success

I recently came across the Evolving Times blog where author Edward Mills shared his top 10 secrets to his success. There were some interesting ones on the list including:

1. Waking up at 5:00am every morning
2. Meditate every morning
3. Use brainwave entrainment technology
4. I use the Simpleology web cockpit every day
5. Get outside every day
6. I hike at least three times a week
7. Take a day off from the computer each week
8. Play with my daughter
9. Remember that I am here to experience joy and feel great

And coming in at #10 was my favourite:

10. Play well with others. I have come to realize, better late than never, that I can't succeed in solitude. Connecting with others has become a hugely important part of my daily routine. Whether joining the conversation here in the blogosphere, meeting with a colleague to discuss possible partnerships, connecting on a bridge line with peers for a mastermind group, or asking for perspective on new ideas from friends, stepping out of the vacuum of "solo" entrepreneur and into a larger community has been one of the most important recent secrets of my expanding success.

What are your secrets to success?

The Whole Is Greater Than The Sum Of The Parts

Guest Contributor: Kirsten Harrell
Kirsten's Posts - Kirsten's Blog


You've heard the expression "two heads are better than one." Imagine how powerful it can be to have an entire group of people focusing on a question or problem you have. When you have a cohesive mastermind group with people who are truly invested in helping and supporting each other, the results are amazing. The whole truly is greater than the sum of the parts!

In recent mastermind meetings, I have experienced this power. It is great to be a part of something that feels so wonderful and meaningful. When someone presents an issue or problem, you can feel the energy build as the group begins to brainstorm and share ideas and suggestions. One idea builds on another, creating a fabulous array of possibilities and opportunities. I find the creative process helpful to me even when we are discussing someone else's issue.

It is during this brainstorming that the magic of masterminding develops. It is important to create a safe atmosphere in your mastermind group so that everyone feels good about participating in this process. When it is your turn to present a problem or question to the group, it is important to be open to all the ideas generated by your mastermind group. Keep an open mind and don't judge any ideas (at least not yet, you can filter through them later). Let everyone participate and recognize that all ideas are important and have value in the process.

When you are brainstorming to help another member, listen to your intuition and honor your inner wisdom by speaking your ideas - even if they seem silly. Try not to censor your ideas. You never know how your idea might spark another person or how your idea could be built upon to create a great solution. So be active and make suggestions - every voice in a mastermind group is important. Remember... the whole is greater than the sum of the parts!

Starting A Master Mind Group

Guest Contributor: Kayleen Reusser
Kayleen's Posts - Kayleen's Blog


Since starting a Master Mind group, I've learned to appreciate how things work together to accelerate one's career and life. For instance, I first learned about Master Mind groups last fall when I attended a Toastmasters (public speaking) meeting of which I'm a member. I joined Toastmasters because I want to promote myself as a speaker in order to tell more people about my writing career and perhaps to teach people about writing.

At the meeting, I listened to another member give a speech about the book by Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich.

I had heard of the book, but didn't know much about it. The Toastmaster giving the speech was articulate, used visuals, and showed enthusiasm for what the book, written 80 years ago, had done for his life and career.

At the end of the speech, I wanted to read the book and start utilizing its concepts in my own life.

After reading that book, I began to think of starting a Master Mind group. I knew of none in my area and didn’t know how to find one. So I decided to form my own group.

A couple of people in my writing support group came to mind. They were interested once they heard what it was about, and the three of us put the group together in January 2007.

Already, through the encouragement of the members of my Master Mind, I've felt compelled to work on my goals as a freelance writer and set steps of progress in my life that has put me miles ahead of where I was last year.

For example, one of my goals from meeting with my Master Mind group is to send a tithe, or tenth, of my writing income to a children's home in that my church has supported for years. We know the parents in the home are doing an excellent job. The children there are approaching college age.

Having graduated from college and worked in a college for several years, I would like to encourage these students to attend college and reach for careers they could never have otherwise. They just don't have the funds to do so.

In his Laws of Success series Napoleon Hill encourages giving it others without thinking of receipt. I'm following up on this concept and loving it!

In order to send the amount I've privately pledged, I will have to work harder than ever to earn enough dollars from my writing. The motivation of giving to the children's home is paying off with me sending pitches to editors of major magazines for articles, which I’ve never done before, and then receiving the go-aheads from them. The pay is much more than I was earning writing for my local newspapers.

This is exciting and something that is possible for me at this stage of my development as a writer because I’ve got the experience and the skills. I just never felt challenged to use them.

The Master Mind group is challenging me to stretch. That's a good feeling. Last week I made my first payment to the Mexican children's home. I can't wait to make the next one even bigger and to think about what could be around the corner with future meetings of my Master Mind.

Going to New York City

Dear blog readers,

Over the next week I will be in New York on a mini vacation. Thank you for your continued support and readership! I'll be back on the 19^th and will return to my regular posting in the blog!

Have a great week!

Evan.

Brainstorming session

If you read Reg Gupton's recent post on "Secrets to a successful Mastermind Group meeting format" you will notice that one of the key ingredients to his groups is coming up with 21 ideas to solve one of the group member's problems.

I brought this idea up to one of my groups on Thursday and they loved the idea. We're going to be doing a slightly different format where we allot 30 minutes to brainstorming. Since many of the members want an opportunity to brainstorm their problems, we're going to give 2 members 15 minutes each to present a problem and then have the group come up with as many ideas as possible to help solve the problem.

I'm looking forward to an exciting meeting next month and potentially making Reg's suggestions a regular part of our meetings!

Thanks for the great suggestion Reg!

Secrets to a successful Mastermind Group meeting format

Guest Contributor: Reg Gupton
Reg's Posts - Reg's Blog


Once you have decided to create a Mastermind Group, you need a plan for how to conduct your meetings to gain the full power of the synergy of like minds.

The format of my Group meeting has evolved over time. We started with no plan and struggled for some time as you might expect. We didn't know how to use the intellectual power we each believed was in the room. There was no structure. Lots of talking and banter. No solutions.

We put the power of the Group to work to solve the question "what is the best structure our sessions?" We brainstormed, tested and found the plan outlined below works very, very well and has for many years.

The meeting begins with 2-3 minutes per person during which each reports on successes they have had since the last meeting. It gives us a chance to be acknowledged and encouraged as we make progress toward our stated goals.

Then we negotiate for time in the rest of the meeting. Each person brings a challenge if they have one. We simply divide of the remaining meeting time among the members with a question. Not all participants will have things to talk about at each meeting. Some questions have more urgency than others. We learned that we can work with different priorities.

The member with the question moves to the front of the room and writes down their question on a flipchart. We often spend a few minutes making sure that we are focused on the "correct" question. It is surprising how many times we assist by refining/reframing the question. Often the member lacks insight into the nature of their true problem.

It is critical that the question is succinct and properly worded. If we frame the question incorrectly, we will not provide the help that is requested.

Once the question is framed, it is written on the top of a flipchart page. Then the member numbers down the left side from 1 to 21.

We then begin brainstorming, offering solutions to the problem as stated or actions to be taken. The member with the questions only job at this point is to act as a scribe and write the solutions offered. We continue brainstorming until we have completed the full list of 21 solutions.

As you might expect the first dozen or so are too easy. When it gets difficult the creativity really begins. The best solutions generally happen after solution #16 or so. When the contributing members have to really think and dig, the breakthroughs occur.

The person at the board then chooses 2-4 items to complete or work on over the next several days or weeks.

Use this structure for your meetings and watch the productivity soar. I guarantee it.

Should you pay to join a mastermind group?

Guest Contributor: Wendy Piersall
Wendy's Posts - Wendy's Blog

Even at times when our family income is at an all time high, I'm always on the hunt for great free resources. But when does it make sense to pay to participate in a mastermind group, no matter what your income level?

I've participated in both paid and free mastermind groups. In analyzing these experiences for this article, I was surprised to see the distinct differences in group dynamics that had been affected by whether or not the members paid to be there.

Perceived Value :: Generally speaking, something that is free is inherently valued a bit less than a service that is paid for.

Giving vs. Getting :: When individuals pay for participation, that also signals that they have made a contribution to the group. This may steer participants into focusing more on "What will I get for my money?" vs. "What can I offer this group?"

Investment vs. Reward :: Participants will always get more out of a mastermind group when they put more into a mastermind group. Investments of time, money, emotions and knowledge can all produce the same great results as long as the level of investment is high.

Coaching vs. Masterminding :: True masterminding is when a group of equals get together and offer each other input. Group coaching is when a group is led by an expert. Sometimes, a mastermind group is a cross between the two. It's an important consideration in determining what the group members are getting and giving to each other, compared to what they are expecting to receive from a facilitator with more knowledge than the rest of the group members.

The least successful mastermind group I participated in was in a relatively expensive program with very successful entrepreneurs. We all valued each other's input immensely, but I do believe that the level of monetary investment cancelled out some of the critically needed investment of emotional support and knowledge contribution from the participants.

The most successful mastermind group I participated in was part of a paid series of programs, and the cost of the series was the same if you went to one program or all programs. Thus the participants only joined the group if they had the emotional desire and commitment to growth necessary for the group to flourish, as well as a financial investment which increased their perceived value of the program.

When to Pay :: My own personal criteria for what makes a good financial investment in a mastermind group is whether or not the group will be led by, or have access to, experts in my field. These are people I would consider more "mentors" than "peers". This would be considered a little more of a cross breed between group coaching and a mastermind group - and usually
well worth the price!

When to Not Pay :: When I am with a mastermind group of people who I would consider very successful, but nonetheless my "peers", I feel I am able to contribute more expertise and advice, which is equally important to growth. Yet in this environment, I would prefer not to put myself in a position to pay for giving lots of advice. In this mastermind model, I believe that a financial investment can do more harm than good.

An alternative to the last suggestion would be to have the group members pay funds towards a group bank account, in which the funds could be used for social gatherings, philanthropic work, or as an incentive pool for goal achievement.

Setting Up A Technology Mastermind Group

The Mastermind Groups that I run each have members from different industries. If you're in the same business, or closely related, you cannot get into the group. The reason we set it up this way is that a) you don't want to share secrets with your competitors and b) chances are you know how things work in your industry - it's better to get ideas from people in different industries to learn how they do things.

There is an alternative way of thinking, however, for many groups where they set up a Mastermind Group for a particular industry. One recent blog post I came across highlighted this trend as the author, Glen Hopkins, shares advice on setting up a Mastermind Group in the technology sector:

One of the best ways I have found to create a mastermind group is through networking. The more you get to know like-minded people in your industry, the better the chances are of forming a powerful mastermind group.

For example, if you are an Internet marketer like me, you might want a computer programmer, a graphic designer, a copywriter and a sales professional in your group. This way, each of you can approach a challenge from a different perspective and offer valuable insight that the others would never have seen.

I suggest you do some research and learn as much as you can about mastermind groups. Start by networking and meeting with other people. Once you've formed a group, you should meet with each other once every week or two. This can be done online or via the telephone.

A mastermind group gives you a way to learn, understand and apply much more than you know now and at a much faster rate than trying to figure it out yourself. Nobody knows it all, that's why entrepreneurs need to help each other by forming mastermind groups.

Re-commit to your goals

One of the greatest benefits of a Mastermind Group is taking advantage of the opportunity to re-commit to the goals you set out for yourself. How often have you made a goal and not followed through because "life" got in the way?

When you commit to others and you re-commit on a regular basis you are far more likely to follow through. Philip Humbert highlighted this issue in a recent post in the Boatrocker's Blog:

RE-COMMIT TO YOUR GOALS EVERY DAY! Every day, remind yourself of your priorities and re-commit to them. For some this means time to meditate or pray. For others, it means a quick call to their coach, a friend, or members of a mastermind group. I encourage clients to start their day by writing a brief statement of where they are going and what they value in life.

Every day, 1001 minor tasks and distractions will interrupt you. The phone will ring, the boss will give you a “special” project, the kids will interrupt. Life will get in your way. Count on it! Plan for it and innoculate yourself. Every pilot and ship's captain knows that winds and currents will take them dangerously off-course. This is a natural process, something they know about, expect and plan for. It is not a surprise or source of frustration! Every day, plot your location, check your direction, and make sure you stay on course! It only takes a few minutes, and it is essential.

Finding Answers Through Masterminding

I came across an interesting blog this morning called Kevin Thompson Uncensored. His most recent post discussed how he went over to a friend's house to help him brainstorm ideas for his window cleaning business. By putting their heads together they were able to create a new program for his friend, Louis, to get more clients for his business:

And this is where the "Mastermind Principle" came into play.

We asked ourselves this one simple question:

How can we add so much value to this program that when presented to the client, they'd immediately think to themselves, "I'd be crazy not to take advantage of this".

And let me tell you, that’s when we came up with some incredible ideas.

You see, when you ask yourself the right questions, you'll come up with the right answers... every time.

And when you do this with someone else (which is called masterminding), you come up with a whole lot more right answers.

Where things used to be a struggle - now they are accomplished with ease.

Where cashola used to be tight - now it flows like a fire hydrant

You can accomplish great things with the help of like-minded people, and when you begin using the power of the mastermind, you'll do more, go further and have more abundance that you ever thought possible.

Master Minding Team Work

Guest Contributor: Debbie Lousberg
Debbie's Posts - Debbie's Blog

In one of my Master Mind groups recently, we had to make some decisions about the future of our group because the logistics and format were not working for the majority of us any longer. We were each courageous enough to bring our concerns to the table and at the same time, open to hearing others' ideas for resolution. Rather than feeling as if we were each alone with this problem, we brought it up for group discussion, heard others voice the same concerns, and then found the perfect compromise. In this case, we've gone from meeting bi-weekly and rotating to each others' homes at lunch time to meeting monthly at one person's home for dinner with email contact in between to remind each other we're holding their goals and intentions in mind and supporting them from afar.

It was such a great example of effective team dynamics, it made me think of the conventional work teams and issues that prevent effectiveness and positive outcomes many times. What if all work teams could be this effective? What needs to change?

For one thing, individual agendas. Realize that a group should come together for one purpose, that of accomplishing a goal, or in the case of Master Minds, to share and support each other. Secondly, honesty and the ability to hear other opinions is crucial. There's nothing beneficial about holding back opinions or harboring resentments just because we're afraid to bring something up. That's where trust and openness toward other team members comes in. If we make efforts to know people better, approach our work with an attitude of camaraderie and enthusiasm, team mates pick up on this and join in the fun and we move together as a unit in accomplishing our goal.

So here we were, a small group of people of the same mind, able to work out our issues in a way that was agreeable to everyone. We experienced the importance of being honest with each other while compromising for the betterment of the whole. We trusted each other and found a workable solution and everyone was pleased with the outcome.

Take lessons you experience in your Master Mind groups to work with you. Apply some of the same kindness, compassion, consideration and teamwork there. See how your work life changes for the better!

Are You Alone?

Often in business there can be the assumption made that people who do well have done it alone. We have been trained to think that the CEO has all the answers and should not need to ask for help.

In reality, however, the opposite is usually the case. Business owners who have the greatest success are usually the ones who admit that they do not know everything and look to experts and their peers to get advice and support. This is the power behind the Mastermind Groups.

The Essential Business Coach blog touched on this issue in a recent post:

In his work, Napoleon Hill talks about what he calls a 'mastermind' group. This mastermind group is made up of like-minded people who meet to talk about business concerns and find their way through in achieving business outcomes.

In this way, the most successful business people always have people around them. They have trustworthy people around them who enable them to think through the problems that they face and help them hone their business ideas.

You do not have to be alone in business.

Get the right people around you that you need to succeed. Get yourself a business coach and a range of mentors who will help you with your business success.