Leveraging the "Third Mind" for Million Dollar Ideas

Guest Contributor: Melanie Benson Strick
Melanie's Posts - Melanie's Blog


We hear a lot about masterminds and why they are important. Between the accountability, creative thinking and eliminating the feelings of isolation that many of us feel as entrepreneurs, a mastermind can be a powerful catalyst for growth leaps.

Napoleon Hill often referenced the idea of the "third mind," that state of creative brainstorming that can only be accessed when two or more people are gathered. What can be born from that "third mind" is the potential for a million dollar idea. A mastermind is typically comprised of people with different experiences, training, business models and ways of solving problems.

When you bring together people with different strengths who have a common purpose, the possibilities are endless.
As a matter of fact, I actually seek out members with varied backgrounds and strengths to add to the power of the group.

One of my first experiences of leveraging the third mind was when one of my mastermind partners suggested a way to monetize a particular idea that had been cycling around in his head for months. Another member jumped in and built onto the first idea. Then another member added their twist. The next thing we knew the idea had morphed into a real money making idea that had a plan, action steps and a solid ROI. If the conversation had taken place between just two people, that same kind of thinking would never have led to this idea.

The partner implemented the idea and jumped from $600k/year to $3 million within 2 1/2 years. That's the value of just ONE GOOD IDEA!

I recently saw this "third mind" in action in my Fast-Track to a 6 & 7 Lifestyle Business Mastermind. One of the members had a business model that she couldn't figure out how to make profitable. She loved what she is doing but just couldn't figure out how to get it to break a consistent 6 figures. She brought an idea of transforming her "one level program" into multiple levels. By accessing the masterminds' "third mind" she arrived at an offering that will take her way over 6 figures in the next three months. Could she have gotten there on her own? Maybe. But she arrived at this plan in 10 minutes versus 10 months.

In my experience, there is nothing that can take the place of a mastermind to create the space for that kind of synergistic co-creative processing that leads to new possibilities. If you are in a mastermind, I hope you are creating that kind of synergy. If not, its time to change and get into a group where that energy is created. If you haven't yet joined a mastermind, you are looking at a massive leap forward if you are willing to access the "third mind."

Enjoy your million dollar ideas!