Secret Holiday Mastermind

Guest Contributor: Julia Wert-Marrocco
Julia's Posts - Julia's Blog


Yes, I know you already belong to at least one mastermind group. (If you don't, join one today)
Just because you already belong to a Mastermind Group or two doesn't mean you aren't always on the lookout elsewhere for great ideas and thoughts, right??
You have a perfect opportunity starting right now to leverage your time spent with family and friends over the holidays:

When you are entertaining, rather than having a "surface" discussion at the table (you know, the typical default pattern of non-substantive dribble that happens when you are with your relatives or whomever), try an experiment: Be specific and intentional about guiding the conversation into something meaningful. (avoid off-limit topics to keep people the peace. I am not talking about starting a debate that turns into hurt feelings and division.)

I am talking about becoming the question asker, trying on something like this for size: "Hey, guys, I was wondering......If you found out you were only going to live through 2009, what things would you do that you don't already have in your plans?" or "if you were 18 and starting over,knowing what you know now, what would you do for a living?" or "I was curious what our family bucket list would look like, so I started listing some things I've always wanted to do, who wants to add to it?" Pass around the paper and people will begin talking about their dreams, and usually adding to the list if you have a pen with it. can keep adding to it until everyone gets tired or can't think of anything else.

You can ask deep questions in the form of a "fantasy" when you are at someone else's house, too. That pre-empts boring conversations. "If you had to move to another city for your job, but it could be any city but here, which city would it be and why?" Doesn't that beat "Did you see Lindsay Lohan got flour thrown on her fur coat"? Give me a break.

Instead of letting holiday conversations become pablum, or worse yet, poop, promise yourself you will be the interesting question asker. You will get ideas, which will remind you of other things, and those ideas can lead you to another layer of questions. What you are basically doing is facilitating a mastermind group that doesn't know it is one.

One Thanksgiving, I set up a family teleconference since my family is all spread around the world, and couldn't be together. We talked about the most menaingfuo movies and books we had seen/read that year that made the biggest differences in our lives. What a great conversation that was!

Lastly, don't underestimate what children can contribute. Out of the mouths of babes come some of the best ideas ever. Why? Because they don't know all the limitations you do, and they don't firehose ideas like we do as adults.

Whether you a are playing facilitator to keep things lively during the holidays, or you are having a meaningful conversation, always remember, if you are bored, it's your own fault. Take personal responsibility for keeping dicussions meaningful and lively, whether you are a guest, or the host. Jim Rohn used to say, "To be interesting, you must be interested.". How true. Why not be the question asker this season, use you brain more, drink less, and grab onto a great idea or two to carry into the new year?!

I wish you many wonderful, idea-filled, interesting holiday conversations with your clan, whether your clan is easy or stressful to be around....May you turn your time together into a brilliant MasterMind!

Coach Julia