Peer Groups Disguised as Mastermind Groups

Guest Contributor: George J. Sierchio
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Ok, so everyone has their own opinion. But from experience here's mine (even if I already told you this as it came up in conversation recently with a colleague).

Yes, the term "master mind" was coined by Napoleon Hill talking about the regular meeting of a group of successful peers to perform a "many heads are better than one" type of pow-wow. That was then though, and this is now. Not to mention the fact that this particular group of gentlemen Hill was referring to were already wildly successful people.

So taking all of these pieces into context, there is a difference between a peer group and a mastermind group. Unlike the small group of very successful people meeting in Mr. Hill's writing, groups today are successful, moderately successful and up & coming people with, hopefully, some kind of common ground looking to better themselves and/or businesses.

With that said, let's separate a peer group from a mastermind group. The main difference between these two terms is that a mastermind group is actually a group of people with a set of common ground meeting regularly (like a peer group) with a facilitator running the show. And I don't mean a facilitator in the context of just scheduling and running the meetings but also as a mentor and teacher.

You see the real purpose of the modern mastermind group is to make breakthroughs and get better. If you are sitting around with people at the same level as you or below you, you can't get any better. You can get some good outside opinions and do a little networking, but you can't get better. If you're thinking "well I'll just join a peer group where I'm the low person on the totem pole so I will get better", then you are correct. But it won't happen since a solid group won't let you in because you bring nothing to the table.

Suffice it to say that a peer group is good, but has tremendous limitations to it. But a mastermind group adds in that mentor/educator that has already been were you want to go and has friends in their circle that are at that level as well. They are there for you to tap that energy and information. That's why a good master mind group costs decent money. And that's also why anything but a very low cost or free peer group is most likely throwing money away. Medium to big bucks do not squarely fit a peer group.

Don't get faked out by a sign that says "mastermind group here". Make sure it's not a peer group in disguise where you are doing a lot more work than you should be for what you're paying for.

Try a well facilitated master mind group after experiencing a peer group and you will quickly see what I mean.