I returned to my Master Mind group last week, the first time since mid-June when my flurry of family visits and trips began.With a little embarrassment for my lack of attendance, I quietly took my seat in hopes of settling in and perhaps later taking my turn in introductions and sharing.No such luck.The facilitator, without skipping a beat, changed direction and called on me before I'd even pulled up to the table.I gave my 30 second commercial and in an apologetic manner, explained what I'd been doing the last 6 weeks.The reaction?"Welcome back.""Glad you're here.""We missed you." No questions asked about my commitment to the group or intentions with the progress of my business - clearly the things I was feeling guilty about.With no judgment whatsoever, and a welcome befitting a member with excellent attendance, I was taken back into the fold of my Master Mind group where anything is possible.
That's the underlying theme of Master Minding - anything is truly possible - and your fellow members will tell you this, believe it for you, and encourage you to take steps to make whatever you want happen.One who truly understands the purpose of gathering together to access the power of two or more like minds does so without judgment of others and the steadfast belief that anything is possible.I was able to pick up where I left off with my group, recap where I'd been and what had been accomplished, dust myself off a little and get back into the game.And there they were - waiting to hear what it is that I want next so they can support me in getting it. What a gift!
So, in turn, I was able to jump back into my role of supporting the other members, focusing on their successes and challenges, and offer ideas during the brainstorming session that might be helpful. Without criticism or internal distraction, I fully accepted what each person had to say as their truth, their real intention for themselves and their businesses.Why wouldn't I?With this incredible, unconditional support of a Master Mind group, anything is possible!
Here's a great exercise to share with your Master Mind group that came from Jack Canfield's fabulous book, The Success Principles. The purpose is to clarify the vision you have for your life:
On a piece of paper, write down at least three things you want to achieve in each of these seven areas: Financial, Career, Recreation, Physical Health, Relationships, Personal, and Community. Let your mind relax and open up to answers that perhaps you've forgotten about that still are truly dreams you want to achieve. When complete, review your vision daily, once in the morning and again at night before going to bed. This will keep your mind focused on your vision so that aspects of it can begin to manifest.
Taking it one step further, he says to "share your vision for maximum impact", perhaps with a friend whom you can trust to be positive and supportive of your dreams and goals. Upon facilitating this exercise with a class this week, I thought "what better way to share and utilize the power of a Master Mind group?" Why not do this exercise individually and then take turns sharing a particular area with the group and ask for their support while you work toward achieving it? Just like a supportive friend, a Master Mind group will hold your goals in mind and even offer ways to help you make them come to life. By sharing your vision with supportive people, your own belief that it can actually come to fruition becomes that much stronger.
Yet another powerful case for Master Minding - getting a vision of what you want out of your own head, onto a piece of paper, then out among a group of people who only want the best for you. Let them help you realize your dreams!
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!
EvanCarmichael.com is the world's #1 website for small business motivation and strategies. Evan also runs a series of successful Mastermind Groups in Toronto for entrepreneurs.
Guest Contributor: Debbie Lousberg
