Have An Area For Members To Share Resources Between Meetings
6 months into my first Mastermind Group I asked the members what I could do to make the groups even better. A common response was having an area where they could connect with each other and share resources in between meetings.
In our meetings the members are frequently referring to contacts, websites, tools, books, and other information that have helped them grow their businesses. They recommend the best places to go, the best people to use and the best ideas that they have leveraged.
The members loved the wealth of resources. The problem was if you did not take down the information on the spot it would be lost. Members would often email me asking for the name of website of an item that was discussed at a meeting three months ago.
We solved this problem by creating a section in our members only online forum off our website. Each member now gets a login and a password that gives them access to the forums. After members share their valuable tips in the meetings they can post it online for everyone else to refer to at any point in the future.
Some of the three groups that I run use this feature more than the others but it has proven to be an effective way to keep all of our information together and have it as a place for people to come back to and connect with in between meetings.
The tools are free to set up and are fairly easy to use. I would recommend that every Mastermind Group have an online tool for the members to share their resources with each other and add more value to the group.
Closely held businesses and transition issues - Connect with other leaders. You might join a Mastermind Group, a Vistage group or Young Presidents' Organization where you can continue to learn among a group of non-competing peers. Or consider forming an advisory board of business leaders with whom you can test ideas and be accountable for results, and from whom you can receive input.
Has your experience with MySpace been {ahem}…less than positive? - Personal Development Partners is going to change all of that by providing a simple, yet powerful interface that will allow you to find and network only with people who are willing to work together in partnerships and/or "mastermind" groups so that everyone gets what they want out of that relationship.
Master Mind Group for Real Estate Investors (santa cruz) - I am looking for like minded people in the SC and surrounding areas wanting to create a Master Mind Group or Success Team for Real Estate investing anywhere there is an opportunity.
Ellesse Chow writes the Goal Setting College blog. Her recent post 5 Tips to Daily Motivation discussed how to stay on top of your goals every day and move forward to achieve success.
Four of her tips are:
Develop an Energy Plan
Setup Little Reminders on Your Goals & the Whys
Listen to Success Motivation Cassettes, MP3s or other Materials
Visualize Living Your Dream Everyday
The 5th point involved Mastermind Groups and I thought I would share it with you:
Connecting with Your Mastermind Group Regularly
Napoleon Hill first brought forth the concept of a Mastermind Group in his 1937 classic Think & Grow Rich. A mastermind group is simply one that is made up of 2 or more people having a common goal. These people can be from different backgrounds and possess skill sets that help to provide leverage in the pursuit of your own goals.
In my opinion, if you're able to connect with a bunch of like minded folks and form a mastermind group where you're able to learn and tap on one another's knowledge, you'll be able to reap great rewards, one of which is constant motivation and encouragement from one another. For instance, if you're interested to learn public speaking, you can sign up for a toastmaster club within your vicinity. Mingle around and network, you'll likely find some folks very willing to share their knowledge and tips with you. Who knows, you may be able to team up with anyone of them to participate in a public speaking contest!
Nowadays, it's also very common to find online forums or communities of all sorts where you can register with so it's no longer just the conventional club that we're referring to. Just do a search in Google and you'll be directed to the forum of your interest. But remember, whether is it a brick and mortar special interest club, online forum or any group of friends with similar goals, it's important that you maintain the frequency of such contact. Too long a lapse is unlikely to bring any substantial leverage. Contribute your knowledge, experience and encouragement just as when you're receiving. Only then, you're truly living the spirit of Napoleon Hill's definition of the "Master Mind".
I've got a lot going on in my life: I'm married, I do a lot of public speaking, I'm a published author and I'm working hard on my next 2 books, I'm the sole author at 3 blogs, and offer contributions to several others, I'm president of a few non-profit organizations, I've got a full-time job as a VP at a financial services firm, and I'm going back to school soon for my master's degree. And I'm sure there are things I've missed that also take up my time, energy, and talent.
So with all of this going on, why on earth would I agree to be part of a mastermind group, something that undoubtedly will take time, energy and talent in ways I can't even begin to imagine. I came up with 3 great reasons to join a mastermind group, and I strongly encourage you to find a way to join a mastermind group of your own, because these benefits FAR outweigh the time commitment that's required of a mastermind group.
Mastermind groups offer new perspectives. Have you heard the old saying, it's hard to see what's on the outside of a bottle when you're stuck on the inside? This is why mastermind groups are so valuable. You can team up with people that are outside of your life bottle and see things you couldn't otherwise see. Additionally, the folks you choose will have different experiences than you, and can offer new ways to handle issues that come up, and can help you by asking you great questions that help you find the answer to get through those times you are stuck and in need of a breakthrough.
Mastermind groups offer a built in accountability circle. When you share your goals and with someone else, you help them help you be more accountable for the outcomes. One of the best ways to achieve something is to be constantly reminded about it, and a mastermind group offers 4 or more people that can ask you where you are with your goal, and offer encouragement if you've fallen away from your goal.
Strength where are you are weak. Nobody is good at everything. That's a fact. Joining a mastermind group helps you fill in those weak spots with people who have strengths you're lacking, if you build the group strategically. Find people who are organized if you're lacking organization, who have good writing skills if yours are lacking, and generally are gifted in areas you are not. After all, it's a lot more fun working in our strengths zone than in our weakness zone, and if we work together, we can ALL be stronger.
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.
