Forming A Mastermind Group

Guest Contributor: Kayleen Reusser
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My MasterMind group is just getting started but I feel we've already made great strides. We three met during a writer's group monthly last summer. At each meeting we chatted with each other, discovering each other's interests in writing and our present careers.

Tammy is a counselor with a new parenting product to market for families. Laurie is a lawyer with dreams of publishing a young adult novel and a book about parenting based on Socrates' teaching. I am a full-time freelance writer with over 1,000 stories in magazines, books, and newspapers. I like to write travel articles, essays, and profiles of people.

Our writing interests vary, but our passion for success is similar. We all want to see our dreams come true. We plan to work hard and help each other by sharing advice and resources. Recently, we met at Tammy's office and watched "The Secret," which Laurie had purchased and already viewed. She had also read the book. She believed it was worth our time together to view it. after watching the DVD, Tammy and I agreed.

"The Secret" is a DVD describing how a person can begin changing his or her life for the better by changing her thinking. It features Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup books) and others who teach what the secret is that will help people live happier lives. I watched Oprah's show on February 8, 2007, as the people involved with "The Secret" talked about it. It was terrific.

I had already begun using the principles from "The Secret", which were first referred to in the Bible in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."

It is a good rule and has helped me stay positive in difficult situations.

At our next MasterMind group we plan to share our newest steps to reaching our goals. Next month, I plan to have some sales to major magazines under my belt, made possible with the helpful suggestions of my Master Mind buddies.

What steps are you taking to reach your goals? I suggest you read the book of Philippians (4 chapters) and watch The Secret. Following the principles in each will help you find happiness.

Take care.

Kayleen Reusser

New Years Resolution - Masterminding

Tim Knox wrote in the Internet Marketing blog about his desire to set a new path with his business and achieve new goals. Part of his plan to accomplish the goals he sets out is to form a Mastermind Group:

One of my resolutions/goals for 2007 is to start a mastermind group. As entrepreneurs, our resolutions often lean toward the business side of life. We vow to make more sales calls, to be nicer to our employees, to keep better records, to spend more time considering the bottomline - they are all resolutions you should be thinking about for the coming year. In our repentant little minds we believe that we can wreak havoc in our lives 364 days of the year and then on the dawn of the New Year come up with a bunch of resolutions that wash us clean of our sins so we can start fresh for the coming year. It's like being a human "Etch-A-Sketch;" just turn yourself upside down and shake vigorously to wipe the slate clean.

Tim goes on to outline how he is choosing members for his group:

When forming a mastermind group start with those entrepreneurs you know well and do business with on a regular basis. Choose businesses that are complimentary (not competitive) to your own, that service the same markets and customers. One of your resolutions should be to network more; to mix and mingle with other entrepreneurs who are in the same boat you are; to find mentors who are ahead of you in the game and can help pull you up to their level. I started by making a list of those entrepreneurs that I did business with in 2006 that had the most impact on my business.

Masterminding is definitely an excellent way to meet new people, build a support group, and set yourself up with the necessary base to go out and accomplish your goals. While Tim's approach to choose entrepreneurs that he does business can work it can also be problematic. You may not want to reveal intimate problems about your company with the people you do business with.

For our Mastermind Groups we typically have members who have not done business with each other yet. That being said, they end up doing business with each other due to the trusted relationships that develop and if you already have a core group of people who you trust and think can add value to the conversation, see if they would be interested in joining!

Good luck with your group Tim!