When we think about mastermind groups we generally think about scheduled conference calls or meetings with specific agendas or topics of discussion. The biggest trend being promoted these days are social networking sites.
Social networking itself is nothing new but the proliferation of new networking sites is. There seems to be a new one popping up everyday. There are also established sites being more heavily utilized.
Social networking sites are used to reach potential customers and business contacts. Along the way you're going to meet a diverse group of people and genuine relationships will be built.
These relationships will become your virtual mastermind. When you join or start a mastermind group you have specific goal in mind, you look for people with common goals, ethics, standards and mindset. So, why wouldn't you have the same standards when networking online?
You may be using social networks for business reasons but you're also going to connect with some people on a personal level. Any relationship should be built on a solid foundation. Is this person someone you would want in your mastermind?
Masterminds are a good way to refocus, a way to connect with like minded people but, what about the rest of the time? Who are you surrounding yourself with? Have you ever tried changing something about yourself but continued to surround yourself with people who do Not share the same goals?
Look at people who are trying to quit smoking but surrounded themselves with smokers or people who are trying to improve their health but continue to surround themselves with people whose health is not a priority. In the end change is up to the individual but environment is also a big factor.
Think about your personal goals. Is your virtual mastermind helping you reach them? Are they supporting you? We all have people around us that may not have the same mindset and sometimes there's nothing we can do about them. They're in our lives to stay. You do however have a choice when meeting and connecting with new people.
When you connect with someone it's not important that you have the same goals. When people climb mountains they don't all take the same route but they do have the same goal, to reach the top. It doesn't even have to be the same mountain, who are you surrounding yourself with?
Starting a mastermind can seem like a daunting task. For some people it's just a natural progression to help them get from where they are to where they're going. You may think only people who are already successful, outgoing and self confident can start a mastermind.
Here's some news that may surprise you. You are what you think. If you feel you're not smart enough or confident enough or that you don't have anything to contribute that's what people will see.
I know successful people who are shy, not big conversationalists but they can get up in front of hundreds of people to give a speech or seminar and look totally comfortable. I'm often amazed to hear this about them because I'd never think they were like that.
Don't let your own thinking get in your way. Don't let your fear stop you from moving forward. Sometimes you fall on your face. The important thing isn't that you fell but how long it takes to get back up.
When you're looking for people to join your new mastermind, you're looking for like-minded people. People who have goals like you. They may not be as self assured as you think but they're still willing to take action even in the face of failure.
We all have different strengths and weaknesses. You want a group of people that compliment each other. That can learn from each other and support each other through successes and through challenges. You need to know who you're looking for so that you attract the right people.
The only failed mastermind is the one that never gets started. I'm not saying it'll be easy or that it'll happen quickly but it will happen. Be clear about the purpose of your mastermind. The type of people you want to attract. Take action and keep going until you reach your goal. Your mastermind may only be two or three people and that's okay. It's not about how many people are in your group but the quality of people and results. So get going!
Maintaining a mastermind group is a big responsibility. There are meetings to organize, schedules to make, it can be a challenge. Leaders realize they need a team to be successful. A good leader doesn't let ego get in the way. They're happy to delegate and rely on the support of others on their team.
So how do you find your leaders? You could find people with common goals, similar methods and styles. But do you need to find people like you? Or do you want leaders that compliment each other and bring their own experience and vision.
So where are these people? They could be anywhere. They have varying degrees of experience and success in business and in life. These people don't call themselves leaders. They just do what comes naturally. They help other people. They lead with their heads and their hearts.
Often times all you need to do is pay attention. You will recognize these people. They tend to attract the people around them. In the mastermind we talk about energy. The sense of feeling we all get when we're around certain people.
Just as certain people make us feel down or anxious, there are people who lift us up, make us feel energized. Leaders energize us. We can sense the lack of personal agenda, that genuine interest in helping us. Those people are leaders, even if they don't call themselves leaders.
Whether you're running a mastermind, working a business or are active in your community.Pay attention, listen and learn. No one can do it by themselves and no matter how successful you are there's always something to learn.
If you've joined a mastermind you've already made the commitment to pursue your own personal development. The other members of the group understand what you want to accomplish. They're there to support, encourage and help you learn and grow. Not everyone in your life will understand that decision.
Some people will listen to your goals, say that's nice but not truly understand what you're doing and that's ok. Others will think it's a waste of time because they don't believe your goals are attainable or that masterminding has any real value and that's ok too. Your job isn't to convince them that masterminding is important or that they should work on themselves too.
Many people are comfortable with their lives even if they aren't really where they want to be or truly happy with their situation. Change can be frightening and very challenging. Remember you can't make anyone change you can only change yourself. So what can you do in between your mastermind meetings? Whether you have your own business or work for someone else the key to reaching those goals specific to your mastermind requires ongoing personal development.
Do you feel the need to stay informed by keeping up with the news? That's fine but don't spend your day watching the news and reading the paper and participating in conversations about how badly things are going in the world or in your corner of it. Bad things happen but you don't need to focus on them. I don't watch the news at all. If something happens that I absolutely need to know about I'll hear about it.
You should also spend some time everyday doing some kind of personal development. Read 10 pages of a good book. When I say a good I mean personal developments books, books that teach you skills, autobiographies of successful people. If you're not a big reader listen to audios. Instead of turning on the radio while your driving put in a personal development cd.
Keep your mind active. Learn a new language, start a new hobby. It doesn't matter if its sky diving or knitting just learn a new skill. You need to build a mental barrier to all the negative things that bombard you on a daily basis. Stay focused on the end goal. Do your part everyday. Remember it's the seemingly simple actions that you take everyday, done consistently over time that make the biggest and longest lasting change in life.
How often does your mastermind meet? Once a week or once a month? All masterminds vary when it comes to getting together. Whether it's a local group or by long distance. The point of a mastermind is to share, learn and grow regardless of the specific goals of the group.
You get to know the people very well. Part of a mastermind should be about building relationships. Each member of a group contributes and shares the mindset of success, growth and of being in service to others. Ideas are shared, results discussed. It's not about criticizing another person but helping them with challenges.
Many times members of a group will be in touch outside of the scheduled mastermind groups. Friendships are often times forged that continue outside of the group. When challenges or questions come up in your daily activities you can always reach out and ask for help or opinions.
What if you can't contact anyone? Ask them anyway! Have you ever been listening to someone and you think to yourself "I knew they were going to say that". That's because you know that person. You know their values, their mindset and the way they look at different situations. When you ask yourself "what would this person do", you usually have a pretty good idea of what the answer would be.
You can also have people in your own mastermind world even if they're not alive any more. What? How about Napoleon Hill or Dale Carnegie? How many times have you read Think and Grow Rich or any of Hill's other books? How many times have you discussed these great authors in your mastermind groups?
These books are meant to read over and over. The lessons learned change as you change. Take advantage of these great masters, invite them into your own little mastermind. Have a chat with them every once in a while. Read their books again, use them to help you when you're having doubts or have challenges. You're never truly alone. Have a challenge...What would _____do?
So A new year is upon us. Many people are making their New Year's resolutions. Some are about getting healthy, losing weight , improving financial situations, moving careers forward and so on. Unfortunately many resolutions will fall by the wayside before the year even gets going. A resolution is just an idea without a plan.
You can replace "resolution" with "goal" but again without a plan of action it's still just an idea. Start broad and then narrow your focus to accomplish your end goal. Whatever your goal is what result do you ultimately want one year from now? Nine months from now, six months, three months?
Break down your one year goal into manageable short term goals. Starting with your three month goal what daily actions do you need to do? Take the time and sit down with paper and pen-write it all out. Remember the plan you start out with is rarely the plan you finish with. At the end of the week review your plan. What worked well? What didn't?
Sometimes even the best laid plans could use some input from other sources. That's where your mastermind comes in. When someone else reviews your plan they often see things that you don't. Ways of improving your plan that you may not have thought of. A mastermind is a group of like minded people with similar goals. You are all individuals but in support everyone in your group.
Support, encouragement and sometimes a gentle reminder of the commitment you made to yourself can help you when things get tough. And yes it's about the core commitment to yourself to do the work that is necessary to reach your goals. If you don't have that commitment no mastermind will be able to help you reach your goals.
When you're part of a mastermind you are never alone. You are also in a mastermind to remind other people that they are not alone either. Take advantage of that community. Participate, see how you can help and others will be there for you when you need them. Whatever your goals for the future, here's to your success.
So you've taken the first step and joined a mastermind. You plug in and start listening, you take notes, make plans and then...you find yourself not taking action. We all want to learn, grow and become better at whatever we're doing. We want to reach the goals we set for ourselves.
I run across people who feel stuck in their present situations. There's always a way out, so why don't we move forward? There are many resources to help us reach our goals but many of us can't seem to take the first step, to start taking theactions you know you need to take.
Most people take comfort in the familiar, even if it's not the best place to be. Change can often be frightening even if it could mean being happier, more successful and moving closer to our goals.
Everything we do consistently becomes a habit. A habit can keep you stuck in a rut or a habit can help you move forward. Many people think getting rid of a bad habit just means not doing it any more. If you take this approach changing can be frustrating.
Take your bad habit and replace it with something positive. Something that will help you move forward in the right direction. I'm not just talking drinking too much coffee or not exercising. I'm talking about being stuck in an unproductive mind set.
Put your fear of change on the back burner, stop focusing on what may or may not work. Take the first step and just take action. If something doesn't work out the world won't end. What you will be left with is a lesson, a learning experience. Don't worry about what others may think of you. They are not responsible for your success or lack of it.
There's only one person responsible for your day. That is you. Your mastermind is there to help you move forward. Take advantage of the lessons taught. Plan your work and work your plan. Learn from your experiences. Keep moving forward. Your success may be closer than you think.
Have you ever explained the concept of a mastermind group to one of your friends? Did they get it? If you're talking to an entrepreneur or someone with a position as a decision maker or high authority in a company chances are they'll understand or may have a mastermind and didn't know that's what it was called.
What about a fellow co-worker? A waitress, carpenter or retail worker? They may or may not get it. Now I'm not saying a person with a 9 to 5 job can't understand. I've been a waitress a retail employee and few other things. If someone approached me 10 years ago about a mastermind group I probably wouldn't completely understand the concept.
Here's the thing: it had nothing to do with what I did for a living, it had everything to do with my mindset. A mastermind is about learning and growing. Not everyone is in the right state of mind to benefit from a mastermind group. Change can be extremely frightening. Looking inward to understand why you're not where you want to be can be challenging.
A mastermind group is about sharing-teaching, learning and trust. The question of how to determine who should be in your mastermind group doesn't have any guidelines written in stone, although some people think they do. Pre-judging someone can mean losing out on an extraordinary person.
The potential for growth is unlimited and everyone grows at their own pace. The journey doesn't always run smoothly either. Patience and understanding can go a long way. When you're talking to someone who doesn't have the right mindset it's just means the timing isn't right for them.
We all change as time goes by. Timing is everything. You can only help those who are ready to be helped. If they're not ready it's ok. Let them know when the time comes you and your mastermind group are there to help.
You have your mastermind, like minded members working towards similar goals. Plans are put in place and input from different people is encouraged. Even when a group of people have similar goals, opinions can always differ. We all have different perspectives. We've all had different experiences which shape our thought process.
Frequently we look at things from our own perspective. We are by nature a sum of our parts, our own experiences and lessons learned. Sometimes we try to look at things from someone else's perspective but still manage to color our thinking with our own experiences.
Often times we do this sub-consciously. It isn't that we're unable to understand or are trying to be difficult. Sometimes we just can't help it, especially if it's something we're passionate about. So how does this affect the Mastermind? It can create disharmony or sometimes chaos. Disharmony and chaos are best dealt with before it starts.
Every Mastermind should have some kind of structure or guidelines. Handling disagreements should be dealt with from the beginning. No matter how proficient the Mastermind group, not all situations may be resolved easily. Have a system to handle these delicate situations before it has a chance to permeate the group with negative energy.
We've all heard the saying "walk a mile in someone else's shoes". The problem is we sometimes have difficult imagining what "that" must have been like ("that" can be any experience you haven't gone through). That experience could be business related or personal. Both kinds of experiences shape who we are.
Ultimately the best situation would be for everyone to listen not only with their head but also with their hearts. Some people do this more easily than others. If you're in a Mastermind group you're already one step ahead.
Mastermind groups are away to learn and grow, a positive like minded group of people with similar goals. A support system built on helping each other. Many people are willing to do what is necessary to move forward in their personal and business lives. A mastermind group teaches the skills to achieve whatever goals you put in place.
Often times we need to come out of our comfort zones to do this. Some people may be shy or do not have complete faith in their abilities. Part of the responsibility of the mastermind is developing personal growth. We all need to realize we are in complete control of our lives and where we end up is up to us.
Ultimately we are responsible for our day. We craft a plan to achieve both our short term and long term goals. However the plan we start out with is rarely the plan we end up with. Temporary failure, refining our plan is an ongoing process when working towards the end result. The goal of a mastermind should be to support you and give you positive feedback.
Finding a mastermind that's a good fit for you is important. Although coming out of our comfort may be necessary it should not compromise your core values. Feeling nervous or uncomfortable with something new is not unusual. As you keep performing the new task it does become more comfortable just by the sheer repetition of doing it.
If a task feels uncomfortable is it because you're not used to doing it or does it conflict with your values and standard of ethics? This is something only you can decide. Examine your mastermind and ask yourself if they have your best interest in mind. Can you see yourself developing long term relationships with the other members of the group? Are they truly a group of positive like minded people?
There's no such thing as an overnight success. If you've been unhealthy for years you can't get healthy in a few days or weeks. If you're starting a new business today you're not going to be a household name tomorrow. Success in life is a journey starting with one step. The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson is mandatory reading as far as I'm concerned.
The Slight Edge philosophy is quite uncomplicated-simple positive decisions compounded over time will put you on the success curve, simple errors in judgment compounded over time will put you on the failure curve. These days many people have become unwilling to wait...for anything. Instant gratification has become the norm.
"No success is immediate. Nor is any failure instantaneous. They are both products of the Slight Edge."
We join mastermind groups with a certain goal in mind.We make plans to achieve to these goals but what decisions are you making everyday? Not the big decisions but the seemingly insignificant ones. The author states several times, "these simple positive actions are easy to do and easynot to do".
If you have your mastermind meeting today and ithappens to be your worst day ever. You woke up late, someone dented your car, you missed an important meeting, your child got into some trouble at school or whatever catastrophe has hit you today. Missing that meeting is as easy as attending it.
So what does the Slight Edge have to do with your mastermind? We join mastermind groups to learn. Learning also requires action. Applying that action in our everyday decisions is what moves us forward. You may not see the results right away but that doesn't mean something is not working.
As your going about your day look at the decisions you've made and ask yourself if that decision is moving you closer to your goals or further awayfrom them. How are you applying the Slight Edge?
We all agree masterminds are rewarding and necessary to grow and expand. What we can learn from others is invaluable. Although everyone is ultimately responsible for their own success, teamwork is essential. Are you taking full advantage of your mastermind?
Distractions are an everyday part of life. They can turn into quite an obstacle if you let them. Do you turn off all distractions when you are participating in your mastermind?
There was a study done on the effects of distraction that had some interesting results. Three groups of people were administered a test. One group was given a desk and chair and the test. The second group was put in front of a computer and given the test. The third group was drunk. All groups had a limited time to take the test.
Not surprisingly the group with no distractions came in first. The group that came in second was the ones that were drunk! The simple distraction of emails coming in and different headlines on the computer screen had dramatic results.
Turn off all distractions:
·Don't worry about the appointments you have tomorrow
·Don't worry about what might be said next, pay attention to the conversation at hand.
·Don't think about how the information will impact your bottom line
·Don't multi-task
Sometimes you may not have control over what's happening in your environment. You can put yourself somewhere quiet. Ask the kids to take the dog for a walk. Turn the ringer off on your phone (you can always call them back) Turn off the tv and the radio. Background noise has more of an effect than you realize.
Take full advantage of your mastermind group by giving it your undivided attention. Missing the smallest things can have a huge impact.
Without focus achieving any goal would be impossible. Your mastermind group is a way to focus or re-focus your personal goals. Everyone in the group has similar goals but not everyone has the same challenges. That's where teamwork comes into play. Everyone has different challenges during different times in their business or life. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a beginner in your field someone else will understand your challenges.
Never assume you are the only one that's ever faced a particular problem. However, what if you have a challenge that doesn't quite fit with your mastermind? Can you join a second mastermind group? Will that split your focus? Well, that's a question only you can answer but it can be answered. The second mastermind would have to blend into the first, one working in sync with the other. Let me give you an example.
I have a challenge many people face. It doesn't matter if you have a brick and mortar business or a network marketing business both entail speaking to people. Whether it's a group of a few people or a few hundred people, this is the one skill that many people find quite challenging. Support from your group and personal development are important keys to overcoming this fear but not always enough.
I was faced with the dilemma "How do I build the skills to be a confident and effective speaker?" I joined the local Toastmasters group. If you've never heard of Toastmasters they're an international organization which helps people become confident and skilled public speakers in a safe and comfortable environment. They are a Mastermind Group! Everyone in the group has a common goal, a system of support and a sharing of expertise.
You can be in more than one mastermind as long as they fit in the big picture. Ask yourself if your decision will help your focus or take away from it. Remember I'm not talking about being in a marketing mastermind and a gardening mastermind, that's another thing altogether. Related masterminds need to blend together not conflict with each other. If you're interested in developing your speaking skills visit http://www.Toastmasters.org and find a group in your area. Attend a couple of meetings as a guest and see what it's all about.
Your mastermind group is a wonderful place to advance your skills, help others and take advantage of the positive power that surrounds the group. It's a place to focus your energy and attain common goals. Different group have different meeting schedules whether it's once a month or once a week each meeting is important.
Actively participating in discussions is very important. It doesn't matter if you're new to the group or are just starting out on your path to your goals. Everyone has something to offer. Each individual is an integral part of the group.
What happens the other days, in between the meetings? Are you applying everything you've learned? Your road, whatever it is must be an ongoing process. Life throws many challenges our way. The difference between success and failure is based on how we handle those challenges.When you are faced with a situation that seems disastrous, with no solution in sight, you need to look to the mastermind within you.
Your mastermind group is with you even when you are alone. When you're involved in a mastermind group you get to know these people intimately. You know how they think, how they face their challenges. Reach into your mind, think about everything you've learned and discussed. You will find exactly the answer you've been looking for or at least a place to start.
Your mastermind might be about marketing, photography, business building or any kind of training. One common thread should be personal development. We are all changing and growing every day. Work on your personal development every day. It can be as simple as spending a little time reading a good book or listening to an audio. It's not only the people around you but the confidence you have in yourself that will help you conquer all the challenges you face.
Starting your own Mastermind can be simple...if you know what your goal is. A Mastermind group doesn't have to be a complicated task. You have to know what the questions are before you can answer them.
What do I want to accomplish?
Who do I want in my group?
Do I want to charge a fee?
What will the schedule be?
Knowing what you want to accomplish is very important. Be specific about your goal for the group. You need to have a plan as to how you're going to reach your goal. It doesn't have to be complicated. It could be as simple as picking a topic to discuss. You are the leader of the group as far as the structure is concerned. You are not the boss however. You are there to guide your group, to help them work towards their goals.
The members of your group will set the tone for your meetings. The process by which you invite new members is up to you. You set the guidelines. Flexibility is also important. You never know how a person will conduct themselves. If you feel a member is not contributing in a way that is helpful to the entire group don't be afraid of asking them to leave the group. There are also people who will surprise you as time goes by. The person who you thought may not be right for the group could turn out to a valuable asset. Be patient, look beyond the person's obvious behavior. What you find may surprise you.
Charging a fee is a personal choice. You may just want to cover expenses or build a fund for future events. Building a fund is also a good way to provide tools for your group. It could be a personal development book to help your group between meetings or a practical guide to help your group reach specific business goals. The amount of the fee is also a personal choice. The amount of the fee will have an impact on the accessibility of the group for some people.
The schedule for the group at first will be something you need to decide as well as where it will be. Whatever you decide it doesn't have to be written in stone. Remember flexibility is important. As your Mastermind grows you need to do what's best for the group. Although every member is important you won't be able to accommodate everyone. That's where you come in as a leader and make the final decision.
Starting and maintaining a Mastermind group does require dedication. Don't start one if you're not willing or able to follow through. Understand what is involved and that people will be counting on you for guidance. Every member contributes to the group but you as the leader are the glue that holds everything together.
Reverse Mastermind? Okay, let me explain. The goal of being in a Mastermind group is to grow as a person. Groups with a specific purpose such as Entrepreneurs looking for ways to expand their business still incorporate personal development into their formula. They realize their business will only grow as fast as they do.
Different groups have different schedules for meetings whether it's once a week or once a month. What about the rest of the time? Personal development is an ongoing journey. Who are you surrounding yourself with on a daily basis? Who are you listening to?
As we grow we begin to see things differently. The people around us don't always understand what we're doing or why. Often times they try sabotage our growth. They aren't doing it on a conscience level but because they are stuck in a different mindset. It's very easy to lose our focus through the opinions of other people.
Often times we try to explain ourselves or get the other person to understand what it is we're trying to accomplish. Personal development is a choice that we cannot make for other people. The only thing we can do is distance ourselves from them. You may ask "How do I do that?"
You don't have to cut yourself off from everyone you know. We get comfortable being around certain people even though we know they are not on the same path. The thing is something begins to happen as we grow. Our internal change begins to grow outward. People can feel the difference when they're around you. For some that difference is unsettling.
You will begin to notice a "drifting apart" happening. That is a normal progression. Don't try to change it. There will be some people that you have to be around like family, just be aware of the time you spend with them. Keep your mindset in the right place. As you continue to grow you will start to attract like-minded people. People who are drawn to the positive energy you put out. I'm not talking about some strange mystical occurrence. Like Attracts Like. It's that simple.
Your weekly or monthly meetings are a great way to hone your focus. Re-energize yourself. Life is full of challenges. Your Mastermind can give you the energy to meet these challenges head on. Don't wait for your meetings to pursue your goals. Take action every day. Leverage what you learn and apply it to your everyday life.
Mastermind groups are a wonderful resource to learn and grow. There may be different interests in different groups but the end goal is the same. Sharing knowledge and information should be the mainstay of any group. Some groups have very specific goals, for example a group of sales professionals may share information about marketing, customer retention and business building.
Mastermind groups are not always formal groups. Many people belong to local book clubs. They read a book together have a meeting and talk about a specific chapter. This ladies and gentleman is a Mastermind Group. The goal is to discuss lessons learned and different points of view in a friendly atmosphere.We all have set points of view on a variety of subjects. Mastermind groups allow us to see things in a fresh and sometimes surprising way.
Regardless of what type of Mastermind Group you want to join or start the goals and objectives of every one in the group should be the same. They are not a place to tell people what to do but rather give them the tools that they need to reach their goals. We are all individuals and have different needs.
One of the most important aspects of a Mastermind Group is the willingness to be coached, the right mindset. If you already think you know everything you are not needed in the group. You may disagree on certain points and that's alright, but that doesn't disqualify the point that is being made.
All things in their purest forms consist of energy, whether it's something tangible like your body or intangible like your thoughts. The energy flows all around us. In a Mastermind Group that energy affects the entire group. When you're participating in a group it should create positive energy. You should feel energized and ready to go. You will be able to take the tools you have learned with your group and the positive energy and start working towards whatever your goals happen to be.
The "Master Mind" may be defined as: "Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose"...Napoleon Hill
Janet Napora runs a network marketing business and her own blog. She's setting up a new type of Mastermind Group that I haven't previously heard of before.
She's calling it the Mental Cleanse and the idea is to have a group together for only 30 days. The purpose of the group, as Janet puts it, is:
Stopping all the negative chatter. Turn off the tv, the radio, the newspaper and the negative talk around us. Find out who you REALLY are. Reprogram your negative thinking. Many people are lacking success in there business or relationships or even their health. They don't think enough about themselves to think they deserve success and happiness. You can't always control what goes on around you but you can find positive like-minded people, a mastermind group, people who have the same goals and the same positive mindset you are trying to attain. You can't help but be touched by these people. The 30 day mental cleanse is a mastermind group, a group with similar goals. people who will not judge you but support you in your efforts.
It's a free group and open to "anyone who is ready for a change."
From my experience, free groups are hard to maintain the commitment level after a few sessions and if the group is left open to anyone you don't get the right mix of people with the same goals at the table. That being said, my groups run on annual membership and I'm curious to see how the 30 day concept works.
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: Janet Napora
