You should see a group of people who are optimistic and have positive "can-do" attitudes.
When participating in a a mastermind group, each member shares information with the others.
Mastermind works best when members have different backgrounds, occupations, hobbies, etc.
With every mastermind group, you have a leader or a facilitator, who directs the meeting, keeps the group focused and makes sure everything, runs smoothly.
Meeting on a regular basis helps keep the lines of communication open.
Those who do belong to a mastermind group and use it regularly recognize the true value that comes from developing such a marvelous support group.
Actively participating in a mastermind group can make your life even better and more enjoyable for you.
With the right people on your team, you can reach your dream. As Walt Disney put it so well: "You can have the most beautiful dream in the world, but it takes people to build it."
S.M.A.R.T. versus I.T.O.C.A. goals - Get the idea out of the abstract and into the concrete. Form a mastermind group and kick around ideas. Make it real.
How To Profit From The Internet - Meet regularly, discuss ideas, questions, problems frankly; support each other. Before you know it, your online business will surge forward because you will no longer be doing it alone.
Most people I've come across who run their own business have goals planned out for what they want to accomplish. They are really passionate about their goals and want to achieve them but for some reason never seem to get there because "life" gets in the way.
A large benefit of any Mastermind Group should be the Accountability Partner. If you commit to someone else you are more likely to follow through on your goals than if you just tell yourself. Having someone to push you and bounce ideas off of also helps.
Blogger Debbie Lousberg discussed this topic in a recent post of hers:
"Get support. Find a friend, coworker, or hire a coach to keep you accountable and moving forward. Check in weekly with that person to track progress and celebrate victories you have along the way."
By sharing your goals with someone and asking them to help you stay on track toward achieving them, it's not so easy to just shove them into a drawer for the next several months and hope they come true somehow. A little bit of self-induced pressure to meet a goal and keep your word with someone is great motivation! Choose this person carefully - someone who is objective, not too emotionally tied to you, and won't let you off the hook. Your "accountability partner" may be a friend, co-worker, mentor, coach, or even a small group of colleagues, such as a Master Mind group. Even better if you can reciprocate by holding them accountable to their own goals.
Make arrangements to meet or phone the same time every week to check in on progress and successes. As this person becomes more understanding of your goals and actions, they may be able to provide ideas, information, contacts, and resources as well. They become an important piece of your network.
Paula Gregorowicz writes a coaching blog and recently discussed the topic of New Years resolutions. She goes over her thoughts on why New Years resolutions don't work and what you can do about it mentioning topics such as setting the wrong goals and thinking that doing the same thing will generate different results.
She also touches on an issue that many small business owners face as they grow their businesses - having the right goal but not having the right support around them. Paula says:
Whether or not you already have a plan, you need support to achieve the truly big things. And, if you don't yet have a plan the right support can help you formulate one that works.
She goes on to discuss the Mastermind Group concept and how it can be used to surround yourself with people who will support your initiatives and help you achieve your goals:
Successful people know that you can't go it alone. Define what sort of support you need - who can help you and then go out and get it. You might need a friend. Maybe a group of like minded individuals (support group, mastermind group, etc.) is the right fit for you. You may also need professional assistance in the form of a coach, trainer, career counselor, financial planner, etc. The most important step is to define who you need in your life to be successful and then go out there and get them. Make that commitment and investment in yourself and it'll pay many dividends.
Many of the members in our Mastermind Groups know where they want to take their companies but don't know how to do it and don't have the resources, strategies, connections to take them there.
Having members who are coaches, trainers, career counselors, financial planners, etc. can certainly help provide you with some expertise on specific areas. You should also consider members who have either already gone through what you're trying to accomplish or have the skills / expertise / contacts to help you. For example, if you're very strong at creating your product but need marketing help, make sure that the other members of your Mastermind Group are strong in marketing. If you all have the same strengths and same weaknesses you won't get as much value from the group.
A blog post by Lisa that I read recently brings home one of the key benefits of being a part of a Mastermind Group: having a supportive group of people to keep you motivated and provide valuable strategies to help your business.
Lisa is an instructor on investments and the day he started he took the smart step and:
met 2 other women from my area, and we committed to keeping each other on track during our learning phase of this process. After 18 months, the group has swelled to over 40 members and includes a daily chat for our mastermind group.
Many entrepreneurs find that they don't have anyone to talk to about their businesses. Friends and family want to help but just don't understand and aren't a good sounding board. This can be a key benefit of joining a Mastermind Group as Lisa points out:
I think that personally, the majority of my success has been because I sought out others who had the same goals as I did. My closest friends, even after 18 months of (me) trading and my husband no longer having to work, haven’t shown any interest in what I'm doing. Thankfully, I’m blessed with a very supportive family, but my new "family of traders" has been the best "investment" I've made overall.
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.
