Why You Need a Mastermind
What is a mastermind?
A mastermind is a group of peers who support and challenge each other. The concept originated in Napolean Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich. Most commonly, mastermind groups meet on a periodic basis to share ideas and feedback with each other.
Okay, but do I really need one?
Yes! The one thing we’re all looking for, consciously or not, is meaningful relationships. Even with the convenience of social media, many people feel alone. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a group of close friends to confide in and have deep conversations with? I’m not talking about the friends you gossip with; I‘m talking about smart, driven, trustworthy folks that will push you to be a better person. With a mastermind, you will be able to tackle your goals and challenges with a team behind you, encouraging and supporting you all along the way.
How do I get started?
Find 4-5 individuals with a similar interest. Note, not ALL of your goals and interests have to be the same. For example, if you are starting a photography business, you do not need to surround yourself with photographers. Instead, you could surround yourself with people who have started businesses in different fields. As long as the individuals in your mastermind are smart, driven, trustworthy, and loyal, their diverse experience and perspective should help you. Think of someone you admire or would seek advice from. If you don’t have anyone in mind, then consider asking your Facebook community, chamber of commerce, and other networking communities. You can also contact me to join my mastermind!
Determine the following:
Goal - Your goal may be to hold each other accountable, start businesses, or grow your business.
Core values - You should consider whether complete confidentiality or perfect attendance is required.
Meeting frequency - In order for a mastermind to be effective, I recommend frequent in-person meetings. The ideal frequency is weekly. If your group is spread apart, consider weekly webinars and quarterly in-person meetings.
Facilitator - Vote on 1 person to moderate the conversations. This person should be willing to keep everyone on track and in line with the core values. This person can also schedule the meetings and keep minutes or you can nominate a different person to fulfill those roles. You may want to rotate roles periodically as well.
Cost - Do you believe everyone will be more committed if they paid for the mastermind or do you believe it is immoral to charge for your friends’ time and advice? If your peers agree there should be a fee, determine how much and consider putting it toward materials, the venue, or a charity.
Term - I also recommend a term of 1 year. This length of time allows for goals to be met and improvements to be made.
I’m ready, let’s do this!
Awesome! Good for you! You will never regret investing in yourself. You can find more details in the download below and can sign up for my mastermind here.