Mastermind Groups Create Sanity Net for Entrepreneurs
August 28, 2008 by Mary Ellen
“It’s just not a good climate for an entrepreneur. Maybe after the election things will change.”
I listened in amazement thinking, “Shall I just stick my head in the sand in the meantime?”
Navigating the chaos requires a consistent focus and positive mindset. I’m not suggesting a Pollyanna-ish approach where you look at the world through rose-colored glasses. Define the type of support that works for you and create it for yourself. For example, In 2002 I answered an advertisement for a group coaching call. Although only one other participant showed up, the group’s founder and leader, Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee chose to keep the program. Our weekly calls evolved to a monthly mastermind meeting that continues today.
Napoleon Hill, in his classic book “Think and Grow Rich” defines mastermind groups:
Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for attainment of a definite purpose.
Hill talks about the economic advantages of surrounding one’s self with good advisors, and then alludes to the more significant synergistic result of a mastermind group:
No two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind.
Karen Van Cleve, Rachelle and I can point to significant accomplishments as a result of the time we’ve spent together. We’ve each defined and achieved specific goals in our business and personal lives. Just recently, Karen was instrumental in getting a speaking engagement for me; Rachelle helped me win a book contract. From online achievement – Rachelle has one of the oldest and most successful personal motivation newsletters on the internet – to coaching prowess – Karen balances a multitude of clients from the Tony Robbins organization with her own – our trio has found a way to weave our achievements into a source of inspiration and learning for each other.
Our calls continue to be a sanity check. Because we’re not in the same social or business circles, we can provide unbiased viewpoints and suggestions. None of us are timid about reading, thinking and implementing ideas; sharing our experiences and helping each other move to a new level has been invaluable. We’ve investigated exercise, nutrition (two of three of us now live a vegan lifestyle), positive thought and more.
Any number of forums exists for organizing a mastermind group; one of the resources to investigate is a mastermind group resources blog. Numerous books and articles exist as well, from how-to to evaluation and all topics in between.
The real payoff comes from what you do with your mastermind effort. Challenge yourself. Yes, the encouragement is terrific; the support and unconditional acceptance is awesome. The occasional kick-in-the pants from someone I respect has also done me well. My point is, make your mastermind work for you. The “it’s not a good climate” comment may have come from someone in a mastermind. It just didn’t happen to be mine.
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This is a great post and for a more detailed discussion of master mind groups read:
CRITICAL MASS: The 10 Explosive Powers of CEO PEER GROUPS.
It is available on Amazon.com today.