Achieve Your Goals Through a Mastermind Group
No mind is complete by itself. It needs contact and association with other minds to grow and expand
Napoleon Hill
It is a New Year. Most likely you have set some goals for yourself. This year might be the year when you finally start your business, lead a healthy lifestyle, build healthy relationships or write the book you have been carrying in your mind for a while. If you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, or need an accountability group to support your endeavor, a mastermind might be exactly what you need.
What is a Mastermind Group?
A Mastermind group is a peer-to-peer mentoring where members work on their goals and solve their problems by using input from others. Usually, it consists of 6-12 people who meet regularly over the course of several months or years. It is a safe space where you can freely share your ideas, aspirations, challenges, and fears in order to gain new perspectives and constructive feedback, and learn from the experiences of others.
The term was originally coined by Napoleon Hill in his book The Law of Success where he describes it as a “friendly alliance among people to support each other with their plans.” He believed that when two minds come together, they create a third mind – a mastermind able to produce novel ideas. The third mind refers to the creative energy that is produced as a result of connection and collaboration.
What are the benefits of joining a Mastermind group?
Since you are reading this blog, you must be a goal-oriented person, who wants to be your best. You might be a solopreneur running your own business and having to make strategic decisions all the time. Or you might have a full-time job and want to start a side hustle to pursue your passion. Or maybe, you work in a leadership role where you have to make decisions that affect your team. It can be daunting and lonely to be where you are.
A Mastermind group can serve as your personal advisory board, with who you can talk and bounce ideas off. It is a group that can keep you accountable, help you stay focused on your mission, and overcome any roadblocks on your way. They provide you with a space to unpack difficult puzzles, ask tough questions and dive deep into the challenges you are going through. As Ken Blanchard wisely said, “None of us is as smart as all of us.” So, a mastermind can help you grow and overcome obstacles by tapping into the common wisdom, resources, and insights of the group.
Here are some of the benefits a mastermind group can provide:
- Accountability to commit to your goals
- Regular connection to other growth-minded individuals
- A confidential space to share your challenges and ideas
- A trusted group to help you see new perspectives and make decisions
- An opportunity to learn from others and their experiences
- Networks and resources of others that you can tap into
- A safe space to test your ideas, learn from failures and achieve success
- A chance to help others by sharing your wisdom and expertise
How can I maximize my experience in a Mastermind group?
Just like in life, to make it count you have to play full in and show up as your best self. Turning an idea into a business or a side project requires time, hard work, and dedication. So, join a Mastermind group only if you are ready to do the work and show up not only for yourself but also for other members of the group. If you are ready, here are some ways you can make this experience count:
- Set SMARTER goals to achieve during your participation
- Stay focused and committed throughout the program
- Work on your goals and ideas in between the meetings
- Track your progress or lack of it and learn from what works and what doesn’t
- Ask members to keep you accountable and call you out when you don’t play full in
- Come to the sessions fully prepared – e.g., have something to share or discuss
- Don’t miss any sessions and if you do, catch up on things you might have missed
- Connect to each individual member and invest your time to get to know them
- Care for the members as much as you care for you
- Ask for help when you need it and help others
- Show up as your true self and play full in
- Share some love and appreciation
Is there any Mastermind group I can join?
Yes, there are tons of Mastermind groups you can join. Depending on your location and preferences, you can join groups in your city or your time zone. Now with modern technology, you can join groups literally anywhere in the world.
Also, keep an eye on this space as I occasionally facilitate mastermind programs focused on personal and business development topics. Previous programs included – Bring your idea to life and Building sustainable habits.
