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Whether you’re a business owner, CEO, salesperson, or executive, if you want to accelerate your success, one of the best actions you can take is to join a mastermind group.
What exactly is a mastermind group? It’s a group of people—typically between four and twelve—who meet regularly to help each other achieve their goals. They act as sort of an informal board of directors for each other, generating ideas, sharing knowledge, and providing feedback.
The concept of the mastermind group was popularized by Napoleon Hill in his book Think and Grow Rich. Hill noticed that many successful business people had such groups and recognized that the groups were a significant factor in their success. Mastermind groups have grown in popularity and diversity ever since.
Which is no surprise when you consider that a mastermind group can provide you with:
1. Accountability
2. Momentum
3. New perspectives
4. People who understand the challenges you experience
5. More and better ideas
6. Potential collaboration partners
7. Better and faster decision making
8. A more positive outlook
9. Lessons and ideas from other industries
10. The stimulus to think bigger
11. A safe space to discuss challenges and problems
12. New insights
13. Other people’s expertise
14. Access to networks beyond your own
15. Encouragement and support
16. Faster sales growth
17. A kick in the pants when you need one
18. Opportunities for cross promotion
19. More confidence
20. Greater energy
21. Deep, meaningful connections with amazing people
22. The chance to learn from other’s experiences
23. A place to vent when you need to
24. Better follow-through
25. Multiple opinions
26. Powerful insights into yourself
27. Access to additional resources
28. Honest feedback
29. Inspiration
30. More creativity
31. A sense of belonging and acceptance
32. The opportunity to feel good about helping others
Today there are more types of mastermind groups than ever before: some large, some small. Meeting anywhere from weekly to annually, both physically and virtually. Groups that cross state lines and even international borders.
And no longer are groups exclusively for business owners. Nowadays you can join a leadership mastermind group, a marketing mastermind group, or a sales mastermind group to develop your skills and get help with your specific challenges.
So how can you find a mastermind group to join?
Ask around
Ask the most successful people in your network if they belong to a mastermind group. When you find people who do, ask if their group is open to new members. (Be aware that groups often have the same members for years, and as a result, don’t accept new people.)
Check with the organizations you belong to
Many business organizations such as Chambers of Commerce and trade associations have formal or informal mastermind programs for their members. They may entail an additional investment, or they may be included with your membership.
Check out your favorite business experts
Many business speakers and coaches have their own mastermind programs that are open to the public. Often these programs integrate training and/or coaching with the traditional benefits of a mastermind group.
Create your own
Invite four or five or eight or nine of the brightest, most diverse minds you know to start a mastermind group with you. As a bonus, you get to decide the details of how the group will operate.
I have been in several mastermind groups throughout my career as a keynote speaker and trainer, and each one has been valuable to my professional growth and success. It’s a powerful concept that literally anyone can take advantage of. It requires an investment of time and energy (and sometimes money), but it’s absolutely worth it.
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