Guest post by Evelyn Bourne | Featured in my free eBook Get Your Business Straight
The world is moving so fast right now, and as an Internet entrepreneur you may sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed at the pace of change. If you're a business woman who runs your company from your home office, you may sometimes feel isolated from the world despite the fact that you are connecting all day with customers and clients and vendors.
But what if you had a group of trusted confidantes that you could consult with about how things are going with your business, ask for advice, share your knowledge and get feedback on your plans? A Mastermind group is all of those things and more. While the basic concept of the Mastermind group has been around for centuries, Napoleon Hill, author of, Think and grow Rich, and The Law of Success, popularized the concept in the early 20th century and it has become part of mainstream business practices.
The Mastermind principle basically states that when a group of like-minded people come together with a common purpose combining their energy and ideas towards a common goal there develops an, ". . . invisible intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind [the master mind]." So, this Mastermind, this "third mind" that emerges out of the harmonious cooperation of two or more individuals, is the key to achieving more than any of you could on your own. Whether you join or start a Mastermind group here are three strategies for making sure that your group is successful:
1. Clarify expectations
Each person may come to the group with completely different ideas about what a Mastermind group is and what they want out of it. If everyone gets their ideas out on the table and discusses them freely you can come to agreement on how you will operate your group. Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the group members and the structure and flow of each meeting.
2. Establish common goals for the group
Even as each individual has goals that they are working towards, the group should come into agreement on the common goals of the collective. This is a prime example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
3. Be transparent
Harboring hidden agendas will hinder the free flow of positive energy needed to keep the group moving forward. You must be able to trust your Mastermind group as you should always be trustworthy. Each member should agree to keep everything discussed in their Mastermind group as strictly confidential.
Participating in a Mastermind group could be just what you need to fuel a breakthrough in your business and in your personal growth. Meeting on a regular basis with other business women who have similar goals and aspirations can provide each of you with a sense of accountability for the goals you set, support for your ideas and a place for you to share your knowledge and expertise while you soak up the wisdom of your colleagues.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Evelyn Bourne is a Freelance writer and blogger who specializes in creating compelling web content that converts to higher sales, makes visitors come back for more, and keeps you visible in the search engines. For SEO articles, eBooks, White Papers or special reports visit, http://contentcreation.wordpress.com today.
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Friday, February 19, 2010
There's Support in Numbers !
"There's Support in Numbers!"
I'm serious about my living my best life and I am serious about being successful in business. What about you? I am in Florida for a whole week of meetings with my business coach and master mind group. This has been a huge investment for me – and one of the best decisions I made in 2009!
"The Power of Great Dreams" –
We who are in this race for riches should be encouraged to know that this changed world in which we live is demanding new ideas, new ways of doing things, new leaders, new inventions, new methods of teaching, new methods of marketing……..new ideas for moving pictures. Back of all this demand for new and better things, there is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it."
My intention, over the next few years, is to make a ton of money – with money comes freedom and part of that freedom, for me, involves 'giving back" – wherever and whenever I can! That's my dream and that is my intention.
Having a dream, knowing your purpose and holding on to that burning desire to succeed are all important aspects 'of the journey'. The key to success, however, is gained through the master mind.
"No individual may have great power without availing himself of the Master Mind……no two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind. The human mind is a form of energy, a part of it being spiritual in nature."
The one thing over which you have absolute control is your thoughts!
I have believed in the power of the master mind for years and years. It must be a properly chosen master mind group! My group, here in Florida, is made up of phenomenal business women from around the U.S. – an EFT practitioner, a wellness coach, a sales coach, a dental hygienist, an interior decorator/designer, a virtual assistant, a social media strategist, a videographer and so on.
We have worked hard, we have laughed hard, we have played hard – we have experienced tremendous success.
"The ladder of success is never crowded at the top."
When I was on my trip around the world, we visited the Maasai Mara tribe in Africa. It was so very interesting to chat with them about their lifestyle and their tribunal practices. Even they believe in the power of the master mind concept!
What are the benefits of belonging to a master mind group?
1. You are surrounded by people who know, like, trust and care about you and your success.
2. You have responsibility and accountability.
3. You have a plan and you work the plan. You tweak the plan and then you continue to work the plan some more.
4. There is tremendous cooperation, collaboration and sharing of intellectual property. Why re-invent the wheel?
5. We face fear – we celebrate success – we train our brains – we persist – we execute! We care.
"No individual has sufficient experience, education, native ability, and knowledge to insure the accumulation of success, without the cooperation of other people."
Have you had experience with a master mind group? If not, what are you waiting for? "No man is an island....".
Assignment
1. Do some research and learn everything you can about Master Mind groups.
2. Read "Think and Grow Rich."
3. Find a master mind group that is a perfect fit for you.
Do this and I will guarantee that you will take control of your life. When you try new things, you are developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life you truly want to live.
Author's Bio
Pat Mussieux is an expert coach on mind-set and goal-setting techniques, helping female baby-boomers add more happiness to their daily lives. To get your free CD: "The 10 Steps2Happiness", visit http://www.steps2happiness.com
I'm serious about my living my best life and I am serious about being successful in business. What about you? I am in Florida for a whole week of meetings with my business coach and master mind group. This has been a huge investment for me – and one of the best decisions I made in 2009!
"The Power of Great Dreams" –
We who are in this race for riches should be encouraged to know that this changed world in which we live is demanding new ideas, new ways of doing things, new leaders, new inventions, new methods of teaching, new methods of marketing……..new ideas for moving pictures. Back of all this demand for new and better things, there is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it."
My intention, over the next few years, is to make a ton of money – with money comes freedom and part of that freedom, for me, involves 'giving back" – wherever and whenever I can! That's my dream and that is my intention.
Having a dream, knowing your purpose and holding on to that burning desire to succeed are all important aspects 'of the journey'. The key to success, however, is gained through the master mind.
"No individual may have great power without availing himself of the Master Mind……no two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind. The human mind is a form of energy, a part of it being spiritual in nature."
The one thing over which you have absolute control is your thoughts!
I have believed in the power of the master mind for years and years. It must be a properly chosen master mind group! My group, here in Florida, is made up of phenomenal business women from around the U.S. – an EFT practitioner, a wellness coach, a sales coach, a dental hygienist, an interior decorator/designer, a virtual assistant, a social media strategist, a videographer and so on.
We have worked hard, we have laughed hard, we have played hard – we have experienced tremendous success.
"The ladder of success is never crowded at the top."
When I was on my trip around the world, we visited the Maasai Mara tribe in Africa. It was so very interesting to chat with them about their lifestyle and their tribunal practices. Even they believe in the power of the master mind concept!
What are the benefits of belonging to a master mind group?
1. You are surrounded by people who know, like, trust and care about you and your success.
2. You have responsibility and accountability.
3. You have a plan and you work the plan. You tweak the plan and then you continue to work the plan some more.
4. There is tremendous cooperation, collaboration and sharing of intellectual property. Why re-invent the wheel?
5. We face fear – we celebrate success – we train our brains – we persist – we execute! We care.
"No individual has sufficient experience, education, native ability, and knowledge to insure the accumulation of success, without the cooperation of other people."
Have you had experience with a master mind group? If not, what are you waiting for? "No man is an island....".
Assignment
1. Do some research and learn everything you can about Master Mind groups.
2. Read "Think and Grow Rich."
3. Find a master mind group that is a perfect fit for you.
Do this and I will guarantee that you will take control of your life. When you try new things, you are developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life you truly want to live.
Author's Bio
Pat Mussieux is an expert coach on mind-set and goal-setting techniques, helping female baby-boomers add more happiness to their daily lives. To get your free CD: "The 10 Steps2Happiness", visit http://www.steps2happiness.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Starting a Mastermind Group
Some people like to cooperate with others to achieve their goals, while others prefer to chase their dreams on their own.
I find that involving mutually committed partners in my pursuits is intensely rewarding - especially mastermind groups. I've strengthened my friendships, made measurable progress towards my goals, and continue to grow thanks to the support I've received in my mastermind groups over the years.
In this article I'll lay out what a mastermind group is, the benefits of having a mastermind group, and concrete strategies and actions you can take to start your own mastermind group today.
What Is A Mastermind Group?
The first place I came across the concept of a mastermind was in Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. In it, Hill describes a mastermind group as:
"The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony."
In my experience, my mastermind groups have formed around multiple people striving for a common purpose - from goals as small as college admissions and improving fitness, to as large as your entire life.
What Are The Benefits of a Mastermind Group?
Mutual support. I like to form groups around a specific activity, but even with differing goals you'll be able to lean on each other for support. Many times when my progress has slowed on a specific goal, the members of my mastermind are the only people who really understand what has been going on behind the scenes, and give me support in spite of my failed efforts.
Differing perspectives. Hearing the different views my fellow mastermind participants have allows me to see issues I wouldn't otherwise become aware of - in my life, and in my approach to my goals. Whether I agree with their assessment or not, it always gives me a better understanding of how I can better improve my approach.
Resources. Everyone in your group will have access to a different skillset and network of people. I've often found that when I ask for help in my mastermind groups, these resources help me make progress in ways I never could by myself.
Accountability. My fellow group members hold me accountable to goals I set. In addition, just knowing that I have a regularly scheduled meeting internally drives me to make progress - because I don't want to be the only person reporting back that I haven't made an effort to move my projects forward. How Do I Start a Mastermind Group?
Starting a mastermind group is deceptively simple in its steps:
Pick a Topic. This may be as narrow as you like, or as broad as you like (such as your entire life). If you are new to mastermind groups, I would recommend picking one specific aspect of your life to start out with. Perhaps fitness, your career, school, or some other broad area that you would like improvement with.
Pick your Partners. I'll discuss this in detail below. A mastermind group is only as good as the people in it - pick your partners with care.
Agree On Ground Rules. I'll provide some guidance below, but keep in mind the purpose of setting rules is not to stifle anyone - the purpose of the rules is to ensure everyone benefits from the mastermind group. I like to keep a loose set of rules and count on mutual respect of the individuals to keep everyone in line, but you may choose to have strict ground rules if you like.
Meet!
Who Should I Invite Into My Mastermind Group? Two words: mutual beneficiaries.
Any member in your mastermind group should not only be able to provide you with sound feedback and advice, but should be able to receive some benefit from your feedback as well. Some qualities I look for in a participant include:
Similar Drive and Commitment. You want everyone in the group to be similarly committed. If one person is striving to compete in a bodybuilding competition, while you're just trying to cut the sugar out of your diet, you may not be compatible for a mastermind group.
Diverse Skill Sets. For me personally, I am very analytical and approach things from a scientific, engineering perspective. I enjoy mastermind groups where some people share this perspective, but also gain valuable feedback from people who are perhaps more abstract and in touch with their emotions (as opposed to a "cold" analytical approach).
Problem Solvers. This is my personal preference, I like partners who are active problem solvers. My purpose in a mastermind group is to get feedback, solutions to my issues and move forward.
I like to limit mastermind groups to between 3 and 5 people. This keeps meeting short, in depth and on point. You can experiment with more or less, but I recommend starting with 2 or 3 if this is your first time with a mastermind group. How Do I Run A Mastermind Group?
Meet Regularly And Precisely. I call this the "nuts and bolts." Keep to a regularly scheduled time, ensure all members are punctual - and end on time. I typically meet for 60 minutes once a week. You may require more or less time, but ensure that you have adequate time because you want to...
Give each member equal time. We don't use a timer, but for larger groups that may be necessary. I keep most of my groups to only three people, and generally we are all aware that we have approximately 20 minutes per person, and try to keep it in that time frame.
Don't Interrupt. One person at a time, and keep in mind the purpose of the meeting is to give everyone a chance - it's not always about you. Hold all comments until the person speaking has a chance to speak. We generally do not jump in at all unless someone has a specific question.
Decide if you need an agenda. My mastermind groups typically have a conversation topic (often decided at the meeting prior), but no explicit agenda. I previously have run groups that had more explicit items on the agenda for accountability and progress reports - try it out and decide what works best for you.
Decide on whether to have a facilitator. In my groups, I start the calls, and act as a very loose facilitator - I point out who is going to go first. That's it - everyone polices themselves. Perhaps your group will need a facilitator who is more active - keeping people on target for time, and moving you from one items on the agenda to the next.
Capture. Make sure you capture what happened at each meeting - lessons and triumphs, goals, and items you want to keep each other accountable to. I like to use Google Documents and Mindmeister. When I conduct groups online using Skype I use MP3 Skype Recorder (free) to record mp3s of my calls. Three Question To Kick Start Your Mastermind Group
If you're ready to start a mastermind group, you may want some very basic structure help you in the beginning. These three questions never fail to get my mastermind groups off to a great start. As your group evolves, you'll come up with your own agenda and questions that you'd like each member to answer - but if you don't know where to begin, this is a great place to start:
What Are You Working On? Nice and broad, and each member can answer with whatever they feel comfortable sharing.
What Did You Learn? Very often my groups are focused on similar goals, and lessons learnt by one member benefit all of us.
What Do You Need Help With? By having a specific question on the agenda, this helps take pressure of members who want to reach out to the group for help
http://www.blackplanet.com/your_page/blog/view_posting.html?pid=495094&profile_id=39453735&user_id=39453735§ion=Right_Now
I find that involving mutually committed partners in my pursuits is intensely rewarding - especially mastermind groups. I've strengthened my friendships, made measurable progress towards my goals, and continue to grow thanks to the support I've received in my mastermind groups over the years.
In this article I'll lay out what a mastermind group is, the benefits of having a mastermind group, and concrete strategies and actions you can take to start your own mastermind group today.
What Is A Mastermind Group?
The first place I came across the concept of a mastermind was in Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. In it, Hill describes a mastermind group as:
"The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony."
In my experience, my mastermind groups have formed around multiple people striving for a common purpose - from goals as small as college admissions and improving fitness, to as large as your entire life.
What Are The Benefits of a Mastermind Group?
Mutual support. I like to form groups around a specific activity, but even with differing goals you'll be able to lean on each other for support. Many times when my progress has slowed on a specific goal, the members of my mastermind are the only people who really understand what has been going on behind the scenes, and give me support in spite of my failed efforts.
Differing perspectives. Hearing the different views my fellow mastermind participants have allows me to see issues I wouldn't otherwise become aware of - in my life, and in my approach to my goals. Whether I agree with their assessment or not, it always gives me a better understanding of how I can better improve my approach.
Resources. Everyone in your group will have access to a different skillset and network of people. I've often found that when I ask for help in my mastermind groups, these resources help me make progress in ways I never could by myself.
Accountability. My fellow group members hold me accountable to goals I set. In addition, just knowing that I have a regularly scheduled meeting internally drives me to make progress - because I don't want to be the only person reporting back that I haven't made an effort to move my projects forward. How Do I Start a Mastermind Group?
Starting a mastermind group is deceptively simple in its steps:
Pick a Topic. This may be as narrow as you like, or as broad as you like (such as your entire life). If you are new to mastermind groups, I would recommend picking one specific aspect of your life to start out with. Perhaps fitness, your career, school, or some other broad area that you would like improvement with.
Pick your Partners. I'll discuss this in detail below. A mastermind group is only as good as the people in it - pick your partners with care.
Agree On Ground Rules. I'll provide some guidance below, but keep in mind the purpose of setting rules is not to stifle anyone - the purpose of the rules is to ensure everyone benefits from the mastermind group. I like to keep a loose set of rules and count on mutual respect of the individuals to keep everyone in line, but you may choose to have strict ground rules if you like.
Meet!
Who Should I Invite Into My Mastermind Group? Two words: mutual beneficiaries.
Any member in your mastermind group should not only be able to provide you with sound feedback and advice, but should be able to receive some benefit from your feedback as well. Some qualities I look for in a participant include:
Similar Drive and Commitment. You want everyone in the group to be similarly committed. If one person is striving to compete in a bodybuilding competition, while you're just trying to cut the sugar out of your diet, you may not be compatible for a mastermind group.
Diverse Skill Sets. For me personally, I am very analytical and approach things from a scientific, engineering perspective. I enjoy mastermind groups where some people share this perspective, but also gain valuable feedback from people who are perhaps more abstract and in touch with their emotions (as opposed to a "cold" analytical approach).
Problem Solvers. This is my personal preference, I like partners who are active problem solvers. My purpose in a mastermind group is to get feedback, solutions to my issues and move forward.
I like to limit mastermind groups to between 3 and 5 people. This keeps meeting short, in depth and on point. You can experiment with more or less, but I recommend starting with 2 or 3 if this is your first time with a mastermind group. How Do I Run A Mastermind Group?
Meet Regularly And Precisely. I call this the "nuts and bolts." Keep to a regularly scheduled time, ensure all members are punctual - and end on time. I typically meet for 60 minutes once a week. You may require more or less time, but ensure that you have adequate time because you want to...
Give each member equal time. We don't use a timer, but for larger groups that may be necessary. I keep most of my groups to only three people, and generally we are all aware that we have approximately 20 minutes per person, and try to keep it in that time frame.
Don't Interrupt. One person at a time, and keep in mind the purpose of the meeting is to give everyone a chance - it's not always about you. Hold all comments until the person speaking has a chance to speak. We generally do not jump in at all unless someone has a specific question.
Decide if you need an agenda. My mastermind groups typically have a conversation topic (often decided at the meeting prior), but no explicit agenda. I previously have run groups that had more explicit items on the agenda for accountability and progress reports - try it out and decide what works best for you.
Decide on whether to have a facilitator. In my groups, I start the calls, and act as a very loose facilitator - I point out who is going to go first. That's it - everyone polices themselves. Perhaps your group will need a facilitator who is more active - keeping people on target for time, and moving you from one items on the agenda to the next.
Capture. Make sure you capture what happened at each meeting - lessons and triumphs, goals, and items you want to keep each other accountable to. I like to use Google Documents and Mindmeister. When I conduct groups online using Skype I use MP3 Skype Recorder (free) to record mp3s of my calls. Three Question To Kick Start Your Mastermind Group
If you're ready to start a mastermind group, you may want some very basic structure help you in the beginning. These three questions never fail to get my mastermind groups off to a great start. As your group evolves, you'll come up with your own agenda and questions that you'd like each member to answer - but if you don't know where to begin, this is a great place to start:
What Are You Working On? Nice and broad, and each member can answer with whatever they feel comfortable sharing.
What Did You Learn? Very often my groups are focused on similar goals, and lessons learnt by one member benefit all of us.
What Do You Need Help With? By having a specific question on the agenda, this helps take pressure of members who want to reach out to the group for help
http://www.blackplanet.com/your_page/blog/view_posting.html?pid=495094&profile_id=39453735&user_id=39453735§ion=Right_Now
Saturday, February 13, 2010
How to Start and Manage Your Mastermind Group
Some of the most successful people in history have leveraged the power of mastermind groups, a concept that was introduced in Napoleon Hill's best-selling book "Think and Grow Rich." The purpose of a mastermind group is to exchange and refine ideas, while assisting each other in reaching goals. From experience I can tell you that the right group can create spectacular results.
While you can seek out an existing group, a more powerful option is to start and manage your own group. This will give you the opportunity to cultivate a group with the right level of experience and synergy. Following are some suggestions for getting started.
Develop Meeting Structure and Frequency
Knowing how often your group will meet and where those meetings will take place are some primary considerations. Some groups meet weekly by phone, some meet monthly in a local conference room, while others meet quarterly. If your group is geographically disbursed you will need to facilitate conference calls or meetings at a remote location such as a resort or hotel.
While establishing frequency, a big consideration is how many members you will have and how long meetings will last. Since the purpose of the group is to brainstorm and leverage each other's experience and advice, each member needs a chance to be heard. Some groups rotate this benefit around, while others make sure each member receives focused time at every meeting.
The amount of time you can allot to each person depends on how many people are involved. If you have a group with ten people and each gets 20 minutes to present their ideas and challenges, you will need about three and a half hours of spotlight time, plus extra time for breaks and transition. Keeping the group size small-six to twelve people-allows members to each benefit from more focused time.
Select Your Members
While you could place an ad on Craigslist or Meetup.com to find members for your group, I encourage you to hand-pick participants. Your group should be a safe place for fleshing out ideas, which involves a level of trust among members. Also, consider the different skill levels you want to bring to your group. Some people are highly creative and generate a lot of ideas, while others are detail-oriented and can serve in the role of devil's advocate. Both types of people should be included in your group to keep the creativity flowing, and to refine ideas and uncover potential road blocks.
You might also want your group to consist of people with specific skills. For example, someone with a financial background can help focus on the numbers, while someone with internet skills can bring online marketing ideas to the table. Consider carefully what roles you want filled and how these roles can compliment each other.
Experience is also an important consideration. The point of a mastermind group is to collectively help each other grow your respective businesses. With that in mind, the members should consist of people who have been around for awhile. If you fill the room with new business owners, more experienced members may feel like they are carrying the load and won't stick around for long.
Establish Guidelines
Your group will benefit from some policies that outline what is expected of members. These guidelines could include a mission statement that describes the purpose of the group, an attendance policy to ensure members are committed to participating regularly, and a confidentiality agreement.
Inevitably members will need to be replaced when they leave the group for any number of reasons. It is wise to outline a member selection process with guidelines for nominating and inducting new members. For example, you might want to exclude anyone who could potentially be a competitor of an existing member. You might also invite potential new members in on a trial basis before voting to make things permanent.
Keep the Momentum Going
Strong leadership is essential in setting the tone for the group, inspiring members to participate, and ensuring that the time is well spent. If someone is disrupting the group or affecting its level of quality, it is up to the leader to deal with the situation. The leader must also coordinate and manage an agenda effectively.
Ongoing communication is also required. E-mail is the standard for keeping in touch, but you might consider developing a private online forum through Yahoo Groups or Groupsite.com. This can provide a central place for members to share information in between meetings and further build the kind of bond that is essential to the success of your group.
Some members will thrive from the accountability that can come with a mastermind group, while others will be inspired by the exchange of ideas. Celebrate each other's successes and make sure the group is focused on helping members take giant leaps forward. This is the ultimate pay-off of a good mastermind group. It serves as a mutually beneficial tool for helping its members advance their businesses.
Stephanie Chandler is an author of several books including "LEAP! 101 Ways to Grow Your Business" and "From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with Books, eBooks and Information Products." She is also the founder of http://BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs. For additional author and speaker details, visit http://StephanieChandler.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Chandler
While you can seek out an existing group, a more powerful option is to start and manage your own group. This will give you the opportunity to cultivate a group with the right level of experience and synergy. Following are some suggestions for getting started.
Develop Meeting Structure and Frequency
Knowing how often your group will meet and where those meetings will take place are some primary considerations. Some groups meet weekly by phone, some meet monthly in a local conference room, while others meet quarterly. If your group is geographically disbursed you will need to facilitate conference calls or meetings at a remote location such as a resort or hotel.
While establishing frequency, a big consideration is how many members you will have and how long meetings will last. Since the purpose of the group is to brainstorm and leverage each other's experience and advice, each member needs a chance to be heard. Some groups rotate this benefit around, while others make sure each member receives focused time at every meeting.
The amount of time you can allot to each person depends on how many people are involved. If you have a group with ten people and each gets 20 minutes to present their ideas and challenges, you will need about three and a half hours of spotlight time, plus extra time for breaks and transition. Keeping the group size small-six to twelve people-allows members to each benefit from more focused time.
Select Your Members
While you could place an ad on Craigslist or Meetup.com to find members for your group, I encourage you to hand-pick participants. Your group should be a safe place for fleshing out ideas, which involves a level of trust among members. Also, consider the different skill levels you want to bring to your group. Some people are highly creative and generate a lot of ideas, while others are detail-oriented and can serve in the role of devil's advocate. Both types of people should be included in your group to keep the creativity flowing, and to refine ideas and uncover potential road blocks.
You might also want your group to consist of people with specific skills. For example, someone with a financial background can help focus on the numbers, while someone with internet skills can bring online marketing ideas to the table. Consider carefully what roles you want filled and how these roles can compliment each other.
Experience is also an important consideration. The point of a mastermind group is to collectively help each other grow your respective businesses. With that in mind, the members should consist of people who have been around for awhile. If you fill the room with new business owners, more experienced members may feel like they are carrying the load and won't stick around for long.
Establish Guidelines
Your group will benefit from some policies that outline what is expected of members. These guidelines could include a mission statement that describes the purpose of the group, an attendance policy to ensure members are committed to participating regularly, and a confidentiality agreement.
Inevitably members will need to be replaced when they leave the group for any number of reasons. It is wise to outline a member selection process with guidelines for nominating and inducting new members. For example, you might want to exclude anyone who could potentially be a competitor of an existing member. You might also invite potential new members in on a trial basis before voting to make things permanent.
Keep the Momentum Going
Strong leadership is essential in setting the tone for the group, inspiring members to participate, and ensuring that the time is well spent. If someone is disrupting the group or affecting its level of quality, it is up to the leader to deal with the situation. The leader must also coordinate and manage an agenda effectively.
Ongoing communication is also required. E-mail is the standard for keeping in touch, but you might consider developing a private online forum through Yahoo Groups or Groupsite.com. This can provide a central place for members to share information in between meetings and further build the kind of bond that is essential to the success of your group.
Some members will thrive from the accountability that can come with a mastermind group, while others will be inspired by the exchange of ideas. Celebrate each other's successes and make sure the group is focused on helping members take giant leaps forward. This is the ultimate pay-off of a good mastermind group. It serves as a mutually beneficial tool for helping its members advance their businesses.
Stephanie Chandler is an author of several books including "LEAP! 101 Ways to Grow Your Business" and "From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with Books, eBooks and Information Products." She is also the founder of http://BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs. For additional author and speaker details, visit http://StephanieChandler.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Chandler
Monday, February 1, 2010
Surround Yourself With Positive People for Success
Posted by Rae in January 31st, 2010 3 CommentsPosted in: Informative Articles, Inspiration
By: Bud Bilanich
Self confidence is an important key to personal and professional success. If you want to become self confident you need to do three things.
1) Become an optimist.
2) Face your fears and take action.
3) Surround yourself with positive people.
In this article, I’d like to focus on the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people. Positive people help your self confidence because they tend to see the potential in you – even when you might not see it in yourself. Negative people, on the other hand, will hinder your self confidence because they tend to reinforce your self doubt and negative beliefs about yourself.
As Mark Twain said…
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that. The really great make you feel that you too can become great.”
Positive people help you realize your dreams. Negative people take them away. Positivity and optimism are contagious. Unfortunately, so are negativity and pessimism. Surround yourself with positive people, and you’ll become positive and self confident. On the other hand, surround yourself with negative people, and you’ll become negative and lose your confidence. Self confidence and negativity are mutually exclusive.
Negative people tend to come in two flavors: cynics and humorists. Cynics are not fun. They don’t like much of anything. They’re the kind of people who complain about having to pay taxes after winning the lottery. Humorists, on the other hand, can be seductive. They’re clever and amusing. They go around with a smirk on their face, using humor to point out everything that’s wrong. At first, they can be fun to be around. It’s like the two of you have an inside joke on the world. In the long run though, their negativity will wear you out.
Set your boundaries. Walk away from the negative people you encounter. End your toxic friendships. It may be difficult at first, but as you move away from negative people, you’ll become more positive and will attract positive people into my life.
Forming a group of positive friends and colleagues is one way of surrounding yourself with positive people. Make a commitment to meet with this group on a regular basis to discuss one another’s hopes, dreams and goals. Exchange ideas and support one another. You want to find people who accept you for who you are, but are willing to challenge you, in a positive and constructive manner, to excel and to become a personal professional success.
I can’t take credit for this idea. In Think and Grow Rich, probably the most famous self help book of all time, Napoleon Hill suggested the idea of Mastermind Alliances. An article in the February 2009 issue of SUCCESS Magazine defines a Mastermind Alliance…
“The Mastermind principle consists of an alliance of two or more minds working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a common definite objective. Success does not come without the cooperation of others.”
A Mastermind Alliance then, is a group of positive people helping one another achieve goals; exactly what I suggested above.
Of course if you want to surround yourself with positive people, you need to be a positive person yourself. Here are ten small sentences you should incorporate into your daily vocabulary if you want to become known as a positive person:
You can do it.
I believe in you.
I’m proud of you.
Thank you.
I need you.
I trust you.
I respect you.
I appreciate you.
I value you.
I love you.
Here are some of my best ideas on attracting positive people.
Think positively. Train yourself to see the opportunity in every difficulty and the good in every person you meet. Be genuinely happy about not only your success – but the success of others in your life.
Smile. Smiles are contagious. When you smile at others, they tend to return the favor. A smile can have a positive impact on someone who is having a bad day. By smiling, you’ll attract other smiling positive people – the kind of people who will help you fulfill your dreams.
Speak positively. You attract positive people when you say positive things. When someone greets me by saying, “How are you?” I always smile and answer “Great, and you?” even if I’m having a tough day. This doesn’t mean that I don’t share my troubles with close friends. I just don’t wear them on my sleeve.
The common sense point here is simple. Self confidence is an important key to personal and professional success. Surrounding yourself with positive people is a great way to build your self confidence. Jettison the negative people in your life. If you can’t remove them completely, do your best to keep them at arm’s length. Build a network of positive people by being positive yourself. Think positively. Smile. Speak positively.
http://www.raecattach.com/2010/01/31/surround-yourself-with-positive-people-for-success/
By: Bud Bilanich
Self confidence is an important key to personal and professional success. If you want to become self confident you need to do three things.
1) Become an optimist.
2) Face your fears and take action.
3) Surround yourself with positive people.
In this article, I’d like to focus on the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people. Positive people help your self confidence because they tend to see the potential in you – even when you might not see it in yourself. Negative people, on the other hand, will hinder your self confidence because they tend to reinforce your self doubt and negative beliefs about yourself.
As Mark Twain said…
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that. The really great make you feel that you too can become great.”
Positive people help you realize your dreams. Negative people take them away. Positivity and optimism are contagious. Unfortunately, so are negativity and pessimism. Surround yourself with positive people, and you’ll become positive and self confident. On the other hand, surround yourself with negative people, and you’ll become negative and lose your confidence. Self confidence and negativity are mutually exclusive.
Negative people tend to come in two flavors: cynics and humorists. Cynics are not fun. They don’t like much of anything. They’re the kind of people who complain about having to pay taxes after winning the lottery. Humorists, on the other hand, can be seductive. They’re clever and amusing. They go around with a smirk on their face, using humor to point out everything that’s wrong. At first, they can be fun to be around. It’s like the two of you have an inside joke on the world. In the long run though, their negativity will wear you out.
Set your boundaries. Walk away from the negative people you encounter. End your toxic friendships. It may be difficult at first, but as you move away from negative people, you’ll become more positive and will attract positive people into my life.
Forming a group of positive friends and colleagues is one way of surrounding yourself with positive people. Make a commitment to meet with this group on a regular basis to discuss one another’s hopes, dreams and goals. Exchange ideas and support one another. You want to find people who accept you for who you are, but are willing to challenge you, in a positive and constructive manner, to excel and to become a personal professional success.
I can’t take credit for this idea. In Think and Grow Rich, probably the most famous self help book of all time, Napoleon Hill suggested the idea of Mastermind Alliances. An article in the February 2009 issue of SUCCESS Magazine defines a Mastermind Alliance…
“The Mastermind principle consists of an alliance of two or more minds working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a common definite objective. Success does not come without the cooperation of others.”
A Mastermind Alliance then, is a group of positive people helping one another achieve goals; exactly what I suggested above.
Of course if you want to surround yourself with positive people, you need to be a positive person yourself. Here are ten small sentences you should incorporate into your daily vocabulary if you want to become known as a positive person:
You can do it.
I believe in you.
I’m proud of you.
Thank you.
I need you.
I trust you.
I respect you.
I appreciate you.
I value you.
I love you.
Here are some of my best ideas on attracting positive people.
Think positively. Train yourself to see the opportunity in every difficulty and the good in every person you meet. Be genuinely happy about not only your success – but the success of others in your life.
Smile. Smiles are contagious. When you smile at others, they tend to return the favor. A smile can have a positive impact on someone who is having a bad day. By smiling, you’ll attract other smiling positive people – the kind of people who will help you fulfill your dreams.
Speak positively. You attract positive people when you say positive things. When someone greets me by saying, “How are you?” I always smile and answer “Great, and you?” even if I’m having a tough day. This doesn’t mean that I don’t share my troubles with close friends. I just don’t wear them on my sleeve.
The common sense point here is simple. Self confidence is an important key to personal and professional success. Surrounding yourself with positive people is a great way to build your self confidence. Jettison the negative people in your life. If you can’t remove them completely, do your best to keep them at arm’s length. Build a network of positive people by being positive yourself. Think positively. Smile. Speak positively.
http://www.raecattach.com/2010/01/31/surround-yourself-with-positive-people-for-success/
The Power of a Mastermind Group
MasterMind=Many Minds Working Together in Callaboration Towards a Common Goal????????????..
At least thats what almost everyone will say. I was gonna call it a night and retire towards the couch to watch the ladder part of a House episode and it hit me like a ton of bricks. ? I have a lot more to do tonight, yet am so tired?, I thought to myself. So what on earth is keeping me here, writing this to you? Well, lets just say that I know my team is also awake plugging away at making this world, somehow, a better place.
Creating a group of folks that you surround yourself with which have common goals, common interests and an uncompromising will to win, is invaluable. A mastermind group helps one expand their horizons of thought but will hold you accountable to yourself and those things that are true and right. Being a compenent of one will cause you to stretch youself, support constructive criticism and lastly will pick you up when you are down.
It Expands Your Horizons Of Thought
If you are dependant on what you are able to do alone your very limited as to what your gonna accomplish in your life. Sure there were the Albert Einsteins and Thomas Edisons that created their initial inventions on their own. However, if you take a look into history at a few of the most successful businessmen ever, you will observe that they surrounded themselves with people that were smarter than them. Many minds working as one can produce more energy than one mind alone.
It Holds You Accountable
Accountability seems to be a thing of the past today. Who are you accountable to? Yourself? Your Spouse? Your mates? When you have a group of people that are sold out to the ideal and your sold out to theirs, you never want to let them down. Don?t you wish to be held accountable for your word as well as your actions? A mastermind group can hold a person to your word and having that, your more apt to complete even more than you would if by yourself.
Makes You Stretch Yourself
I love to call this "Stepping Outside Of Your Comfort Zone". Nothing good ever comes about when your stagnant. Ever hear the saying, if you keep doing what you have always done, you will have what you have always had? This is how a lot of people cant move past it. Why? Because they are so accustomed to being comfortable. When you're accountable to a masterind group, you'll want to do more within your days. You will no longer settle for average work but will always take it to the next level. Do things your uncomfortable doing to get ahead in life. Or not. If your willing to perform what most of the people aren't, you'll live like lots of people will not have the opportunity to.
Constructive Critisism
Having someone or perhaps a group of people that you are able to be honest with and vice-versa is invaluable. You want someone to be able to watch your blind spots. There are some things ?flaws? that you cannot see in yourself, but others see clear as day. Give your mastermind group permission to let you know every time they see room for improvement in anything you do. Taking constructive critisism will make you humble your self and it is an act of obedience. Take it like a man, or tough woman..
Will Pick You Up When Your Down
Everyone has their ups and downs but it?s always nice to be between uplifting people. Surround yourself with positive people. Always make an effort to raise people up. I heard a saying once that said:
-Individuals are like elevator buttons, they will either take you up, take you down or leave you right where you are.
Which button are you?
For Some More Free Training On How You Can Succeed In Life, Be Happier and Wealthier, Visit Josh Boxer's Personal Success Blog
To Partner With Josh In A Business of Building Gold and Silver Assets, Visit Gold and Silver Pays
http://www.goldandsilverpays.com/
At least thats what almost everyone will say. I was gonna call it a night and retire towards the couch to watch the ladder part of a House episode and it hit me like a ton of bricks. ? I have a lot more to do tonight, yet am so tired?, I thought to myself. So what on earth is keeping me here, writing this to you? Well, lets just say that I know my team is also awake plugging away at making this world, somehow, a better place.
Creating a group of folks that you surround yourself with which have common goals, common interests and an uncompromising will to win, is invaluable. A mastermind group helps one expand their horizons of thought but will hold you accountable to yourself and those things that are true and right. Being a compenent of one will cause you to stretch youself, support constructive criticism and lastly will pick you up when you are down.
It Expands Your Horizons Of Thought
If you are dependant on what you are able to do alone your very limited as to what your gonna accomplish in your life. Sure there were the Albert Einsteins and Thomas Edisons that created their initial inventions on their own. However, if you take a look into history at a few of the most successful businessmen ever, you will observe that they surrounded themselves with people that were smarter than them. Many minds working as one can produce more energy than one mind alone.
It Holds You Accountable
Accountability seems to be a thing of the past today. Who are you accountable to? Yourself? Your Spouse? Your mates? When you have a group of people that are sold out to the ideal and your sold out to theirs, you never want to let them down. Don?t you wish to be held accountable for your word as well as your actions? A mastermind group can hold a person to your word and having that, your more apt to complete even more than you would if by yourself.
Makes You Stretch Yourself
I love to call this "Stepping Outside Of Your Comfort Zone". Nothing good ever comes about when your stagnant. Ever hear the saying, if you keep doing what you have always done, you will have what you have always had? This is how a lot of people cant move past it. Why? Because they are so accustomed to being comfortable. When you're accountable to a masterind group, you'll want to do more within your days. You will no longer settle for average work but will always take it to the next level. Do things your uncomfortable doing to get ahead in life. Or not. If your willing to perform what most of the people aren't, you'll live like lots of people will not have the opportunity to.
Constructive Critisism
Having someone or perhaps a group of people that you are able to be honest with and vice-versa is invaluable. You want someone to be able to watch your blind spots. There are some things ?flaws? that you cannot see in yourself, but others see clear as day. Give your mastermind group permission to let you know every time they see room for improvement in anything you do. Taking constructive critisism will make you humble your self and it is an act of obedience. Take it like a man, or tough woman..
Will Pick You Up When Your Down
Everyone has their ups and downs but it?s always nice to be between uplifting people. Surround yourself with positive people. Always make an effort to raise people up. I heard a saying once that said:
-Individuals are like elevator buttons, they will either take you up, take you down or leave you right where you are.
Which button are you?
For Some More Free Training On How You Can Succeed In Life, Be Happier and Wealthier, Visit Josh Boxer's Personal Success Blog
To Partner With Josh In A Business of Building Gold and Silver Assets, Visit Gold and Silver Pays
http://www.goldandsilverpays.com/
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