2 minute read
Veterans in Business: Masterminds
By Barbara Eldridge www.mindmasters.com
Solo professionals often find themselves guilty of two things. First, they tend to minimize the story of their ‘doing’ and they rarely celebrate or acknowledge a success before they are off and running to the next thing. They tend to skim over the value and meaning they have just created.
In a true ongoing regular “mastermind” there are people who help acknowledge or witness each other’s doing. Someone holding the space for them with empathy and encouragement to honor the work and the progress. People to remind them of the bigger vision - the why behind all the details.
What is a Mastermind?
With the change in how we have had to conduct business, online “masterminds” have proliferated over the internet. Coaches have been challenged to work with groups. Subject matter experts have promoted their trainings by offering Facebook groups and Meetups’ that are showing up like masterminds.
After spending almost 30 years facilitating “master mind” groups I have come to realize that many of those more recent groups bring different things to the table; but what is it that really works in a true “mastermind”?
The real focus of in a true “mastermind” meeting is to address the challenges and opportunities confronting each individual in the group. The member partners ask clarifying questions and then give candid feedback and suggestions. It’s an amazing opportunity to share experiences and—more importantly— find solutions! It is a level of support that most small business owners do not ever get to experience in their entire lives!! It is about tapping into the experience and positive expectations of others that can give you that kick to take action.
In addition, we know that accountability works. There is evidence that successful completion of a task increases dramatically when you commit to another that you will do it. It is the glue that holds a goal or commitment in place and serves as an insurance policy on your journey to success.
When members in a group are accountable - they have a focus on what they say they will do but even more than that, they are excited to share what they accomplished. Sharing it, being acknowledged, gives it joy and meaning. And that creates motivation to do more and gives the doing greater value and is the beginning of a new success narrative.
If you have never experienced a “real” mastermind, give it a try and experience the value of participating in the brainstorming experience.
Napoleon Hill in his bestselling book Think and Grow Rick, says that a master mind is the “Coordination of knowledge and effort in a spirit of harmony between two or more people for the attainment of a definite purpose” which he stresses is the necessary “POWER” to bring that purpose to fruition.
Barbara Eldridge has built a solid reputation as a Success strategies specialist, within industry and business over the past 40 years. Her unique message, since starting Mind Masters 30 years ago for entrepreneurs and small business owners, continually stresses vision, purpose and values as the key elements of business philosophy.
