THE POWER OF THE
MASTER MIND
In his classic book, “Think and Grow Rich,” Napoleon Hill tells us
how Henry Ford overcame some big handicaps such as poverty,
illiteracy, and ignorance and became one of the richest men in
America. Hill notes Mr. Ford’s outstanding achievements began to
take great strides after he started forming alliances with other
great businessmen. “People take on the nature and the habits and the
POWER OF THOUGHT of those with whom they associate in a
spirit of sympathy and harmony,” says Hill.
If you ask top leaders and CEOs to what they attribute their success
to, most would credit their Master Mind experience. I am currently
involved in three Master Mind groups, including a high-level
national group and I can tell you first-hand being a part of a
Master Mind group has catapulted my business forward both in terms
of income and business relationships.
What is a Master Mind group?
It can best be described as one part board of directors and one part
peer-advisory group. A Master Mind group is a group of like-minded
individuals who come together to contribute to each others’ success
in a spirit of harmony and partnership.
The POWER of the Master Mind experience is it
can lift your mind and vision to enable you to see things you
otherwise could not, most likely because you are too close to your
business. Here’s the real secret – great minds don’t always think
alike! That’s why the best leaders turn to Master Mind groups. Just
imagine being in a room with successful people from many different
fields and walks of life, and having them freely, openly, and
confidentially share what they would do to grow your business.
For many entrepreneurs, it’s easy to feel isolated and difficult to
find peers who understand your challenges and issues. I have
invested in being a member of several Master Mind groups and can
unequivocally say they have made me a better businessman. I have
been enriched with new ideas and plans. Think of your Master Mind
group as your own personal dream team!
Finally, let’s address the real reasons why many people hesitate to
joining a Master Mind group – time and money. It might be hard to
envision dedicating the necessary time and money to be a part of
such a group, but everybody I know who’s in a Master Mind group has
benefited enormously. I personally have made hundreds of thousands
of dollars I would have never made otherwise, had I not been a part
of a Master Mind group.
An Insider’s Glimpse Into a
GKIC-Philly
Master Mind Meeting
Since this concept might be new to you, I thought it would make
sense to describe the experience of the Master Mind groups I run.
The first thing you will notice is the group meets face-to-face.
While virtual Master Mind groups exist, they cannot compare to a
group that meets locally and in-person.
Cell phones are turned off and all distractions are removed in order
to focus on the process. The second thing you see is, despite the
term “Master Mind,” all the members are normal folks, just like you
and me and there is an incredible feeling of support and camaraderie
in the room. Members are glad to see each other and anxious to catch
up on each other’s lives. This cannot be stressed enough … a Master
Mind Group that has been properly formed has a feeling of
camaraderie to it.
Titles, egos, and income statements are all checked at the door. The
group exists for only one reason - to advance and further the
success and wealth of its members as a whole. It’s my
responsibility, as the facilitator, to properly screen potential
members and match them with the group.
It’s important to note not only has each member invested in being a
part of the group, they have also invested time away from business
and family. This is a critical factor for joining a Master Mind
group and is usually what separates those who “get it” from those
who don’t. Long-term members understand the value of their
investment and don’t look at it as a short-term expense.
As the meeting progresses, all members get to share what is going on
in their businesses and what’s working and not working.
Each member has the opportunity to present an issue of concern or to
bounce a new business idea off the group. You will hear about
successes, failures, business challenges, personal issues and
whatever else is going on in the members’ lives. Prior to becoming a
member, you must agree to a strict level of confidentiality, which
ensures meetings are safe havens to openly share experiences and ask
questions. Members also report on what they have accomplished and
implemented since the previous meeting.
The meeting has a feeling of equality to it. The facilitator makes
sure member interaction is balanced and focused, with no one member
taking up too much time. Often, during the members’ presentations,
they will share examples of materials they are working on. Seeing
and getting these materials is an important benefit of the group,
and often members go home with more in their briefcases than they
came with.
It’s not unusual during each meeting to have every member experience
at least a dozen, if not many more, “Ah-Ha!” moments. You will see
members feverishly writing down these breakthrough ideas and
strategies to take back with them to implement in their businesses.
The most successful members ask for specific and direct feedback
from the collective wisdom and experience of the group, which is
what Dan Kennedy refers to as the
“power of fresh eyes.”
Time goes by very quickly at our Master Mind meetings, and while
they are serious business, they are also fun. It’s an enjoyable
“oasis of time” during which members can focus on, for one day,
working ON their business instead of IN
their business. Members leave the meetings inspired, rejuvenated,
and anxious to implement the ideas they collected. As they leave the
meeting, they are already looking forward to the next one.
There is no doubt the Master Mind Group process can help your
business. The question remains, are you prepared to take the
necessary action to join one? If you are interested in learning more
about our GKIC-Philly Master Mind groups,
please contact my office for more details.
