The whole concept of mastermind groups and masterminding is something most of us hear about, some of us may be involved, but most of us think it is something best left for others. When I recently got together with some friends within the internet marketing framework, we began having mastermind meetings.

What is Mastermind and Masterminding?

The word mastermind refers to brain, mind, intelligence. It also refers to contrive, design, invent, as well as originator and ringleader.
That’s quite a mouthful for one word.

A mastermind group that I will also call a think tank is a meeting of people with an intelligent brain or mind, inventing and designing. These people will most likely be the originator or ringleader in their field.

A mastermind group is a workshop for thinkers in their business or industry, profession, or planning.

Advantages of Masterminding

Read more in Education and Training
« Making Money From Adult Education
Ask the Right Questions and You Will Make the Sale »

When you have an idea and work on it alone, you only have your own mind to rely on. It is said that when you share an idea with another person the energy coming out is not 1×1 but more like 1×4. When you share with even more people the energy flow becomes even stronger.  It is often when one idea is proposed it causes the mind of another mastermind participant to get new ideas. Why? Simply because we don’t all see the same. A new idea comes from a different perspective on the topic in question.

In mastermind groups of people with common interests any subject or idea can now be examined from many different angles. There is also sharing of techniques, strategies, techinical know how and more that flows from one to another and through that may save a lot of time and energy.

Who Can Use Mastermind Groups?

I think pretty much all fields can take advantage of mastermind groups. It’s actually much more common than most of us think, except that it may not go under the name of mastermind. Take governments – all leaders are usually surrounded by advisors and when they are together it is masterminding. Business – can you imagine a top business without the various management levels, who do meet in board meetings or strategy meetings. Education – teachers meetings – it’s not just about complaints, though they can be
the springboard for taking new actions.

Timing

Timing is about the frequency of meetings as well as when to start and for how long.

It is advisable to start such groups as early in a project as possible, maybe even before its inception. That will be up to each to decide, and depends also on who should be part.

The recommended frequency is once a week, at a set day and hour, and that all members should commit to participate at all meetings.

The mastermind group should continue as long as there is a need for it. Again that is up to each to decide, especially the founder of the group.

How to Establish Mastermind Group

That depends on what your field is and what your needs are. But a good approach would be to take a look at what you need to advance or promote your field. If you are in business you may think of holding  meetings that will include your accountant, lawyer, business concultant – anyone that knows your business and has its progress at heart.

If you are an entrepreneur you may look for like-minded people, not necessarily in your field, and find ways to help and support each other, look at marketing strategies. If you don’t know anyone like that the internet social networking sites are great places for that. These sites usually have groups and you can join them. There are also forums.

Off-line. A good place to meet entrepreneurs of any kind are in business circles. When a circle like that has 20, 30 or 40 members there will be people who you can naturally work with. You may also have friends, acqaintances or family members who can join you.

What is important is to make sure you have a common interest, and that you are willing to support each other.

Personal Experience

I started by saying that our challenge came out of our weekly meetings. That is the case. As the challenge grew, so did our weekly sessions into true mastermind sessions. They have saved us countless hours of work, research, studies. They have helped each of us stear more directly toward our goals. They have been eye openers and the place of deeper understanding of ourselves, out subjects, our clients and much more. The cooperation has and will stay invaluable.