Mastermind Group Conversation   

 "Nobody is as smart as everybody."   

A powerful method for meeting and talking has re-emerged in the past two decades. Many successful people (including, I am told, the editors of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" publishing empire) say that their achievements were co-created through "masterminding."   

The concept of Mastermind Alliances has generally been attributed to Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich. He, in turn, gave credit to Andrew Carnegie, tycoon in steel and philanthropist, whom he knew personally and whose business methods he studied. Skipping back two centuries, we could locate the seeds of this concept in Benjamin Franklin's "Junto" group of tradesmen that met weekly for many years.   

As Hill described the basic concept, the Master Mind is "coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose." The coordination multiplies the brain power of an individual, and the harmony creates positive and optimistic emotions that provide fuel for achievement.   

The model has changed over the years. In Hill's original idea, one or two individuals would have a definite purpose, then assemble several others in support of that idea through collaboration. That was also Carnegie's formulation: to select and surround himself with highly intelligent people from varied backgrounds to help him shape his corporation. For their efforts, these participants were rewarded as the business ideas paid off.   

More recent models I have observed include individuals with different purposes who want to benefit from the brainpower and support of one another. Typically, four or five people make up an alliance, each with a special purpose. At a meeting, each is given time to explore that purpose, report on progress, and seek the help of the others.   

Setting up a Mastermind Alliance: Basic Guidelines   

1. Determine your (or the group's) purpose. It may be individual ("To eliminate my credit card debt by January 1") or mutual ("To increase contributions to our church to $100,000 per month by 2005.") An alliance's purposes are always positive, such as prosperity, health, improved relationships, peace of mind, and professional success.   

2. Select the members . Here the ability to work in harmony with others is key. Contentious and pessimistic persons won't work. They may be smart, but their negativity will sabotage the group's effort. The other key factor is how knowledgeable the members are. Here, diversity is good so that the group can draw upon different expertise.   

3. Meet regularly in a congenial, uninterrupted setting. Noisy restaurants are not good. Too much clatter, too many distractions. Silent libraries aren't good either -- unless they have small meeting rooms to insure privacy. Many alliances I know rotate meetings in the living rooms of their members. Depending upon size, groups usually meet for one to two hours. To set the tone, many groups begin with a prayer, a few minutes of silent reflection, or an inspirational reading.   

4. During an alliance meeting, each person is given a fair portion of the time to report on progress toward goal, then to ask for the assistance of the group members for resources, which may include networking contacts, additional ideas, overlooked questions, and referrals to other resources. Sometimes a group mutually focuses on a common question like "How can we as professionals market our services more effectively?"   

One procedure present in many groups is for the spotlight person to ask the others to "see" their purpose as achieved. She might ask: "See me weighing 110 pounds." He might ask: "See me having found the perfect new home for my family by the end of October." They might request: "We now see our business double in sales by Christmas."   

I have belonged to three Mastermind alliances. The first had only 3 members, yet for me was fabulously successful. Within a year, I had purchased a wonderful condo that I later sold for a large gain; I had gotten a promotion to a dream of a lifetime position in my university and increased my annual income by 50%; and I launched a successful column in a major metropolitan newspaper.   

The second alliance became more of a social gathering with too many members than an earnest mutual effort with clear purposes The third alliance was somewhat successful. With its help, I managed to get out from under a horrendous real estate situation. The alliance's emotional tone was damaged by one member who, though very smart, tended to be cynical. Fortunately, after a time he withdrew, and the success of the group improved.   

When the purpose is clear and the attitudes are positive, supportive conversation flows. Members come up with surprising ideas. People are inspired. When all feel liked and respected, the "master mind" emerges in unusual ways. People ask "just the right question." Their imaginations become fully active. During the time between meetings, their sub-conscious minds are at work looking for new possibilities. Members are nourished by encouragement and optimism These are sure signs that the "Master Mind" is at work.