One of the hard parts of being an entrepreneur is the psychological weight of responsibility being the key decision-maker. Every decision depends on us and that responsibility can take us into different areas, outside of our comfort zone …. and on a regular basis! Mastermind groups have been a key factor in helping my growth over the last 30 years. They can bolster a sense of connectivity and conversation, help keep your business moving forward and they can provide critical insights for creating the continuous evolution and growth for not just your business, but also for you personally.
But what exactly is a Mastermind and why are they so important?
“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”– George Bernard Shaw.
Putting several minds together to discuss a problem often yields solutions that far outweigh what anyone could have come up with on their own. This is the ‘greater than the sum of the parts’ effect and one of the major reasons why people decide to join a Mastermind group.
A Mastermind is, in simplest terms, a group of people coming together regularly who are dedicated to mutual growth and improvement. They find ways to inspire and motivate, to solve problems and help to take advantage of opportunities in a way that an individual person can’t.
The idea of coming together in a small, focused group to learn from each other isn’t a new idea. In 1727, Benjamin Franklin created a Junto, or a “club for mutual improvement” in Philadelphia. The members of the group “all shared a spirit of inquiry and a desire to improve themselves, their community and to help others,” and had a dedicated purpose of debate and idea exchange.
Imagine a group where you could meet proactively in a safe and secure environment, where the Chatham House Rules applies, with others from a wide variety of backgrounds, all with a can-do approach and who care about creating shared value.
Proverbs: 15-22 "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed"
