Leveraging who you know

by Judy Baker on August 25, 2010

The power of a mastermind group

Yesterday I was at my monthly meeting of trusted advisers. It’s an opportunity to take advantage of the brainpower in the room. One of my favorite sayings is this, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” What I’m talking about here is I can’t see it my own blind side. No one can.

What I appreciate most about this group is the willingness for all of the members to appear vulnerable and at the same time to be caring and innovative when solving problems for one another. I’m a strong advocate for mastermind groups. It led several with spectacular results for all of the members. In my latest group, one of the members launched two new training programs, and has plans which are in progress for a new segment of her business. Two others, no make that three, updated or launched their websites focusing on their ideal clients and showcasing their products and services in clear user-friendly ways.

The benefit of having a mastermind group is exponential in moving ideas forward and discovering the best ways to overcome to go around obstacles. I like the give-and-take as much as the brainstorming and warm support I have experienced and helped to create in each of the mastermind groups I have participated in and facilitated.

As Einstein said “you can’t solve a problem in the same frame of mind in which the problem was created.” Bringing together the minds of others and focusing on the problem generates many more possible and plausible solutions than anyone of us can imagine on our own.

Every business owner needs the group of trusted advisers, Board of Directors, creative minds. Meet with them regularly. Share your successes, be transparent about the issues and concerns you have, and most of all asked for help when you need it. Be generous with your ideas, your concern, and creativity when you are on someone else’s team. Acknowledge ideas, appreciate help when it shows up, and recognize contributions from your advisers as the gifts and solutions that help you and your business excel.

Two heads are definitely better smarter than one. Watch for news about my next mastermind group starting this fall. If you have stories about your success as part of a mastermind group I’d love to hear all about it.

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