| In Napoleon Hill's classic book Think and Grow | | | | parts of the country. Here we share ideas specific |
| Rich, there is a story about the "The Ignorant | | | | to coaching and growing a coaching business. We |
| Man who made a Fortune." Hill tells how multi | | | | have a similar structure, but because we are all |
| millionaire Henry Ford was once called "ignorant" in | | | | coaches, and there are fewer of us, we will take |
| a Chicago newspaper editorial. Ford brought a | | | | time to coach one another on issues. The benefit |
| lawsuit and during the trial was tested by | | | | here is that each knows first hand what the |
| newspaper's lawyer to see if he was indeed, | | | | challenges are for a coach and yet has a slightly |
| ignorant. One of the questions he was asked was | | | | different point of view because we are all from |
| how many troops the British sent over to put | | | | different states, have a different target market |
| down the rebellion in the American colonies. Ford | | | | and are at different stages in our careers. |
| didn't know the answer to the question and | | | | How do I get into one? |
| quipped, "I heard that it was a considerably larger | | | | Don't wait to be invited. Start with a group of |
| number than went back!" | | | | people you admire and call them or meet with |
| He then countered, "I have a row of buttons on | | | | them one by one and tell them you want to start |
| my desk, and I can push to summon to my aid, | | | | a mastermind group. Ask them all to get together |
| men who can answer any question I desire to | | | | for lunch at a restaurant and tell them what you |
| ask....why should I clutter up my mind with general | | | | want, what the benefits would be, then see who |
| knowledge for the purpose of answering | | | | shows up. At that first lunch, talk about the |
| questions, when I have men around me who can | | | | benefits of a Master Mind group and what you |
| supply any knowledge I require?" | | | | vision for the group. Get ideas from the others |
| Ford had a mastermind group literally at his | | | | who come and ask them what they would like to |
| fingertips; not for answering foolish questions, but | | | | receive AND equally important, what they think |
| to help him with every aspect of his business. | | | | they have to give. Once everyone sees how he |
| While many of us don't have Ford's resources, | | | | or she will benefit, talk about how you would like |
| there is no reason why we can't put together a | | | | to have it structured and set a date and time to |
| mastermind group for ourselves. Savvy business | | | | meet again. |
| persons are doing this every day and if you don't | | | | How do I structure a group? |
| already have one, I hope after this, you will | | | | Have an idea about how often you would like to |
| consider putting one together. | | | | meet. Meeting once a month is a good place to |
| What is a Mastermind Group? | | | | start. Some mastermind groups are loosely |
| A Mastermind group is a group of people who | | | | structured and will have a question like, "What do |
| agree to act as resources, for one another. Each | | | | we do to increase sales in this market?" or "How |
| is committed to the welfare of the members of | | | | do you handle competitors?" to which all members |
| the group and growth of one another's business. I | | | | contribute their perspective. Even if you are in a |
| belong to two such groups and they differ slightly. | | | | different field, you can benefit from the ideas of |
| One consists of 7 other professionals from | | | | the other members. |
| different fields. We meet monthly for lunch at a | | | | You can also be very structured. In my first |
| local restaurant and talk about our business. There | | | | group, we are actually timed: 5 minutes to |
| is a structure. Each member takes turns talking | | | | describe our situation, 5 minutes of feedback. This |
| about his or her business and then we are open | | | | may seem rigid, but in truth, you learn to be very |
| for feedback and advice. We are committed to | | | | succinct in describing your challenges and likewise |
| being totally honest to one another and | | | | you get very direct laser like advice. This helps |
| confidential about what we discuss so that we | | | | you cut through the storytelling, the excuses and |
| can speak freely about where we are with our | | | | explanations and get to the heart of the matter |
| business. There is no posturing, trying to appear | | | | quickly. Have a definite start and end time. Those |
| more successful than we really are. | | | | who arrive on time, should be allowed to present |
| We are there to get practical advice from one | | | | their issues first, latecomers can still benefit from |
| another and if one has a particular expertise in the | | | | the discussion and can contribute to solutions |
| area of difficulty, we can schedule a one on one | | | | even if there is not time to present their problem |
| time with that member. The benefit is that I get | | | | to the group. |
| to use them like a board of directors and run | | | | It is always a good idea to leave a few minutes |
| ideas by them knowing that they have expertise | | | | to wrap up and see what each person got from |
| in different areas and have a fresh point of view | | | | the meeting or if there is unfinished business. No |
| about my business. | | | | matter where you are in your business, you can |
| My other mastermind group is a group of | | | | always benefit from the knowledge and expertise |
| coaches. We meet twice a month on a | | | | of others. And you don't need to have them on |
| conference call because we all live in different | | | | payroll like Henry Ford either. |