Mastermind groups are great for providing accountability in your goal achievement. They are also good for the resources the other members bring to the table that can help you through stumbling blocks. The benefits of belonging to a mastermind group are substantial and can literally change your life and business for the better.

The best mastermind groups are those that mix different ages, different stages of careers, different industries, and different goals. A mastermind of people who are at the same place as you doesn’t provide as much of an opportunity for thinking outside the box. When the other people in your mastermind are at different places, they can provide a different perspective to a challenge and therefore different potential solutions.

Most masterminds meet in person or online on a regular basis (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly). They typically provide time for each member to talk about their successes and challenges from the previous period and allow other members to give feedback and suggestions. The goal of a good mastermind is to provide a collaborative, supportive group where each member gives as much as they get.

 

Why should you join a mastermind?

Inspiration

Unless you’re completely closed minded, there’s no way to avoid learning and growing when you spend an hour with awesome people who are doing awesome things. Just hearing their stories and successes will make you dream bigger and inspire you to push yourself harder. Even better, you’ll have a sounding board and support network to ask questions, offer perspectives, and suggest solutions or connections you’ve never considered. When you surround yourself with business people who are excited, passionate, and energetic about the challenges they’re present with, you can’t help but feel the same way.

focus

If a mastermind group appeals to you, it’s probably because you’re a big thinker and your brain is always racing with ideas. . . to the point of overwhelm. Preparing for your discussion time each week will force you to break your big, scary goals into manageable, bite-sized strategies that are actionable. This will, in turn, make your business plan become more clear and less intimidating.

Strategic PLANNING

Strategy and planning tend to take a backseat to solving daily problems or putting out those inevitable fires that pop up so regularly. By joining a mastermind group, you have an opportunity to work on your business not just in it. Finding a time to work on your business seems like an uphill battle from the get-go. It is crucial to plan and strategize and it is helpful to get the support and feedback from a group.

Accountability

Being an entrepreneur can afford you an enormous amount of freedom to do things your way. To work where and when you want. To be who you want to be. Simply to live life the way you see fit. “With great power comes great responsibility.” For success to be yours, you have to be a very self-motivated individual. You have to hold yourself responsible for doing what needs to be done. Mastermind groups are the vehicle for providing that measure of accountability. Members help hold you accountable in a friendly, positive, and encouraging way.

Some people are great about setting goals and sticking to them without external support. For the rest of us, having other people checking on your progress each week helps us get things done. We don’t want to be the only member who didn’t meet her weekly goals! This isn’t punitive; it’s positive. Members offer gentle reminders and always celebrate successes. When you are an online entrepreneur, there really is no one to hold you accountable for getting things done. That all changes once you join a mastermind group.

mindset

Accepting any new customer, client, or patient that comes along is born directly from a mindset that says you have to settle for or accommodate any potential prospects that come your way. A mastermind group is a great place to break those chains and decide to do business on your own terms, with the support and encouragement of a group that thinks and feels as you do. Being part of a group allows you to expand your thinking and start to see things differently.

implementation of ideas

Ideas, even great ideas, are a dime a dozen. Without implementation – without action – those ideas are ultimately worthless. The game is won by those willing to do the things that others can’t or won’t. This is easier said than done but gets easier to do when you are part of a group that is cheering you along and holding you accountable. In addition, you get to see what others are doing in their businesses, then you can easily adapt or tweak that to apply it to your company. This will really cut down on the time it takes to develop an idea and get it implemented.

Community

If you work from home, a mastermind group is a great way to avoid feeling isolated. No matter your circumstances, you’ll benefit from having a small, reliable group of supporters and advisors in your corner. In addition, there will be natural opportunities for partnership and network expansion that can help you move forward in your goals and career. Most of us are surrounded by people relatively close to us byt rarely by people who understand us. A mastermind group will give you the opportunity to discuss with people who understand you. Being able to connect and network with other entrepreneurs who are experiencing similar challenges is comforting.

Joint purpose

The purpose of most mastermind groups is to inspire and challenge each member to reach and exceed their goals. Members are not only committed to their own success, but also to the success of every member of the group. Through your participation in a mastermind group, you will be able to glean the unique perspective of the other members, effectively short cutting the creative process.

New Mastermind Program

I’m excited to announce that JLC Solutions will be offering mastermind groups for interested persons. Our masterminds, known as The Game Plan, are structured to provide accountability and support to all members. Click this link if you are interested in learning more about The Game Plan, new groups form twice a year.

Early in my business, I had no one I could bounce ideas off of, talk about my challenges with, or turn to for advice. If there is one regret I have above all others, it is that I didn’t join a mastermind group sooner. I knew it would be good to surround myself with like-minded people, just to be able to bounce ideas off one another. I really wasn’t sure if it would be a good fit for me, so I figured I would at least give it a shot and try it out. I’m really glad I did. I now know how much you can leverage other people’s knowledge, insights, and experience to create your own take on an idea and implement it in your business however you see fit. Being in the mastermind group has really helped me put a solid game plan together; it’s helped me see the bigger picture instead of getting caught up in the details of everything. That’s what I want to provide for each of you.