Do you have a business idea that you think about incessantly? Do you noodle it around until you've looked at it from every possible angle? Do you obsess over every detail, agonize over every possible eventuality?
Or maybe you already run a business or a division or a department and that's what jerks your eyes open at 3 AM – wondering and worrying about what to do, what to do next, and what to do about what you've already done.
Believe it or not you're not alone. Every single ambitious person who wants to accomplish something special goes through this every single day. Every. Single. One. Every. Single. Day.
If you spend too much time in your personal echo chamber you start marching in lockstep to your voice, believing your hype, getting high on your supply. And while it's great to have a singular vision and to follow it despite all evidence to the contrary, sometimes it's a great comfort – and a wonderful asset – to be able to discuss your ideas and concerns with others. People who have your back, care about your success, and are both honest and concerned enough to tell you the truth when you want to hear it. And especially when you don't.
A team like that – whether assembled casually or formally, from friends and business associates or simply like-minded professionals – is called A Mastermind Group.
According to Forbes Magazine, “Mastermind groups are relatively new to most people, even though Napoleon Hill created the concept around 75 years ago with his book Think and Grow Rich. A mastermind group is designed to help you navigate through challenges using the collective intelligence of others.”
Peter Shankman, social media raconteur, founder of HARO, and professional mastermind facilitator puts it this way: “In the 21st century community doesn't come as easily as it used to… mastermind mind groups are where you can find your professional tribe that can also go deeper to helping you with personal goals.”
Mastermind groups can provide new ideas, help vet concepts, provide accountability, and expose you to the honest support that can help you and the people around you achieve success.
I participate in three established groups and also put together ad hoc masterminds when I have a particularly vexing problem or potentially powerful opportunity to deal with. The strength of their collective thought and concern, together with the varied experiences of the participants, helps me benefit from thinking out loud and explore different what-if scenarios.
I am so enamored of the concept that it dawned on me to create a series of moving masterminds as a business. I would invite the best minds around to get together and work with one another to challenge new ideas, expand concepts, strengthen suppositions, and test theories.
But as Michael Keaton's character Bill Blazejowski said in Nightshift, “I thought of it first but they already had it.” My friend Peter Shankman is already travelling around the country and the world promoting his ShankMinds mastermind series (Shankman + Masterminds = ShankMinds).
Here's how Peter promotes his sessions: “This fall ShankMinds Business Masterminds are taking place in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Orange County, San Francisco, and Seattle and we'd love to have you join us. Space is limited, as we cap the daylong sessions at 25 people for a personal, one-on-one experience.
If you think you'd make a great contribution by being part of a Mastermind, and even more importantly, if you think you can make a great contribution to others, we'd love to have you!”
If you haven't explored a mastermind, you really don't know what a great opportunity you're missing. Once you get involved with the right group I know you'll be thrilled by the meeting and the results. If you don't know who to organize a mastermind with, register with Peter and check if he's got room for you. I know you'll have a wonderful experience with Peter. When you do, please do drop me a line and tell me about it.