Mastermind Groups

Have you heard of Mastermind Groups?  If so, do you belong to one?  I hadn’t heard of them before (or hadn’t thought of how they could help me) but then earlier this year, someone in one of my writing groups mentioned that she was in one.  I commented on her post saying that I would be interested in seeing what they were all about.  The next thing I knew, I was in one!

For those of you who haven’t heard of them, or don’t think they can help you, or think they are only for internet marketing gurus, I’d like to share with you my experience.

I had been writing and publishing books for about 16 months before joining my first Mastermind Group.  There are four of us in the group and we are all at the same stage in our writing and publishing careers: we are not newbies, we are not millionaires (yet!) and we share the same struggles, challenges, and successes.  We are great at supporting each other.

Here is how my group works:

• There are four people in the group
• We meet online through Google Hangout once a week for one hour only
• We have a private Facebook page to coordinate our goals, messages, and other industry-related things we want to share
• Every week a different person gets the “hot seat” where they get to choose what we will discuss that week – usually a challenge or something they are working towards
• Two days before the weekly meeting, the topic is posted in the group so we have a chance to research and prepare for the discussion
• The first 15 minutes are spent saying hello, catching up (quickly), and indicating whether or not we met our personally-stated goals for the previous week
• The next 30 minutes are spent on the “hot topic”, lead by the person who chose it
• The final 15 minutes are spent talking about our individual goals for the following week
• Since there are four of us, we each get a “hot seat” and then every fifth week is a “free for all” where we just discuss what’s going on

I find this type of group so motivating!  I just love being part of it!  As some of you may know, not everyone understands us writers and online publishers, or what we  do, or the challenges we face.  But, our MM group understands us completely.  It’s so nice to have a group of people who are all going through the same thing, understand each other, and who can be a sounding board for ideas.

If you feel isolated in your career choice as a writer and publisher, I would highly recommend that you find yourself a Mastermind Group to join, or start.  All it takes is a couple of other people, perhaps that you’ve met online through a writers’ group, create a private FB page for only your group, and get started.  I’m sure you will find that you are more focused, feel more supported, and get more accomplished by being accountable to your group, than ever before.

The members of my group are located all over the globe and we have only ever chatted online, but I’m hopeful that one day we will all be in a place where we can arrange a meeting in person.  I’m really looking forward to that day!

BTW – I’m heading out for 10 days of camping and going to the beach.  Family time and sandcastles.  Woo hoo!  Enjoy your week and see you in August!

Barb