My experience relates to a group that wanted to work on marketing ideas but it went a little sideways really early on. I think the ideas here will work for any business.


Skills

One of the most often cited reasons that people do not succeed in business is a lack of skills.

Of course this is coupled with the problem that often people commence businesses under the false pretenses that it is easy.

For example, skills.

Not everyone is born with marketing skills. That's okay, we can learn. BUT the problem comes when people are told that they don't need them. They are told that products sell themselves.

Well, that is a lovely idea, but back down on Earth, it takes more than just miraculously finding a self selling product to make you successful in a marketing business.

You need marketing skills and ideas that can be fleshed out. Mastermind groups can be wonderful laboratories of thought to create and share ideas to build a business.

Like-Minded People

It's a big world out there and humans innately precipitate towards like-minded groups. Whether it be civic, religious, community, hobbies, skills you name it.

Well, business is the same way. Ever contemplate the convention calendar in Las Vegas? Nearly every week of the year some type of business group gets together to join professionals in a particular field to network and share ideas.

Masterminds, can work in a very similar way. With all the new technologies such as cell phones and virtual classrooms GoToMeeting.com masterminds can supplement industry specific convention meetings.

Here's what I mean.

Let's say you are involved in the culinary arts. (I love to cook and if you do too, check out my favorite free recipe site Epicurious)

You head out to Las Vegas to participate in a three day conference on how to be an even better chef.

On the first day you sit at a round table and during the breaks you get to know all the chefs at your table. They are from every corner of the country and perhaps specialize in different types of cuisines.

You all decide that there is an incredible value in staying in touch. You always wanted to learn more about cooking pastry and the person sitting next to you always wanted to learn more about delicious outdoor grilling recipes.

So you decide to create a mastermind. Every week you get together on the phone and start sharing ideas of things to cook, how to present them, maybe you start writing a newsletter or a blog and take turns with recipe entries maybe that evolves into a book!

Transcontinental Cooks Unite! Written by The Vegas Crew Copyright 2008.

The sky is the limit but without the commitment of harmony, fairness and participation you may never have been able to take your culinary career to the next level.

This I find so great about masterminds. Before computers, this would have been nearly impossible.

Let's face it, network marketing is still a dirty word to a lot of people. Somehow whenever you say the words "network marketing" people immediately think you are involved in some scam.

You just might be but let's hope not.

People only seem to read the headlines about scandals and successes are only celebrated on the stage at some convention hall in big cities around the country.

But what the naysayers don't know is that each year, thousands of people leave their jobs- established lucrative careers- and opt into network marketing businesses.

These courageous workers, who are necessarily imbued with a spirit of independence have chosen to work at home and not be accountable to anyone. As much as there many extremely appealing aspects to working for yourself and by yourself, many will report that one of the hardest things is the isolation of working - just you and your trusty computer, home alone, day in and day out.

And this coupled with the stigmas still attached to the network marketing industry; you are unlikely to strike up a pure business conversation with the person standing in line next to you at the bookstore and build a circle of colleagues.

Isolation and stigma is a heinous combo.

Mastermind groups can help to provide a much needed connection to the world that might otherwise not exist. And unless you have entered into an assembly of hypocrites, they should be Network Marketing cheerleaders, not naysayers.

I would never in a million years delude myself or anyone else into thinking that Mastermind Groups are my idea. I am just sharing my thoughts and experiences as a leader and team member.

Masterminds were actually introduced long ago in Napoleon Hill's teachings and in particular his famed law of success elaborated in his seminal work, Think And Grow Rich.

Dr. Hill posits that a mastermind is,

The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony.

He continues that

Before forming your "Master Mind" alliance, decide what advantages and benefits you may offer the individual members of your group, in return for their cooperation. No one will work indefinitely without some form of compensation. No intelligent person will either request or expect another to work without adequate compensation, although this may not always be in the form of money.

Furthermore, Dr Hill states that

You may originate your own plans, either in whole or in part, but see that those plans are checked, and approved by the members of your "master mind" alliance.

In a Mastermind Group, the agenda belongs to the group, and each person's participation is key. Your peers give you feedback, help you brainstorm new possibilities, and set up accountability structures that keep you focused and on track. You will create a community of supportive colleagues who will brainstorm together to move the group to new heights. You'll gain tremendous insights, which can improve your business and personal life. Your Mastermind Group is like having an objective board of directors.

Lastly Dr. Hill reminds us that it is essential to

Maintain perfect harmony between yourself and every member of your "Master Mind" group. If you fail to carry out this instruction to the letter, you may expect to meet with failure. The "Master Mind" principle cannot obtain where perfect harmony does not prevail.