You may have heard the word “mastermind” thrown around in a conversation with friends or perhaps you’ve skimmed past the term in an interesting article. But do you really know what a mastermind is and the purpose it’s supposed to serve?
A mastermind group can be a great idea for anyone, but especially if you’re a self-employed mom who’s looking for some extra motivation, useful feedback, and support.
So let’s get into it. What is a mastermind and how can it help you (an amazing, self-employed mom) take your business to the next level?
What is a mastermind?
The term mastermind gained a lot of attention when it was discussed in a 1937 book by Napoleon Hill titled, “Think and Grow Rich.” In this book, Hill dedicates a chapter to explain what a mastermind is and why it’s a crucial ingredient in the acquisition of power and financial success.
Hill defines a mastermind as the “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”
I know, that’s a real mouthful of 1930s English. In simple terms, a mastermind is the coming together of two or more people to brainstorm ideas, help each other solve problems, share resources, and hold each other accountable.
Why every self-employed mom needs a mastermind
Whether you’re new to self-employment or looking to take your business to the next level, a mastermind can truly help you to achieve your business goals. Masterminds offer many benefits including:
Diverse perspectives
One of the main tenets of a mastermind is that two heads (or more) are better than one. One person can only generate so many ideas based on their own unique set of intelligence and experiences.
On the other hand, when you bring together a group of diverse individuals you’re combining everyone’s unique perspectives. As a result, it’s possible to generate way more amazing, creative, and innovative ideas, ideas that you never would have come up with sitting alone in your home office!
Accountability
Being self-employed can be amazing, but it can also be really challenging. When you’re just starting out it can feel like an impossible task to land your first client or sell your first product. Once you’ve been at it for a few years you can start to feel burnt out and like your business has reached a plateau.
Your mastermind group is there to give you a pat on the back or a swift kick in the, um, backside, depending on what you need. A mastermind is there to keep you on track, help you think about your next steps, and encourage you to keep moving forward.
Camaraderie
If you work from home or you’re a self-employed team of one then you know that it can get lonely. It’s nice to have other people to talk to who are going through a similar experience and can offer advice and support. Trust me, it’s way better to have a group of like-minded people that want to talk about the highs and lows of being a self-employed mom as opposed to cornering your friends or your kids in a conversation that they don’t want to be a part of.
Networking
In the past (and still a little now) the thought of networking made me immediately sweaty and anxious. As an introvert, networking goes against every one of my natural inclinations. However, when you’re self-employed, networking is essential.
For those of you who are equally fearful of the prospect of networking, I’m happy to say that it does get easier and less anxiety-provoking with practice. Being part of a mastermind group is a great way to get some of that practice. A mastermind allows you to network with a small group of like-minded individuals and it doesn’t even require you to meet face to face.
How to form a mastermind
So, what do you think?
Being a part of a mastermind sounds pretty great, right? If you’re interested in taking the next step and forming a mastermind of your own, here are a few simple steps you can take.
Find your people and your purpose
Look for a group of 3-6 people (give or take) who share a similar interest or are working toward a similar goal (for instance — a group of self-employed moms (or parents) who are trying to grow their business). You can reach out to people within your current personal network (friends, coworkers, acquaintances) and ask them if they are interested in forming a mastermind. Or, you can check out sites like meetup.com to see if there are any local masterminds in your area that fit your interest. Social media is another route you can take to find your people — use Facebook groups, LinkedIn or Twitter to connect with people online.
Decide when and where
Decide how often you want to meet (weekly, biweekly, monthly — whatever works) and how you want to connect (phone, Skype, LinkedIn group, online messaging boards, or face to face).
Agree on a format
Work out a format or an agenda to clarify how the mastermind conversations will run. Having some structure will help to ensure that everyone comes prepared and the meeting objectives are achieved.
Assign a leader
If your mastermind includes more than 3 or 4 people then having one person lead the conversation can be very helpful. This person should be responsible for ensuring that everyone is staying on topic, that each member gets an opportunity to participate and that the meeting is running on time.
Commit and reap the rewards
Being a part of a mastermind can truly help you to achieve your goals. However, this isn’t a one-and-done kind of deal. If you really want to reap the rewards, you need to commit. To see any real results you also need to be prepared to take the advice, ideas, and connections that you’ve gained in your mastermind and put them into action.
What are you waiting for?
There it is — a quick look at what a mastermind is and why you, as a self-employed mom, need to have one. If you think you and your business would benefit from some extra support, motivation, and accountability then what are you waiting for? Take action today and you will start to see the magical effects of the mastermind!
–By Jessica Martel
