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Are You A Member Of A Mastermind Group? Your Feedback Needed...

by BrianMcLeod
13 replies
Hi Mind-Warriors,

I'm right smack in the middle of writing copy for an upcoming
launch from two very well known marketers (one is Stomper
Faculty, the other an expert "coaching coach").

Would you be so kind as to share your experience with me?

Your feedback will help ensure that the product fully addresses
the needs and concerns of everyone interested in adding paid
masterminding into their business mix.

Here's some general questions, but the floor is fully yours...

Thanks so much for your help,

Brian

----

When and where did you first hear of the concept of a mastermind?

Are you currently a member of any mastermind group(s)?

Free or paid?

What difference has your mastermind group made to your life and business?

Do you or have you ever thought about leading your own mastermind?

What's held you back from doing so?

What's your #1 question about leading a paid mastermind group?

What's your greatest objection to leading your own paid mastermind?

Have you ever held a teleseminar or webinar before?

----

Feel free to PM or email me your answers if you'd rather not do so publicly:

loudmac (at) gmail.com
#feedback #group #mastermind #member #needed
  • Profile picture of the author Meanna Blog
    When and where did you first hear of the concept of a mastermind?
    From a guy that I know that set one up for Property Investors. Then I realised it originated from the book 'think and grow rich'.

    Are you currently a member of any mastermind group(s)?
    Yes. A sales mastermind group. For business owners.

    Free or paid?
    Paid

    What difference has your mastermind group made to your life and business?
    Massive difference. Mainly in the areas of reinforcement and accountability. I've found that it doesn't matter how much you learn, if you can't put it into practice, you loose all that knowledge. 'To know and not to do, is not to know' (or something like that).

    Do you or have you ever thought about leading your own mastermind?
    Sometimes.

    What's held you back from doing so?
    Time at the moment, and lack of a proper plan.

    What's your #1 question about leading a paid mastermind group?
    How do I manage the growth and expectations of the group?

    What's your greatest objection to leading your own paid mastermind?
    Time and not wanting to be at everyone's beck and call.

    Have you ever held a teleseminar or webinar before?
    Not yet... watch this space...


    (was that useful?)
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by BrianMcLeod View Post

    When and where did you first hear of the concept of a mastermind?
    John Alanis. I was on his mailing list, and he mentioned his own mastermind group several times.

    Are you currently a member of any mastermind group(s)?
    No; I've joined a few, but been largely disappointed with the results.

    Free or paid?
    Free. It's the whole "is it worth it" question.

    What difference has your mastermind group made to your life and business?
    In general, I find that the mastermind groups I've joined are more like social groups... except that the members are constantly trying to pump other members for information. Sort of like the small business mixers where nobody really wants to network effectively, they just want to shove business cards in your face and try to squeeze money out of you.

    Do you or have you ever thought about leading your own mastermind?
    Frequently.

    What's held you back from doing so?
    I would need to find people that weren't like the jerks who turned me off of previous groups. It only takes one of those to make the experience unpleasant.

    What's your #1 question about leading a paid mastermind group?
    How do you keep people like that out of it?

    What's your greatest objection to leading your own paid mastermind?
    Inertia. It's hard to get the ball rolling, and I don't feel like anyone else in the group would put any effort into it; I expect them to be more or less like I am, and try to sit back evaluating the group for a while first.

    Have you ever held a teleseminar or webinar before?
    No. I've led teleconferences and web conferences in the corporate world, though, so I don't imagine it would be too different.
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    • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
      Hi Brian,

      I saw this thread and thought I'd drop in...

      I belong to a very informal mastermind group. It's actually a group of friends and we have known each other for decades. We meet about once every week to ten days and have now for several years.

      All of us have different backgrounds, but we all share the same passions about our life's work. We also share a strong commitment to each other's success.

      So the cool thing about getting together is we can all vet each others ideas out. This could be anything from playing the 'devil's advocate' to flat out telling the member his idea is full of crap. Or it could result in adding a missing ingredient that pulls the whole concept together.

      For me I find the task of trying to sell my ideas, in other words put forth a cold idea, to my friends in such a way that they can grasp the concept to be the most challanging aspect. We have what we call using an 'elevator speach' (a common concept known to most marketers) as a way to clarify and condense the idea down to its' core benefits.

      If you've never tried this, it is a huge awakening moment if you realize the concept is too esoteric. For me the feedback I get is priceless. There are litterally times that I can explain a concept for a half an hour and when it gets down to the elevator speach I can't put one together on the spot. This is a very valuable exercise, but once you can achieve the moment so everybody 'gets it' you know your chances of having a winner increases exponentially.

      You can't get feedback like that from asking your wife/husband or others close to you who don't share the spirit of a mastermind group. In a lot of cases they will just tell you that the idea sounds great or that they don't understand it, but they can't push you to dig deeper and find the core message elements that will empower you towards success like a mastermind group can.

      Bottom line for me is that if you don't have access to such a group you should put yourself on the path to finding one. I have no idea how joining a paid MMG would pan out as I have not gone down that road. But the fact is it would most likely be benificial if the participants have the correct spirit of mutual success and not an overriding one of ego battles.

      We are very fortunate that we can leave our egos at the door and speak our minds without the fear of ulterior motives cropping up. There is no competition, only cooperation in my group.

      I don't know if this will help you at all, but I thought I'd put it out there anyway.

      If you're ever up in my neck of the woods, drop in and spend the evening with us. We go all night and we'll even feed you breakfast the next morning.

      Best of success on this venture. I know you'll knock it out of the park.

      Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Caliban and Bill,

    Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses.

    This really is a great help and is much appreciated.

    Best,

    Brian
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    Brian McLeod
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  • Profile picture of the author firedragon
    Hi, I am also in a mastermind group and we just formed 2 weeks ago and I love it!! It is a free mastermind group as I wouldn't pay for it, there are things that I don't believe in to pay if you can have it for free.

    A mastermind group is a bunch of people that work out concept, you can ask for help and come up with the stupiest idea. The point is you get an answer and you help each other out, because in the end everyone in this group profits from it. You don't screw the other as you lose leverage.

    I hope I explained that well what I wanted to say. I think mastermind groups are great and help leveraging the individual in the group. It is a win-win situation.

    Cheerz,
    Marcus
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    • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
      Originally Posted by firedragon View Post

      I hope I explained that well what I wanted to say. I think mastermind groups are great and help leveraging the individual in the group. It is a win-win situation.

      Cheerz,
      Marcus
      Thank you, Marcus. Your perspective and experience is appreciated.

      Anyone else have any thoughts or experiences to share?

      Best,

      Brian
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  • Profile picture of the author Dainis
    When and where did you first hear of the concept of a mastermind?
    --In a movie or in a self help group or some kind of a "manifestation" thing. Or was it while reading Stephen Covey a decade ago...no I think he talks more about principle-centered living. Umm...as much as I like the idea...I remember my first introduction to the idea of a "mastermind group" feeling really weird.

    Are you currently a member of any mastermind group(s)?
    --Depends on what you mean. I was a part of jobcrusher.com for a long time and while the service was OK and the learning tools get my thumbs up, the masterminds just did not work. No one spent any time in them. I've tried to set up a mastermind group with some of my friends, but the concept is just too foreign to them. To them, I think, it's "just like Dainis" to do something like this.

    So, yes, I'm a part of some groups online and such, but I have not been able to set things up effectively at home and on the ground. There's a "success-hungry" dude in my neighborhood who sets stuff like this up, but frankly, his projects are all hype in the beginning and no follow-through. To me, that is a bit of a "mastermind group" pattern.

    I set one up with a local pianist as well, and he/she (to protect feelings), turned out to be an egotistical, severely abused in childhood, stress-monster(ess)...it was scary. I didn't know this pianist well before going for a mastermind...and it really did turn out quite frightening. I've since told this pianist that without hum/her going to therapy for past abuse, that I am unwilling to speak with hum/her.

    I'm being considerate of this pianist's identity, so please allow for my circling kind of language.

    So, anyway, I really like the idea but have not been able to set anything up that really nurtures me and my goals (and the goals of the others involved) the way I would like.

    Free or paid?
    I've tried both.

    What difference has your mastermind group made to your life and business?
    You know, I really like working in teams. If I include all "working in teams" and equate that to a "mastermind group," then it's been the most valuable thing I've ever done in my life...however...it has not been "called" a mastermind group when successful. It's been, for example, a band I played in, the folks that hung out after choir practice in a choir I conducted, certain friends I hung out with after particular lectures or classes, the "after work go for a drink crowd" ...oh and a bunch of 30 somethings getting together, drinking beer and playing Risk (which I never thought I'd do, but it was great)...that kind of thing.

    Do you or have you ever thought about leading your own mastermind?
    Absolutely

    What's held you back from doing so?
    Nothing, I've done it to varying degrees of success, and it seems that calling a mastermind a mastermind has been the formula for failure on my end. Call it "Boozin' and Cruisin' Risk Game" and well, there you have a mastermind group that you will never forget for the rest of your life!

    What's your #1 question about leading a paid mastermind group?
    --Someone is going to pay me? OK, fine with me, this is right up my alley. Umm...basically...where do I sign up? I am comfortable leading others.

    What's your greatest objection to leading your own paid mastermind?
    --Well, in a sense, I already do. Cure Tinnitus Member Community is essentially a "mastermind" of people who wish to heal themselves of tinnitus.

    Have you ever held a teleseminar or webinar before?
    --Yes.
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Thanks for your detailed thoughts, Dainis.

    Appreciated and helpful!

    Best,

    Brian
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