| Subscribing to the old adage "two minds are | | | | lunch rooms) and Andrew Carnegie (who amongst |
| better than one", mastermind groups employ the | | | | other impressive endeavors, founded and owned |
| use of like-minded people who come together to | | | | the Carnegie Steel Company, a business that was |
| challenge one another, create and implement | | | | worth millions). These men adhered to Napoleon |
| objectives, and to brainstorm ideas in order to | | | | Hill's belief that "When a group of individual brains |
| support each other in the pursuit of a common | | | | are co-coordinated and function in harmony, the |
| goal. Like rungs on a ladder, each member of a | | | | increased energy created through that alliance |
| mastermind group aids and sustains the others in | | | | becomes available to every individual brain in the |
| his or her climb towards their | | | | group."Other mastermind groups include Presidents |
| objective.Mastermind groups were formerly | | | | and their advisors, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Walt |
| introduced by Napoleon Hill, an American author | | | | Disney and his brother Roy, and Steven Spielberg |
| and one of the first pioneers of the "self help" | | | | and George Lucas. Being famous however, is not |
| genre. His book "Think and Grow Rich" is one of | | | | a prerequisite; consider a group of students |
| the best selling of all time. Hill states that | | | | studying together for finals or a board of |
| mastermind groups are "the coordination of | | | | directors meeting.Organizing a mastermind group |
| knowledge and effort of two or more people, | | | | is relatively simple. The key factor is to establish a |
| who work towards a definite purpose, in the spirit | | | | protocol before the group is formed. Ask yourself |
| of harmony."Although Hill may have been the first | | | | what it is that you would like to achieve and then |
| to coin the term "mastermind group" these kinds | | | | turn your attention to the people who you believe |
| of assemblies have been in effect throughout the | | | | can help you attain that goal. Each member |
| existence of humanity. Socrates' academy fits the | | | | requires his or her own personal or business |
| definition as does Jesus and his twelve disciples. | | | | mission to accomplish and, the time in which to |
| The Great Pyramid builders would also have been | | | | devote to that objective. Each person's |
| a mastermind group. Using the skills of architects, | | | | participation is essential, whether the members |
| astronomers, mathematicians, scientists, designers | | | | meet in person or via telephone or on line. Peers |
| and a force of four thousand general laborers, | | | | give feedback, brainstorm new possibilities and set |
| these builders used the strengths of many to | | | | up accountability guidelines that keep the meetings |
| reach their famous and impressive goal.In the | | | | focused. In addition, it is important that the |
| early 1700's, Ben Franklin purveyed one of the | | | | participants trust one another implicitly in order to |
| most socially relevant mastermind groups of that | | | | create an environment that is safe and |
| time. Commonly called the Leather Apron Club | | | | non-judgmental. Gary Ralston, a senior business |
| and officially termed the Junto, this group of | | | | consultant at Ralston Consulting in Ohio says, |
| young men who had no financial or social | | | | "Trust deepens as the group forms. |
| advantages, met weekly to discuss subjects such | | | | Confidentiality, like a water-tight bond, is the most |
| as philosophy, morals, economics and politics. It | | | | important part of mastermind groups."Mastermind |
| was comprised of enterprising tradesmen and | | | | groups come in all forms and sizes. Consider the |
| artisans who adhered to the belief that each of | | | | largest mastermind group of all. It has 1.2 million |
| them had something to teach and to learn. The | | | | members in the Unites States alone and more |
| group was in effect for forty years and | | | | than 2 million worldwide. Founded by two men, Bill |
| eventually became the American Philosophical | | | | Wilson and Dr. Bob Watson in Akron, Ohio in 1935, |
| Society, the works of which are still evident | | | | the organization consists of more than 105,000 |
| today. The group was responsible for the | | | | groups who adhere to the same set of guidelines |
| implementation of the first public library, volunteer | | | | and principles in order to reach a common goal. |
| fire departments, the first public hospital, police | | | | The members share their experiences with one |
| departments, and even paved streets.In the early | | | | another in the quest to solve their common |
| 1920's, six men in Chicago (later referred to as | | | | problem. The goal? Sobriety. The group? Alcoholics |
| the Big 6) formed a group that met once a week | | | | Anonymous.Perhaps the strength and potential of |
| over dinner. At the time their names would have | | | | mastermind groups can be summed up best |
| been unimportant, today we know that each of | | | | through the words of well-known cultural |
| them went on to be hugely successful; thanks | | | | anthropologist Margaret Mead. "Never doubt that a |
| largely in part to the company they kept, proving | | | | small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can |
| that like-minded, goal-oriented individuals can | | | | change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that |
| radically influence each others success. The | | | | ever has."Keith MacLean is taking the MasterMind |
| members included Charles Wrigley (the owner of | | | | concept to a new level never seen before with |
| the Wrigley chewing gum company), William Hertz | | | | the globally connected bringing together achievers |
| and William Ritchie (the founders of the Yellow | | | | who want to not only succeed, but make a real |
| Cab Company), Albert Lasker (the owner of the | | | | difference. He thanks the wonderful and talented |
| Lord and Thomas Ad Agency (which was at that | | | | freelance writer Julie Henry for her help with this |
| time, the largest ad agency in the world), John R. | | | | article. |
| Thompson (the owner of a chain of successful | | | | Interested in joining a MasterMind group? |