Jack Canfield's Success Principle #46
Masterminding is the process of meeting with five or six people every week to problem-solve, brainstorm, network, encourage, and motivate each other. Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone met regularly at their winter mansions in Fort Myers, Florida to encourage one another.
The secret to the success of masterminding is that God stands at the center of any group where all of the members are focused on the same goals. In Matthew 18:20, God promises, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Accelerate your growth through a mastermind group.
More can be achieved in less time when people work together. When we share new perspectives, knowledge, experiences, and resoucrces with others, we can move beyond our own limited view of the world.
A mastermind group can be made up of people from a single industry or from a variety of professions. The members can focus on business issues, personal issues, or both.
In a mastermind group, everyone must be comfortable enough with each other to tell the truth. By keeping confidences about what is shared in the group, participants can progress rapidly.
Through loving confrontation, group members can help others to grow. Jack Canfield's partners confronted him about overcommitting, selling his services too cheaply, focusing on trivial issues, failing to delegate, and playing it safe. He really appreciated their help and their honesty.
I have been a member of Al-Anon, which is similar to Jack's mastermind group; but instead of focusing on business, I learned to cope with the alcoholics and other dysfunctional members in my family. Within the confidential safety of Al-Anon, adult children of alcoholics, victims of incest, and survivors of sexual abuse can learn new perspectives, problem-solving skills, networking, encouragement, and motivation.
There are many mastermind groups which are similar to Al-Anon. They help people to cope with a multitude of problems, such as grief, divorce, job loss, step-parenting, and many other life issues.
Organize a mastermind group.
Anyone can organize a mastermind group, even if they haven't yet achieved their goals. The success of organizing a mastermind group lies in inviting members who are a notch above us. If that seems intimidating, remember that we're the ones organizing and facilitating the group, so it's relatively easy for our would-be mentors to get involved. Jack reminds us to keep the group to five or six people so that everyone's needs get met.
Conduct mastermind meetings for success.
Mastermind meetings should occur once every week or two for 1 to 2 hours. For the first few meetings, one member should familiarize the others with his situation, opportunities, needs, and challenges. In later meetings, each member gets a specified amount of time to update the others, get feedback, and ask for help. One person must be assigned to serve as the timekeeper.
Jack recommends following a set format for proven results:
1) Ask for spritiual guidance by delivering an invocation.
Mastermind meetings should always begin with a request for God's spirit to surround them and guide them. Members can share this duty, or one person can be assigned to handle it.
2) Share what's new and good.
Each meeting should begin with a success story. This habit keeps the group focused on the positive.
3) Negotiate for time.
Each member negotiates at the beginning of the meetings for the time needed to address issues. This prevents monopolizers or dominators from driving away other particiants.
4) Individuals speak while others listen and then brainstorm solutions.
Discussions can include a variety of topics, such as: "I need to find a new assistant;" or "I'm looking for a psychologist to help me with my child's behavior problems;" or "I need to learn how to set better boundaries."
After the person has described their problem, the rest of the group brainstorms possible solutions. The minute the allotted time has been used, the timekeeper states, "Time's up!" The discussion moves immediately to the next person.
5) Make a commitment to stretch.
Prior to the close of each meeting, the timekeeper should ask each member to state briefly what his next action will be to move himself closer to his goal. This ensures that the group keeps moving forward.
6) End with a moment of gratitude.
All meetings should end with a group prayer to express gratitude. One person can lead it, or each person can contribute.
7) Be accountable.
At the opening of the next meeting, each person should report whether or not he carried out his actions as promised. This is one of the most powerful aspects of mastermind groups, because we're more likely to carry through on a commitment if someone is expecting results from us.
Find an accountability partner.
If it's not possible to join a mastermind group, we can follow this same format with an accountability partner. I have done this a number of times, with mixed outcomes.
If the partner we choose is as committed as we are to achieving success, it works well. But if our partner doesn't listen to us, fails to follow our advice, or breaks commitments; it's more difficult to help her achieve success. I believe a larger group wields a lot more power than one person does in holding someone accountable.
Get started with a mastermind group now.
For those of you interested in growing a business, you can get information about masterminding through the Young Entrepreneurs Organization, The Executive Committee, and the Young Presidents' Organization online at www.yeo.org, www.teconline.com, and www.ypo.org.
For those looking to address personal issues, look online or in your local newspaper for information about Al-Anon groups, religious organization support groups, parenting associations, or weight-loss meeting places.
Today's Challenge
Organize your own mastermind group this week or join an organization that will allow you to brainstorm with others who share similar interests. If you can't join a mastermind group, find an accountability partner through a Stephen Ministry program, therapist, Al-Anon sponsor, or business person who shares similar interests.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Showing posts with label accountability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accountability. Show all posts
Monday, January 3, 2011
Monday, August 30, 2010
Five Secret Weapons
Someone asked me today how I manage my life with all the problems I have experienced. The answer is simple. I have five secret weapons in my arsenal as I fight my way through this world.
Before I tell you what those weapons are, let me say that life is full of challenges for all people. Some handle their troubles with grace; others choose to find comfort in alcohol, drugs, food, sex, and addictive, mind-numbing activities such as television or busy-busy-busy-ness. While these options may provide temporary pain relief from the struggles we all face, they usually only mask the outermost symptoms. What we all need to do is deal with the underlying issues, instead of focusing only on the pain.
When we ignore problems and attempt to self-medicate with things such as alcohol or food, we only create a second set of problems. Now, instead of a fear that someone will discover that we were once sexually abused or you-fill-in-the-blank, we've got that problem in addition to several new ones. And when those problems become worse, depression sets in. This lands us in a place of hopeless desperation.
First, I am able to keep putting one foot ahead of the other, because Jesus is holding me up. Without faith in God and hope that I have a brighter future with him, I could never survive this life.
Years ago, when my life became unmanageable, I began with prayer, asking God to make me aware that I actually had a problem. I asked him to send people into my life who could help me through the maze of troubles that confused me at every turn.
Second, God answered that prayer by arming me with helpful friends. There have been many loving people along the way...a neighbor who 'adopted' me and loved me as her own, a school bus driver who took time to talk to me daily, a teacher who saw my potential, other women who have walked through the fires with me, small group members from church who have prayed with me, a boss who believed in me when no one else did, and a faithful spouse who has stood beside me through it all.
I have found some great advice about the importance of friends in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. It reads:
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together,
they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Third, when I asked God to help me, he showed me that I had to do some hard work to get better. For me, healing has come most quickly when I have rolled up my sleeves and gotten busy with God. Most of us need to work on becoming stronger spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, and financially.
Stepping up my prayer time and expanding the amount of time I spent in God's Word made a huge difference in the way I dealt with problems. I believe that the greatest wisdom of all time can still be found in the Bible.
Many modern authors have helped me to apply God's wisdom in meaningful ways. For example, I found an excellent resource for making positive changes in Jack Canfield's book, The Success Principles.
I left behind people who were dragging me down and found a new set of friends through church. Many of those relationships developed when I worked as a volunteer alongside others with common interests.
Shedding excess weight through fun activities, such as bike riding and roller blading, made me feel better and improved my outlook. When MS robbed me of my balance and endurance, I exchanged my roller blades for a yoga mat. Failing health led me to search out alternative health practitioners.
When my job began to take a toll on my health, I gave it up to do something more fulfilling. I left behind abusive employers who made unrealistic demands of me.
Fourth, I sought out people along the way to hold me accountable as I worked on new goals. I joined Weight Watchers and an Al-Anon group for adult children of alcoholics. In these settings, positive, encouraging friends helped me to better understand myself.
Fifth, I searched for mental health professionals to steer me back onto the right path. So many people avoid psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors, because they fear the stigmas that they believe go along with seeking their care. This is about as silly as avoiding a podiatrist when we've got an ingrown toenail.
The right mental health care provider can help us change thought patterns and behaviors that are counter-productive. How did I find the right ones? I asked others for recommendations. I read books about how to choose the appropriate person for me. I interviewed prospective providers and asked them how frequently they had dealt with the problem I was experiencing. If the counselor I chose seemed like the wrong one, I found another.
Counseling is not a one-shot deal, and it may involve a host of providers that we see for many years. After we have reached a point of stability, checking in regularly with a mental health provider keeps us in shape over the long haul. We believe in the importance of getting our teeth cleaned twice a year...why not treat our minds with similar respect?
For many of us, pride and shame keep us quiet. For me, threats from my abusers kept me in silence. Our culture, too, has long dictated that we keep our troubles to ourselves. When we allow others to stifle our voices, we only empower them to hurt us more.
My five secret weapons for survival can be yours, too. If you're struggling, turn to God first and look inward. Then, reach out to others. My guess is that you'll be surprised to find a number of helpful friends, accountability partners, and mental health workers reaching back. Many people have already been through what you're experiencing, and they will find joy in being able to help you work through your troubles.
Remember that with God, we can do the impossible. With support along the way, we can achieve our impossible dreams with greater success. And when it's time to celebrate our personal achievements, we can praise God together with the loving people who have journeyed with us.
Before I tell you what those weapons are, let me say that life is full of challenges for all people. Some handle their troubles with grace; others choose to find comfort in alcohol, drugs, food, sex, and addictive, mind-numbing activities such as television or busy-busy-busy-ness. While these options may provide temporary pain relief from the struggles we all face, they usually only mask the outermost symptoms. What we all need to do is deal with the underlying issues, instead of focusing only on the pain.
When we ignore problems and attempt to self-medicate with things such as alcohol or food, we only create a second set of problems. Now, instead of a fear that someone will discover that we were once sexually abused or you-fill-in-the-blank, we've got that problem in addition to several new ones. And when those problems become worse, depression sets in. This lands us in a place of hopeless desperation.
First, I am able to keep putting one foot ahead of the other, because Jesus is holding me up. Without faith in God and hope that I have a brighter future with him, I could never survive this life.
Years ago, when my life became unmanageable, I began with prayer, asking God to make me aware that I actually had a problem. I asked him to send people into my life who could help me through the maze of troubles that confused me at every turn.
Second, God answered that prayer by arming me with helpful friends. There have been many loving people along the way...a neighbor who 'adopted' me and loved me as her own, a school bus driver who took time to talk to me daily, a teacher who saw my potential, other women who have walked through the fires with me, small group members from church who have prayed with me, a boss who believed in me when no one else did, and a faithful spouse who has stood beside me through it all.
I have found some great advice about the importance of friends in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. It reads:
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together,
they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Third, when I asked God to help me, he showed me that I had to do some hard work to get better. For me, healing has come most quickly when I have rolled up my sleeves and gotten busy with God. Most of us need to work on becoming stronger spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, and financially.
Stepping up my prayer time and expanding the amount of time I spent in God's Word made a huge difference in the way I dealt with problems. I believe that the greatest wisdom of all time can still be found in the Bible.
Many modern authors have helped me to apply God's wisdom in meaningful ways. For example, I found an excellent resource for making positive changes in Jack Canfield's book, The Success Principles.
I left behind people who were dragging me down and found a new set of friends through church. Many of those relationships developed when I worked as a volunteer alongside others with common interests.
Shedding excess weight through fun activities, such as bike riding and roller blading, made me feel better and improved my outlook. When MS robbed me of my balance and endurance, I exchanged my roller blades for a yoga mat. Failing health led me to search out alternative health practitioners.
When my job began to take a toll on my health, I gave it up to do something more fulfilling. I left behind abusive employers who made unrealistic demands of me.
Fourth, I sought out people along the way to hold me accountable as I worked on new goals. I joined Weight Watchers and an Al-Anon group for adult children of alcoholics. In these settings, positive, encouraging friends helped me to better understand myself.
Fifth, I searched for mental health professionals to steer me back onto the right path. So many people avoid psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors, because they fear the stigmas that they believe go along with seeking their care. This is about as silly as avoiding a podiatrist when we've got an ingrown toenail.
The right mental health care provider can help us change thought patterns and behaviors that are counter-productive. How did I find the right ones? I asked others for recommendations. I read books about how to choose the appropriate person for me. I interviewed prospective providers and asked them how frequently they had dealt with the problem I was experiencing. If the counselor I chose seemed like the wrong one, I found another.
Counseling is not a one-shot deal, and it may involve a host of providers that we see for many years. After we have reached a point of stability, checking in regularly with a mental health provider keeps us in shape over the long haul. We believe in the importance of getting our teeth cleaned twice a year...why not treat our minds with similar respect?
For many of us, pride and shame keep us quiet. For me, threats from my abusers kept me in silence. Our culture, too, has long dictated that we keep our troubles to ourselves. When we allow others to stifle our voices, we only empower them to hurt us more.
My five secret weapons for survival can be yours, too. If you're struggling, turn to God first and look inward. Then, reach out to others. My guess is that you'll be surprised to find a number of helpful friends, accountability partners, and mental health workers reaching back. Many people have already been through what you're experiencing, and they will find joy in being able to help you work through your troubles.
Remember that with God, we can do the impossible. With support along the way, we can achieve our impossible dreams with greater success. And when it's time to celebrate our personal achievements, we can praise God together with the loving people who have journeyed with us.
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