The Power of a Mastermind Group

General Principles of Success
Many years ago, the famous Andrew Carnegie saw a need to share the secret of success with the world. Knowing how to recruit people to assist in achieving his dreams, he put the challenge to Napoleon Hill to invest more than 20 years interviewing more than 500 exceedingly wealthy individuals (most of whom started life with nothing) to identify and confirm the secret to success - in this case, the success in attracting money into your life on a consistent basis (although the concept can be used for however you choose to define success and/or happiness).

Hill set to the task and encompassed his findings in his book, "Think and Grow Rich", a now timeless classic.

The main premise of the book is that your mind is the most powerful tool that you have, and will ever have. When used properly, the mind can create any future and reality that one desires. However, for a variety of reasons, most people are unable to see past the limitations that are ingrained in their thinking. Once thoughts can be focused on an objective - and not derailed by limitations - the actions that derive from those thoughts will guide one towards the success that they desire.

Sounds simple enough. So, why isn't everyone able to simply 'think' themselves into business success and a fortune? Well, actually, everyone is able to do this, but most people are not aware of the steps involved with acting this way consistently and they are not sure how to overcome the obstacles that prevent such thinking.

A study of individuals who achieve great success and wealth will reveal a deep rooted belief in opportunity and abundance. These people often will also see temporary defeat as an opportunity to learn and grow, not as a failure and a reason to quit. And it is this 'inner voice' that guides their thoughts and actions. Whereas the opposite is true of most people. For a variety of reasons most people see limitations and a virtual impossibility towards reaching their goals.

The book goes through many concepts and offers a specific 'step-by-step' approach towards advancing to your goals. In fact, Page 28 gives instructions on exactly what to do to develop a 'money-consciousness' that will attract wealth into your life.

Hill discusses, Chapter by Chapter, the topics of:

1. Desire
2. Faith
3. Autosuggestion
4. Specialized Knowledge
(I must plug in here that exit strategy planning is currently regarded as 'specialized knowledge' in a world of advisory services that are becoming increasingly commoditized every day).

5. Imagination
6. Organized Planning
7. Decision
8. Persistence

then Chapter 9, Power of The Master Mind

The Mastermind Principle
First Hill describes 'power' as "organized and intelligently directed Knowledge . . . through the coordination of effort of two or more people who work toward a definite end, in a spirit of harmony."

Hill then makes the somewhat dramatic statement (p. 182) that "No individual can have great power without availing himself or herself of the Master Mind Principle." He challenges the reader to "analyze the record of anyone who has accumulated a great fortune . . . and you will find that they have either consciously or unconsciously employed the Master Mind Principle."

He describes thoughts as a 'stream of power' and states that "the positive emotions of thought form the side of the stream which carries one to fortune. The negative emotions form the side which carries one down to poverty."

So, the Master Mind Principle includes a group of people coming together to achieve a stated objective and working in harmony towards achieving that end.

Forming a Mastermind Group
Pinnacle Equity Solutions leads the exit planning industry in training and execution of exit plans. Beyond the training and executions, we also collaborate in groups towards advancing our individual businesses as well as the industry as a whole.

That is what occurred in Tampa last weekend as 10 Pinnacle 'Platinum Level' Members came together for our first of three Mastermind Meetings for 2010. These meetings are designed from Napoleon Hill's writings - recognizing that our thoughts for success need to be organized in writing and stated as our intention. As a mastermind group, we each presented our goals for the year and 'brainstormed' on ways in which exit planning could be successfully incorporated and profitably employed in our businesses. This is a very powerful exercise as the creative energy which comes from these meetings serves to focus on thoughts of success and the follow up coaching and subsequent meetings hold us accountable to our goals and keeps our mind set towards achieving what we set our minds to.


The Key to Success is Like-Minded and Right-Minded Participants
The key to making this type of group work well is getting the right-minded people together, setting a specific agenda, closing the door (physically) to close out all distractions, and allowing the creative energy to flow towards the objective that was stated.

Each of the ideas created in these weekend session is the collective product of the group thinking delivered from a focus on the needs of each individual Member in achieving their goals.

The Mastermind group is, in effect, a very well organized 'reminder' of what you have committed to and a system by which you receive insights for your goals and also by which you maintain your focus.

Master Mind groups that follow Hill's formula are remarkably effective. These types of groups are not very hard to assemble. However, there is a secret to forming these groups. It is this secret that forms the basis of Pinnacle's Platinum Level group. It is also the insight that can assist you in forming your own group to assist you with your goals. To learn more about forming one of these groups and how Pinnacle will launch its new Certification Program, be sure to register for Wednesday's call.

I am very excited about launching into this New Year and to join my fellow Master Mind Platinum Members in making quantum leaps in our businesses. As I stated in my State of the [Pinnacle] Union address last month, my Company had a quantum leap forward in 2009 and expects to continue that momentum in 2010. With the help of my Platinum group, I expect to lead our collective success into and through this New Year.

Specializing in Business Exit Strategies, John M. Leonetti, Esq., M.S. Finance, CM&AA founded Pinnacle Equity Solutions to provide advisors with the tools they need to incorporate Business Exit Planning into their advisory practices. To learn more about John's Exit Strategy Services and to receive a FREE copy of his special report, "How To Incorporate Exit Strategies Into Your Advisory Practice", visit Pinnacle Equity Solutions