Mastermind The explosion of social media in its many and varied forms has led a number of people to wonder: is there still a place for the business mastermind group?

I firmly believe the answer is yes.

Since the publication of Napoleon Hill’s book on the topic, the idea of mastermind groups has grown and evolved to become a staple tool of successful individuals.

The benefits of having a supportive mastermind group are plenty:

• You have a group of people available to help you succeed.
• You get the benefit of differing perspectives, input and feedback.
• Your mastermind team can bring resources and connections to the table you might not have had on your own.
• You receive accountability and inspiration from the group, thus enabling you to maintain focus in achieving your goals.

And perhaps the single most important aspect of the business mastermind group is human contact and a sense of connection. Now, I know that there are mastermind groups out there that exist on a purely virtual level, mostly because of the location of the participants, but you can’t beat real time, face to face interaction, especially when you work solo.

I understand and have experienced first hand the power of social media in the sharing of ideas and bringing a sense of community to the business world, even with people in the “other” hemisphere. I have even made connections with people locally I hope will develop into genuine business and I have met all guests for my radio show from connections I nurtured from LinkedIn. But when it comes to sounding out my ideas and getting feedback that relates specifically to me and my business, I know who I’ll turn to first.

There are also excellent organizations here in the SLO area such as BNI, CCP, PMI and chambers of commerce that may provide these forums.

Facebook, Meetup and LinkedIn are far from replacing social interaction, it actually can be a great tool, you can create a mastermind group with people you may have never been able to meet until now.

You should also list yourself in these social networks, so the right people can find you. Once you find the right people, no matter where they are in the world, you can collaborate virtually to reach your goals and overcome your challenges if you can’t meet face to face.

When I encourage people to share their business challenges, they usually resist. Quite simply, they don’t want to admit their business is struggling. 2009 has been a difficult year for many business owners and entrepreneurs. Many of us are like ducks on a pond: calm on the surface but churning our feet frantically underwater.

You’d be surprised at how willing many people are to help when asked, since it is an honor to be asked for an advice or an opinion. You don’t necessarily need to meet with your entire team in person in a formal setting. You might chat with each individually on the phone, or set up an email discussion list.

I belong to CEO Think Tank Mastermind Group. Once a week I get my dos of mind feeding with a small group of really cool people, chewing the business fat and focusing on our goal, discussing a book, most of the time related to new media, we get a special pleasure from learning how the small guys are stealing the spotlight from big players, individuals and corporations. Doesn’t matter how big the marketing and publicity budget is, we all have the chance if we choose to set ourselves on camara (YouTube), a mic (BlogTalkRadio) or blog and claim our piece of the pie in the marketplace.

So are you inspired yet?

Regards

Jacky Lopez, Founder | jacky@ccwnetwork.com | 805-439-1013