The Mastermind Mindset Path to Success

Before and After – and Ongoing – Jennifer Carney

admin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:05:50 +0000

I know it’s cliche to reflect upon where one once was and where one is now, with all the benefit of crystal-clear hindsight. But I think it’s an important exercise when one is on the path to truly, consciously and actively becoming who they truly are. When I think of where I was when I first joined my Mastermind group and where I am today, it’s a study in awareness and growth that I couldn’t have imagined even a year ago.

How many of us tend to withdraw when times get rough? I know I sure did. I had perhaps the worst year of my life, followed by months of aimlessness that amounted to little more, career-wise, than keeping my head above water. And I was surrounded by people doing the same.

Like many others, I was hit hard when the economy hit its rough patch. Despite a degree and years of Fortune 100 work experience, I had been under-employed for 18 months. I was either over-qualified or under-qualified for every job I applied to, and was struggling finding freelance work in a marketplace that seemed unwilling to offer it.

It was after a series of happy accidents (although John Lennon would admonish, ‘There are no accidents!’) that I encountered this amazing group of heart-focused entrepreneurs who helped me redefine what exactly I wanted to do when I grew up – and then some.

I joined my Mastermind group despite my usual aversion to ‘business networking’ groups because I felt that I had nothing to lose, and I felt that I had to do something outside of my usual box.

If you’d told me then that within a year of joining, I’d be making more money doing my own thing than ever before, I would have said, in so many words, that you were dreaming – albeit dreaming very nice dreams.

If you’d told me that within a year of joining that I’d have a clarity of purpose and a specific career track doing something that I loved, I would have asked you to stop humoring me and help me find a desk job that would pay my bills.

If you’d told me that within a year of joining, I would have an indispensible network of people who would help me not only reach my career goals, but also become some of my closest friends… well… that would have seemed way too good to be true.

And yet it is. All of this came true when none of it ‘seemed’ possible. That’s the Mastermind difference; when you come from the heart, and keep that as the focus, you cannot help but succeed in business – and in every other area of your life. This is the ‘Mastermind difference’ and it’s what sets a group like Mastermind apart from typical business networking groups that too often amount to little more than business card exchanges and the begrudging ‘trading’ of services.

Who doesn’t want to help their friends succeed in life? Who wouldn’t go out of their way to open every door for their loved ones if they needed it? This is a group that treats one another like family, and so the enthusiasm to help each other – and those around us – is stronger than in a typical business networking group. What other business group really delights in teaching and giving as much as it does leveraging some very powerful connections?

Life is such a profound gift; it is a powerful thing to make every moment meaningful and authentic, and to follow your career goals and dreams to an end that is fulfilling both financially and spiritually. The Mastermind Mindset is all of this and so much more. Are you ready to experience complete success in your life?

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Earning Our Way to the Top With Marvelous Customer Service

admin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:58:38 +0000

One of the great truths of our Mastermind is that we must be more responsive than anyone else. It doesn’t matter what we do for a living, we have artists, writers, poets, faux finishers, healers, coaches, and CEO’s in our Mastermind, and each of us knows we must offer more service than what people expect, because then we will always end up with more – more business opportunities, more referrals, more strong relationships and more chances in life!

It’s not hard to be simply marvelous, especially in how we communicate with people. These days many companies and entrepreneurs do a lousy job returning calls, texts and emails. Just think for a minute, how many times have you called a company to sign up for their service and waited 24 hours or more for them to return the call? Did you call them again? What happened?

Many times they do nothing for you even after you’ve place the order. Typically these companies do nothing to reach out to you ever, and they wonder why retention is weak.

What’s sad is their responsiveness is not surprising. It’s closer to the norm than you may realize. So, if you want to be marvelous in the eyes of your customers, do the little things well and you’ll be remembered and they will use you again.

To be a member of our Mastermind we must:

We must return their calls, texts and emails right away.
We must be easy to work with.
We must be flexible and accommodate their situation.
We must focus on how we can help them get what they want.
We must ask them how we can best serve them and listen to what they tell us.

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Create a Think Tank Mastermind

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:28:57 +0000

As a business owner in this era of tough global competition, you look for ways of generating extra value for your assets. People and information are two critical resources being recognized as valuable assets. You need a constant supply of critical information to achieve the success you dream about. It is very important that you stay aware of trends and issues and keep up with rapid economic and technological changes to become and stay competitive. Your “knowledge network,” consists of your most brilliant POI’s, the people who can provide you with the knowledge and expertise you need to run a successful enterprise. Knowledge networking through Mastermind groups is an effective way of combining individuals’ knowledge and skills in the pursuit of personal and organizational objectives.

As you attend your Mastermind meetings on a weekly basis and you hear different individuals talk about their business you may discover that it’s next to impossible to keep up with all this information on your own. There is simply too much of it, and your own inclinations and time limitations steer you toward some kinds of knowledge but cause you to neglect others. You may be strong in marketing and business planning, but weak in personnel and legal matters.

Fortunately, the knowledge you lack is always someone else’s specialty in the Mastermind, so you can turn to other members for help. This is what you are preparing to do when you set up your Mastermind’s information component–a web of contacts through the Mastermind who know and understand what you must do to achieve success in your profession or business and who have the experience to help you achieve your goals. Tap into these members and watch your growth.

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Journal Your Way Through Mastermind Growth

admin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:40:28 +0000

One of the best gifts I ever received was from sales trainer Eric Lofholm. It was a journal to write down all the classic “ahha” moments during my participation in his Platenum Protégé program. I’ve filled a number of journals since that class and I love going back to read each one from time to time.

As a member of a Mastermind TEAM, use a journal to directly reinforce the teachings of your Mastermind Mindset trainers and guest speakers, and other personal learning opportuinites. Create a library for personal transformation as you put the principles of your teachings into action each day. May I suggest you do this by including sections in your journal for inspiration, quotes, intention, action, and growth.

The reason that we set goals is to give your life a direction to move in. When you write these in your journal the process you are following it keeps you from stagnating. To have the opportunity to go back and read your personal evolution that you experience along the way is way bigger and extremely more valuable than the original goal itself. Reading your journal will remind you that it’s never about the goal, it’s always about the growth.

While keeping a personal journal, you enter a unique sacred space. Here, you are safe from judgment. Your co-workers, family, friends and siginifcant other will not pass judgement and your are free from daily duties and cares while you are in this space. Here you can dream, discover, and dare to create new ways of being in the world. You get to implement what you learned at your own pace.

Writing captures guidance from your deepest self before it disappears into space. Inspired ideas can rise to the surface of your mind in a classic beyond belief moment. This might be a solution to a persistent problem, an idea for a breakthrough Mastermind session, a powerful creative moment, an energizing affirmation that you know will change your life, or another sudden spark of insight. No matter what form the inspiration takes, record it in your journal.

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Six Steps to Begin Living on Purpose ~ Jennifer R Bailey

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:12:31 +0000

We are all here on this planet for a purpose! It is our duty to find out what gifts we’ve been given and in some way, whether BIG or small, give them back.

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” -Socrates

When we are inspired with great purpose everything around us will begin to work in our favor. This is a universal law. Wouldn’t it be perfect to wake up every day and be inspired by who you are and what you’re up to?

I would like to share six steps that can guide you to begin your journey to living life on purpose.

Step 1: In this moment, know you were not an accident and neither is your existence. There is meaning for your life in this universe. The first step is to know you’re here for a purpose—this is not the same as knowing what you’re suppose to do. Throughout the course of our lives what we do in life will change. Affirm your existence by writing it out, perhaps in a journal or a notebook Write something like, “I am here for a purpose and I intend to live from this place of awareness.” Take the energy and time to discover your what your divine gifts are if you already do not know what makes your heart sing…EXPLORE, EXPLORE, EXPLORE!

Step 2: Take every opportunity to be of service to the universe. Say a simple hello to a stranger, pick up a piece of trash in the street, pay the toll of the person in the car behind you or volunteer in your community. All of these acts of kindness are aligned with your purpose in life. Fall in love with what you are doing. Let this love come from the deep, inner dwelling of Spirit. Inspiration comes from being “in-spirit”. When you are aligned with your divine source being inspired comes very natural. Remember also, rewards multiply when we focus on giving rather than receiving. No matter what you do, if you put your heart into it and get your ego out of the way, the universe will handle all of the beautiful details and you will reap many rewards.

Step 3: Ignore naysayers. Inevitably, there will be people who think they know what your destiny is. They will even go so far as to talk you out of your purpose. ONLY YOU CAN KNOW. It is between you and your Divine source. It is your journey, no one else’s.

Step 4: Seek out others who are living with purpose. Study and duplicate what they’ve done. Take a moment to think about whom you most admire. Begin to research and study this person’s life. Find out how they were inspired or what motivated them to achieve all the things you admire. If this person is still alive, give them a call. People love to talk about their lives and how they achieved greatness.

And, start or join a Mastermind group!! This is one of the most powerful resources and tools you can use to align with your dreams and have people all around you to lovingly hold you accountable for what you say you want to create in your life. It is magical what begins to unfold.

Step 5: Act and live as if you are on purpose. Never let negative thoughts linger in your mind. We are what we think! Keep your intentions on what you wish to create in your life. Shift your perceptions from “what is wrong” to “what is right” in all life’s situations. Treat everything in your life from a long hold time on the telephone to the loss of a loved one to a loss of a job to your car breaking down as opportunities to move away from familiar circumstances into the direction of your purpose. FIND THE GIFTS IN ALL THINGS.

Step 6: Meditate or spend time alone before the start of your day. Meditation is probably one of the healthiest, safest, timeliest and most regenerative practices you can undertake. It energizes the mind and body to begin your day with a clear slate. I enjoy sitting and just observing my breath for the first five minutes. The second five minutes, I enjoy being in state of gratitude–thinking about all the things and people in my life I am grateful for. And the last five minutes I focus on forgiveness. In this state I release any anger and blame I have associated with myself or others.

There are several different types of meditation. I encourage you to get curious and seek out what is comfortable for you. At the end of this you have given yourself the gift of time and purpose. You may even want to state an intention out loud at the end of this practice. Such as, “Today I will remember to let go of judgment, non-judgment silences the mind.”

Every day our thoughts and feelings should be in alignment with our actions. When we begin our day with positive intentions our hearts are filled with gratitude and love. Our attitudes and energy fields are positive and we begin a beautiful new day with our purpose in mind.

“Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.”

-Viktor E. Frankl

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Mastermind Mindset ~ Possibilities

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:05:32 +0000

The world is so full of possibilities and when you are a member of a Mastermind group you can prepare yourself for one of the biggest challenge that come up when you are open to these new possibilities. Most people have to learn how to deal with the abundance of these opportunities to make money. Individuals are broke because they choose to be broke. This happens when they are overwhelmed with these ideas. The power of choice is so powerful that most people will remain closed for their entire life and live on a worker bee’s salary rather than be open to the possibility that there is more. Stephen Covey says: “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

Studies have shown that while the mind is closed there is absolutely no growth; there is only a slow and steady decline. This decline is not overnight just like becoming overweight did not happen in one night; the weight happened one milk shake and fast food joint at a time. This consistent closed mindedness becomes so ingrained that to break free of it requires an event of catastrophic importance. This is the moment when survival instincts are backed into a corner and realize that the only exit strategy is a new possibility. This often happens with major health challenges like a heart attack, being fired from a job or just finally having enough of the same work for twenty years. You need to break free of your patterns.

In the Mastermind Mindset, you remain open to new possibilities. Just because you have invested safely in single family homes does not mean you should only do it once. As you grow be open to the possibility that one large deal might give you the same as ten houses, that network marketing may generate large cashflow without any startup capital, that multi million dollar deals can be done with no money down. There are three constants in your life: change, choice and principles.

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Mastermind = Knowledge Supply System

admin — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:33:47 +0000

One of my great personal mentors, Dr Ivan Misner has written and spoken at length that a business professional, needs a constant supply of information and education to achieve success. In fact his belief is so strong; he founded a training company called the Referral Institute that trains this concept extensively. Most of the members of a Mastermind TEAM are graduates of the Referral Institute’s Referrals for Life program and bring these concepts to bear each and every week.

What Dr Misner teaches as a business owner you stay aware of trends and issues and keep up with rapid economic and technological changes to become and stay competitive? Your “knowledge network,” or what he calls the information component of your network, consists of your most knowledgeable sources, the professionals who can provide you with the knowledge and expertise you need to run a successful operation. We modeled our Mastermind on this principle and every week we give thanks to Dr Misner and the Referral Institute for this knowledge.

Even in this computerized world with everything at your finger tips you may have already discovered that it’s next to impossible to keep up with all this information on your own. There is simply too much of it, and your own inclinations and time limitations steer you toward some kinds of knowledge but cause you to neglect others. You may be strong in marketing and business planning, but weak in personnel and legal matters. What to do about it?

Fortunately, the knowledge you lack is always someone else’s specialty, so you can turn to others for help. Every week at Mastermind we turn to others for help. The TEAM becomes a conduit to a web of contacts who know and understand what you must do to achieve success in your profession or business and who have the experience to help you achieve your goals. Thank you Dr Ivan Misner and the Referral Institute for what you do for this world. Check out the Referral Institute at: www.referralinstitute.com

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Lessons Learned

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 04:17:59 +0000

As a referral expert and Mastermind host a few years ago I was invited to participate in a teleconference for attorney’s around the US who needed to generate new business through lead generation, how to convert those leads when you get them and then how to handle the business that is generated. The advance selling point of the teleconference was that it was going to change the lives of those who participate in the program and would become the most powerful marketing tool that the attorney’s on the Teleseminar would ever learn.

I was personally shocked by one of the first statements that the facilitator spoke. He said that he didn’t believe in referrals, didn’t really want referrals and would only accept them if he was forced to. It became obvious that networking had a negative connotation to the facilitator and he was passing his own personal blocks and negative insights to the attorney’s listening. This struck me as a disservice to the 180 plus professionals on the call. This might work for the facilitator’s law office, but I thought should not be a blanket statement that the attorney’s on the call take as face value. As a trainer you should never knock other means of finding leads, whether it is the cold call, telemarketing, internet marketing, direct mail or referral marketing. In fact I believe you should never be programmed to stop a process that is working just to attempt something new.

In my mind networking, building a TEAM like a Mastermind is about farming and hard selling is like hunting. The main difference between selling and networking is that in a sales process the goal of the interaction between two professionals is the sale of a product or service. When referral marketing, this sale is the consequence of a contact that is built with respect and care. It should be clear that the sale is not the goal of networking. Networking is the goal of networking. Making the appointment is all about making the appointment. Selling process is all about the sales process. I believe hard sellers that focus on the sale during the networking process are focused on the short term. Building relationships through Masterminding is a process of support, education and relationship building for the long term.

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You Cannot Afford Not to be in a Mastermind Group

admin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 04:02:22 +0000

Have you ever felt like you were not getting what you want out of life, either personal or your career? If you do feeling lacking in this area, may I suggest that you join a Mastermind group.

Dreams are the very foundation of your life, both professionally and professionally, yet many people wonder how they can realize their dreams or they give up Three Feet from Gold when they hit roadblocks, bumps in the road or you might be listening to individuals who tell them they can’t realize their dream.

You see often times day-to-day activities which have you working in your business rather than on your business seem to take priority over long-term vision and the dream is put to the side. So you might ask how can I manage all these day-to-day challenges and at the same time move forward on my dreams. I’ve had many people ask me how can my dreams become reality.

My answer: When your personal mastermind TEAM brainstorms your dream, they can give you a road map for your dreams to come true. The value of attending a Mastermind meeting every week and getting your TEAM to develop your plan cannot be overemphasized. You get support, critical education and typically people who have already walked the walked to help you think bigger than you would on your own. In my opinion, you cannot afford not to be in a Mastermind group.

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Creative Force of a Mastermind Mindset

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 18:09:22 +0000

Identify your core passions and unleash the amazing Creative Force of a Mastermind Mindset!

If you’re not achieving at the highest level attainable in all areas of your life – right now – it’s time that you do. The Power of the Mastermind Mindset that can turn all your dreams into reality through optimizing, visualizing, affirming, goal setting andcreating a positive mental attitude.

None of these are enough to sustain you in your quest for success and happiness alone. But the creating of a Mastermind TEAM is, once you know how to unbridle it’s power. You start by pinpointing your innermost passions and where you want to go next. With the Mastermind TEAM’s help, through the art of brainstorming, you’ll use your internal barometer to evaluate your desires and assign priorities for you next action steps.

Your burning, core passions identified through taps from the Universe will be fully flushed out. Then, by knowing which passions have the highest priority, you can tap into your Mastermind TEAM and go over the top. Even seemingly insurmountable odds won’t stand in your way any longer. Achievement in all areas of your life can become a reality. A richer family life! More meaningful relationships with friends, coworkers and family! Unlimited financial growth! An appreciation for the wealth of knowledge available to you through your educational TEAM! Further development of your physical and spiritual self!

The idea of being a member of a Mastermind TEAM is within all of us. This website will serve as a how-to manual, guiding you to discover the wonderful thing that, up to now, seemed just beyond your reach: personal achievement in everything you do through TEAMwork.

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