Mastermind Groups (also known as a peer advisory board) have been around since 1925 when Napoleon Hill created the concept with his book, Think and Grow Rich. They are at the core of many successful businesses and individuals today.

How does a mastermind group work? A group of smart people meet regularly to tackle challenges and problems together. They lean on each other, give advice, sometimes share connections and do business with each other when appropriate. It’s very much peer-to-peer mentoring and almost like a personal board of directors – keeping mastermind participants accountable to their goals and aspirations.

Consider this mastermind groups group list, collated by Michael Hyatt:

• The Inklings-a group of successful writers and poets which included C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams.
• Nine Old Men – Walt Disney’s mastermind group brought to the world such classics as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, and many others.
• The Junto-a group of twelve members created by Benjamin Franklin which would later establish the first U.S. lending library and form the academic team for the University of Pennsylvania.
• Sunday Night Supper-a mastermind group which was largely responsible for guiding the U.S. through the Cold War. Group members included Robert Lovett, Averell Harriman, George Kennan, Chip Bohlen, Joe and Stewart Alsop, Frank Wiser, and George Kennan.
• Andrew Carnegie-after examining the success habits of Andrew Carnegie, Napoleon Hill of Think and Grow Rich fame became convinced that mastermind groups was the essential success factor for Carnegie’s success.

Mastermind groups have been there at the core of career changing, life changing and history changing moments for their participants. I myself have participated and run different forms of Mastermind programs, and I know personally how transformative they can be!

How to Find Your Perfect Mastermind Group

If you have ever considered joining a Mastermind program of any sort, I suggest you check out: Find Your Perfect Mastermind Group. It’s a consumer guide, of sorts, put together by a consortium of “master” Mastermind facilitators and answer questions such as:

• What is a Mastermind Group?
• What is a Hot Seat? (An essential element of a true Mastermind program!)
• How do I know if it’s Really a Mastermind Group? (Some programs label themselves as a Mastermind, but are not!)
• How to get the most out of a Mastermind Group.
• What to expect from a Mastermind group.
• Questions to ask when considering a Mastermind group.
• Understanding the role of the facilitator.
• What to look for in a facilitator.
• Choosing the right group format.

The guide also includes a handy “Needs Analysis Checklist” when you are shopping for a Mastermind group, comparing each group against your needs and preferences, so you can select the best group for you.

Accelerate Subscriptions 

That brings me to Subscription Insider’s Accelerate Subscriptions mastermind program. for subscription owners and executives to tackle, together, the unique challenges of growing and operating their subscription and membership businesses. 

Ready to move your business forward? I invite you to check out our mastermind program here.