The concept of Mastermind Groups was first discussed by Napoleon Hill in his famous book, “Think And Grow Rich.” In his research of the most successful people of his time, Hill found that a key difference that made people successful was being involved in Mastermind Groups. Masterminding involves bringing people together with different experiences and ideas to collaborate, brainstorm, and provide support to help the participants achieve their goals. Multiple studies have since shown that collaborating energies tend to work better together and that mastermind group are very beneficial. I couldn’t grasp the concept early on. In fact, when I first started in this industry, I thought it was full of clicks. The distributor force reminded me of high school. All the seniors (or leaders) would sit together, hang out. They were the popular guys. The geeks or nerds would hang out together, and the metal heads would do the same. I would try to fit in where I could, and I remember feeling like I wanted to be a part of whatever click I thought was the best at the time. I thought network marketing was the same. You join a distributor’s team, you look for where you fit in. You see the clicks, you hear about the leadership events, the mastermind groups. I wanted in.

But I didn’t realize the full value in the group dynamic until I started my own. It was explained to me this way…. Your network marketing business is like a mountain. You are at the top of the hill. You have a gigantic boulder in front of you, and you have several smaller rocks next to it. Standing next to you are all the other distributors in your click, team, city, or wherever. You can choose to get everyone together to push the bolder down the mountain, or everyone can pick up smaller rocks and throw them down by themselves. The rocks and boulder represent new business, energy and momentum. Knowing the boulder would produce the most momentum, you talk to the others and offer that if they all help you push the boulder, then you would share the momentum with them. Some join you, some don’t. Those that don’t look at you throwing their rocks off the hill, content to enjoy their own momentum and keep it for them selves. You and your friends push hard, and at first the boulder doesn’t budge. But soon, it gives way and as you continue to push it over the ledge, you see it pulling away and rolling over and smashing those other rocks as it speeds by. The mastermind group wins the most momentum.

I have a mastermind group in my business, most leaders have them. There are also mastermind groups in the industry and John Milton Fogg, a legend in network marketing offers an excellent series called The Mastermind Sessions. You can find it at www.themastermindsessions.com . Each week he interviews industry leaders like Jim Rohn, Bob Proctor, Mike Potillo, Randy Gage, Art Jonak, and Tim Sales. The knowledge that everyone shares is priceless. So imagine my honor when John Milton Fogg called me to participate in the session. At first I was a bit intimidated. But John was the most caring, professional, witty and comforting. He and I quickly became friends over a few quality conversations. What shocked me the most about John, is that he is human. Sounds funny I know, but when you are toe to toe with a legend, you expect them not to be human. John was and once again, I was reminded that people are this industry’s product. I was humbled by the experience and am grateful to have found a friend in John. To listen or read more, visit www.thefoggreport.com. “Donna V has very good stuff. She’s clean, clear, in your face but with a mother’s soft hand.-John Milton Fogg”