You ever wonder how some of those uber-successful people are capitalizing on their mastermind group? This post will show you how. It all starts with attitude.

Attitude: What do I mean by attitude? Am I saying you need to walk around with a chip on your shoulder, shunning the little people. NO WAY! If I were in a mastermind group with someone like that, they'd be out quick. By attitude I mean that you need to have a giving personality. You should see your time at the meeting (and away from your meetings) as a chance to help others. Take the focus off yourself and re-focus on the other members. I actually find that when I'm more focused on the other people in my group, I not only get to help them, I also learn more! So have the attitude that you will give BEFORE you receive.

Courage: The lion is the king of the jungle, right? How many lions do you know that DON'T have courage? Uhhhh... I've only had the privilege of knowing a couple lions in my lifetime but I would never call any one of them cowards. So how can you use courage to reap the rewards of mastermind stardom? Have the courage to be open with your fellow members. You won't get a thing out of your mastermind group if you don't open up. Worried about divulging too much? That's what non-disclosures are for. A mastermind group is supposed to be a safe place to share all kinds of information. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a conversation about business shift into a focus group on personal development and family. They're all intertwined. If you don't have the courage to share, other won't either and your group will not be effective. Step up and be the leader by sharing your personal experiences (both good and bad) and showing that it's ok to be open.

Look the Part: A king is always decked out like a royal. It's easy to spot a king in a crowd. So how do you look the part and stand-out in your mastermind group? Hold on because this one is really important. I mean seriously, make sure you write this down like ten times. Are you ready? Here's the secret to looking the part of the king of your mastermind group: LISTEN. That's right. I'm not asking you to dress up in medieval garb or even a suit. People see you as a valuable part of the group when you just sit there and listen. Don't be the guy that sits there playing with his cell phone. Don't be the gal that can't take her eyes of her iPad. Instead, listen intently. Make eye contact with whoever is talking. Show them that you are truly interested in what they're saying. Make THEM feel important. I know it sounds funny but when your fellow members see you take an active interest in the others, they'll follow your lead. Oh, and don't be scared to tell your friends that maybe they need to listen a little more too. Nobody's perfect and we all need a reminder sometimes.

So are you ready to be King of your Mastermind Group? Remember that's it's not all about you. If you put the time and effort into being a "royal asset" instead of a "royal pain" you'll soon have mounds and mounds of golden nuggets you can spend on your kingdom.

Originally posted on Carlos Cooper's Blog

Originally posted on Carlos Cooper's Blog

Ok, I know the title sounds a bit melodramatic...but it's true. I've always been an entrepreneur but I always felt like there was something lacking. What was it? I had no idea.

Then came my own personal Mastermind Group. I'd wanted to start one for a couple years and could either never find the time or the right people to help me launch it.

Well, a couple years ago I finally jumped into networking. I was super reluctant but I went in anyway, kicking and screaming (on the inside). I knew it was important...at the time I didn't know how pivotal it would truly be.

So I joined a small networking group here in town under the BNI umbrella and started to learn. The relationships I made there helped propel me towards my goal of starting a mastermind group.

I remember sitting down for coffee with my good friend Alec and discussing how it should start. Long story short, we launched with three members and quickly capped membership at five (we like small, odd numbers).

I am not exaggerating when I say that a Mastermind Group changed my life...and here's how:

Focus: In a mastermind group the weekly focus (depends on your group) moves from member to member, that way each person gets their time in the hotseat. The ability to have a small, yet focused, group work on your idea, problem or goal for two hours is powerful. I quickly learned that my own focus needed to change. That led to shifting my professional pursuits away from real estate and into the small business arena. Through the help of my Mastermind Group I'm now focused on teaching others how to harness the power of a laser-focused Mastermind Group to help others AND themselves.

Collaboration: I've always loved being part of a team. Whether it was playing soccer as a kid, flag football in college or even a work group in a class, I always enjoyed the feeling of the group working as one. Camaraderie is a great motivator. With a Mastermind Group I found that feeling magnified tenfold. I honestly feel that there is no problem too big that we can't tackle. The power of effective collaboration is amazing and has changed my entire outlook as an entrepreneur.

Passion: Probably the most important thing I learned in my Mastermind Group was about identifying and following your passion. I'd always felt like that was lacking in my life. Not that I wasn't living a fulfilling existence; there was just something in my business life that needed a spark. In that little room, amidst my Mastermind brethren, I found that spark. I figured out that I am madly passionate about helping others. I found out that I'm part entrepreneur, part counselor, part coach, part leader, part consultant and part friend and brother. I never could've found that in a normal networking group. While Chamber events are great, it's hard to get into the "personal" side of business in a large group. It takes a core group of understanding members whose only purpose in coming together is to help fellow mastermind members. I feel that THAT is the real power of the Mastermind Group.

So now you know my experience. I'd love to hear yours. If you have any questions about forming a Mastermind Group please leave a comment or contact me HERE.

Originally posted on Carlos Cooper's Blog

Many of you have asked questions about the Mastermind group that spawned S.O.S. University.  Although we can't bring anyone else into the group we want to bring the power of the group to you.

So what does that mean? You get the combined brainpower of the founders of S.O.S. University working on your idea, problem, system, marketing, whatever you want to brainstorm, for a straight two hours.

You'll also get a video of the entire session to refer back to when needed AND a detailed summary of everything we covered. So what does this amazing session cost? A mere $900. Don't worry, the price will be going up soon :)

If you are a member of the Frontliners BNI chapter you will get a discount for being part of the family. Frontliners, please contact Carlos Cooper for pricing.

So to recap, for a measly $900 you get access to the idea generation team that spawned S.O.S. University and continues to deliver amazing results for small business entrepreneurs. Don't wait. Contact Carlos today and get your business rockin'!