Mastermind Groups

-by Matt Leedham

Napoleon Hill, author of the timeless 1937 classic Think and Grow Rich, proposes this concept:

“No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind [the master mind].”

Mastermind groups bring together 4-10 people that share some specific interest, opportunity or challenge. Through structured dialog, they share ideas, brainstorm, create solutions, and experience share with each other for both the collective good of the group, and more specifically the individual benefit of shared brainpower on an isolated challenge.

Velocity will soon be offering Mastermind Groups. The concept has been around for a long time, but some of you may still not be completely clear on what it is or how it can benefit you.

A Mastermind Group will form a trusted network of advisors that want to see you succeed. Confidentiality is a critical component, as is every participant’s full commitment. The environment of trust and respect is so high, that digging deep on business or personal challenges and opportunities will quickly result in some of the following benefits:

• Increased knowledge and/or new skill sets
• Instant and honest feedback on challenges you may be facing
• Group brainstorming and experience sharing around opportunities available to you
• A trusted network that believes in your success
• Accountability partners and challenge buddies that push you to the next level
• A facilitated, productive discussion that yields results

A Mastermind Group is not a lead-generating networking group. Naturally, connections and resources are shared, but that is not the primary intent of the group. A Mastermind Group is not a group coaching session or a training class. The facilitator will guide the discussion for the purpose of productivity, but the participants create the agenda and are the primary source of ideas and information.

Other perks and benefits from a Mastermind Group are guest speakers, books, articles, message boards, and other resources to help you continue to grow.

Mastermind Groups have been around for centuries. This is not a new concept, but it is clearly an effective one. If your interest is piqued by this model of self improvement and group growth, email us! We are particularly interested in those that are in the education space, small business entrepreneurs, and health and wellness providers (e.g. physical therapists, chiropractors, masseuses, etc.).

Start Acting!

-By Jaime Willis

"Contemplation often makes life miserable. 

We should act more, think less, and stop watching ourselves live."- Chamfort

Over the next few months, I am working on streamlining and simplifying my life.  Mostly by getting rid of stuff I don't need -- I spend way too much time worrying about picking up stuff, washing stuff, dusting stuff, putting stuff away when I could spend more time enjoying life.  

Not my books, but about the same amount. 

The first project I decided to tackle was my book collection.  I have thousands of books.  21 feet of  3-foot tall shelving in my apartment, filled and double-stacked with books.  I love books.  But, with all the technology available to me today, I don't need to keep that many books.  If I lived in a nice-sized home, I'd love to have a library.  But I live in a small apartment and books are taking over.

When you love books like I do, you realize how tough a job it is to cull your book collection.  You want the people who get your books to appreciate them the same way you did.  Which is why I decided to donate almost all of my books to a local high school.  Woodson High School students are moving into a brand new building next year, but the library is going to look pretty bleak -- they only have about 1,500 books for the entire building!  The librarian was ecstatic to hear about the number of books I was able to donate.  

As I was going through my books (my goal was to get rid of 90% of my collection), every time I was tempted to keep a book, I thought about a student at that school getting a chance to read that story for the first time.  That was enough for me to keep donating.  In the end, I have packed up 13 boxes of books for the high school, 4 more boxes for donation elsewhere, and am left with two not-full 6-foot shelves of books.  

This simplifying thing is something I have been thinking about for a while.  But, just like the quote above says, sometimes you need to stop thinking and start DOING.  

Think about a project that you have had on your mental to-do list forever.  Is there something you can DO to get that project started?  Do it.  Today. This Week.  Stop Waiting.  Start Doing.  

"Don't Wait.  The time will never be just right."

-Napoleon Hill

The Secrets of Success

It all seems so simple.

Faith + Desire = Realization

As I read more, and watch and listen more, and teach more, and write more, and coach more, and see success more for myself and others, there is a common thread to it all. Faith and desire.

Those that achieve more do two things more than the average person. First, they believe with conviction that they can and will do something. Second, they want to do that thing more than others. That’s it. They want it really bad and truly believe in themselves.

Watch this video. If you’re short on time, watch the first two minutes, and pay particular attention to what this guy says from 1:24 to 1:44. In fact, listen to it over and over again. He speaks the truth and has the credentials to back it up.

David Goggins exudes an unyielding confidence in himself, wouldn’t you say? Just listening to his perspective on life and achieving great things, chances are you’d bet on him to win any time. I don’t even care what the competition is – if this guy is competing, I’m betting on him. He’s got faith. He sees victory and achievement in his mind so clearly, that it becomes his reality.

Think this is a new message? You’d be wrong. My boy, Napoleon Hill was saying it 70+ years ago. Watch this video and you’ll learn a thing or two. I’ll admit, Mr. Hill isn’t as cool as David Goggins above, and the video isn’t as edgy as Lexus’ documentary on endurance running, but the message is sound.

Did you get that? If you can so clearly define your image of success, whatever that may be, and know clearly what you are willing to sacrifice in pursuit of it, you will achieve it. Mr. Hill expands upon these concepts in his groundbreaking book, “Think and Grow Rich.”

So, how bad do you want it? Seriously, how bad do you want that image of success? Don’t lie. This guy will catch you and call you out. No joke. When you watch this next video, know that the audience is young college students, so some of his message is directed at that demographic. But if you don’t feel like jumping out of your seat to conquer the world, I need to take your pulse.

Lessons learned from Eric Thomas, the Hip Hop Preacher: 1) Success is not about where you come from, where you’ve been, or what’s happened to you in the past. It’s about right now. It’s about heart. 2) You have to be able to, at any time, be willing to sacrifice what you are for you for what you will become. 3) Pain is temporary. Some day it will subside and be replaced by something else. If you quit, the pain will last forever.

Are you ready? Are you fired up? Have you clearly identified that image of success for yourself? What are you willing to sacrifice for it?

Are Your Receptors Open?

-by Matt Leedham

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” – Buddhist Proverb

Along the lines of my thoughts on luck, opportunity and coincidence seem to happen a lot more to those that are prepared to receive them. Just as the teacher appears for the ready student, so does “aha!” moments for ready achievers.

Have you ever noticed that when you learn a new word, you start hearing and seeing that word multiple times over the following weeks?

Let me give you an obscure example. Two weeks ago, I learned of the word ‘heuristic.’ I was reading a classic book on positivity and the power of thought called “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. This book, originally published in 1937, is credited for being the first (and by some accounts, the best) modern-day, personal development book ever written. The word ‘heuristic’ was introduced in the book in regard to the human mind not needing exhaustive information to make decisions – rather, we have become quite good at making very good decisions with limited information. I actually wrote about it in Trust Your Gut.

To me, this was a completely unknown word – I was sure that I had never seen it or heard it before. How, then, is it possible that just 8 days later in San Antonio, I heard an author/speaker use that word in reference to marketing tactics?

Is it more likely that a word that had never crossed my path before, all of a sudden presented itself to me twice in 8 days? After decades of reading, studying, and listening to words, that’s quite the coincidence, wouldn’t you say?!

What’s more likely is that I have seen or heard that word many times before, but never bothered to look it up or ask questions. I just let it wash over me and therefore, it didn’t really exist in my vocabulary.

This happens with inspiration too. It happens with dreams and aspirations as well. Too often, we don’t allow our receptors to be open to opportunity or “luck” or “chance” or “coincidence” (quotations used intentionally as I don’t really believe in these things).

This is why we encourage our workshop attendees to do the following:

1. Prime themselves to be positive
2. Visualize their future in great detail
3. Write their visions on paper
4. Tell others about their vision

If you do these things, your receptors are now open for business!

And if done with sincere positivity, you will literally be amazed by the opportunities that seem to present themselves to you. You will begin to see patterns and resources you didn’t see before. You will connect the dots and things will begin to happen.

Know what you want and be open to receiving. Be prepared for good things to come!