For the past two months, I have met with a group of people on Google+ Hangouts. We first met in a blogging community and ended up getting to know one another so well, it evolved into a mastermind group.
We started out introducing ourselves and revealing what we were doing on a weekly basis to grow our online businesses. After only a few weeks, we got closer and closer to one another. We formed an accountability partnership to encourage one another not only with our businesses, but most importantly with the obstacles we face that prevent us from moving forward and achieving our dreams and goals.
We keep in touch during the week also via Facebook PM’s. One of us may get “stuck” on a certain program, and the others will jump in to help. One of us may be experiencing one of life’s kinks, like care taking of someone in our family, and we are all there to listen and share.
You may have seen me on the social sites referring my group as “The Magnificent Seven Superstars.” It is not our official name, rather seven people who get together each week to encourage one another. I would like to give a shout out to my wonderful group and let you know who they are:
Each one is an expert in their field and all of them are awesome bloggers.
Adrienne Smith: http://adriennesmith.net/
Sue Price: http://suejprice.com/
Raena Lynn: http://raenalynn.com/
Sylviane Nuccio: http://sylvianenuccio.com/
Barbara Charles: http://barbaracharles.org/
Michael A. Buccilli: http://mbreventures.blogspot.com/ – Please Note that as of this writing Michael has a new blog under construction.
Masterminding can be focused on one specific thing. And I assure you that as you deepen your connections with those in your masterminding group, you will form incredible friendships.
Call to action: Are you in a mastermind group? Have you ever been in one? If so, how did it work out? Or… Do you want to form one? I’d be happy to help. I’d greatly appreciate having your comments below.
Blessings,
Donna
Hey Donna,Great to hear your in a mastermind group. I was actually toying with doing a subscription based site for my own VIP or something group. I don\’t want to call it mastermind though as I see lots of people doing this. Possibly something with Dead Dog Design Inc. but with my own twisted take on it. Basically, would have content which I don\’t release to the general public. It would take several months in the making, but I know I could provide a tremendous amount of value! I know a number of those people in your group :)Garen
Hi Garen,
We mastermind every week and have a go-around and help each each other with our unique goals. It is working out very well.
As for your suggestion of Dead Dog Design idea…that would be wonderful. My husband and I are doing something like that which is not released yet. When it is I’ll let you know! It is something like a page with many choices of different learning modules and Yes….it does take time!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..5 Personal Development Blogs
I hear that good sites take lots of time to develop. I bought beardeddragonland dot com last night. Going to brand it like crazy and breed the little guys. Going to make it an authority site in that niche with the best content ever. Got a 5 year old domain for $4! I was so excited. Found a gem that no one else saw! Be a ton of fun having 100 little dragons running around every year!
Garen recently posted..Controversy Sells – Stir Up The Pot The Right Way
Sounds awesome Garen,
We are going on the same wavelength. It is taking time, things are in place and have a few products together already.
Also testing each product as we go along…tweaking. Yours sounds awesome.
Donna.Merrill recently posted..5 Personal Development Blogs
Twitter: DrErica
January 20, 2013 at 2:51 am #
Donna,
I have been in a mastermind group with 3 other women which began after all of us had taken a 9 month program about writing your book, using social media and building a business. We have been together since 2008 and going strong. We meet every Monday morning and catch up on where we are currently at – and our energies seem to have become aligned. I also have 2 separate accountability partners, one who I send my list of daily activities to every day and the other person who I speak to once every other week to set up our goals for 2 weeks and then to evaluate our progress. I am also currently enjoying the Google Plus Hangouts and masterminds and have created my own Relationship Healing Mastermind, a place for people to share what’s going on in their relationships. Life is good when I feel so deeply connected to like-minded friends on the path to success.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
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Wow…a group since 2008? That is wonderful!
When we can make that kind of connection with others, it is so great. The accountability partnership keeps us on our toes. We are there not to let the other person down, and it is good medicine for ourselves.
What a blessing it is to have such a strong group like you have.
I am so glad that Google Hangouts came about. Taking a group to another level on this platform can do so much good.
Thank you for sharing how powerful a mastermind group can be.
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Balancing Act Of An Online Entrepreneur
Donna,
this could not be happening to a nicer person as your self… and I must say, you manifested since you probably wanted in the first place.. Masterminding when done for the purpose to support other and to be accountable for others success… IS WONDERFUL.
I did not have the privilege to find a group to mastermind YET… yes, I have been invited many times to join one here or there… but never went more then “what’s in For me” type of meetings… actually this remind me of one so called mastermind group meeting where a restaurant owner started… and after only two meetings it was over.. and he come out clear why.. he say to all of us, I was counting for you guys to spend at list $10 each for buying food from my restaurant, but it proved not to be the case so I rather not go ahead to offer my place to meet any more. And that was it.
I am happy for you that you did find a great group that all of you is supporting each others as the need arise… and for certain it will go on for a long time.
Thanks for sharing my friend, it truly made me feel good about masterminding again:-)
nickc
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Hi Nick,
That’s a funny story about the restaurant! I have been in many “mastermind groups” and they all fell apart because people weren’t sharing as much.
Some groups were there to work on a project that never happened. Some groups were part of a larger network and wanted people to join in.
I have been blessed to find 6 people from different parts of the earth to get together once a week and talk on a Google+ Hangout.
We also Facebook Message every day. We are so close and there for one another, even if we just have a bad day.
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Balancing Act Of An Online Entrepreneur
Twitter: MayuraDeSilva
January 14, 2013 at 10:44 am #
Hi Donna,
Wow… I’ve been hearing about Mastermind groups from Adrienne at her blog and NOW at your place too 🙂
I’ve never been to any and collecting some thoughts here Donna. Well, all need to commit and able to take a time to hangout, right? Hmm… Interesting again and glad you have formed yours with wonderful folks that I know. They are really master minders 😉
Hope you will share more about it and so many will able to follow and see the benefits, right? 🙂
Have a fabulous week dear 🙂
Cheers…
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I sure will do some follow ups on this one Mayura.
Hangouts are so great! We can mastermind or just get to know one another well.
I wish I could have made your hang out you announced in the Google Community you have. It was too early in the morning for me.
I’m looking forward to hanging out with you one day!
Donna
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Hi Donna,
What a great idea to spotlight us! I love our mastermind group. I’ve been a member of several mastermind groups and this one is my favorite. I feel honored to be among some of the best bloggers around! It is very important that each person in the group feel they belong and are supported. We don’t have a problem with that! Thanks. You are a sweetie!
Raena Lynn
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Raena,
I’ve been in them too. I don’t know if you remember the old TSA Tuesdays.
Everyone was commenting on blogs as we talked….That fizzled out fast.
Then there was another I was on and all that happened there was the peeps wanted to sell sell sell…….
Our group is a unique one. I love it.
Donna
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Thank you very much for the ‘shout outs’ and the encouragement you have written with in your post here Donna. connecting with the ‘right’ Mastermind group is not only a great way to help grow as a person and business but as you stated becomes a great accountability forum.
We Rock Michael.
I cannot wait until your blog is done so I can scream it out to the world!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Balancing Act Of An Online Entrepreneur
Yes we do Donna; We so ROCK!
I have been working each day on getting things together for my WP Blog and I am so excited.
I thank you “6” so much for all your encouragement.
Hey Donna…
I have been actively involved in some mastermind groups. The can be really beneficial. It boils down to what each member is willing to contribute…what they bring to the table. Recently, I left a mastermind group of which I was a leader. I found that I was not benefitting from it due to the way in which it was structured…this can have a significant effect as well…(structure). Each individual has to evaluate how a group is working for them. Don’t just be a part a part of a group to be in it. Find one that really works and then work it. The benefits can be astounding.
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Hi Martin,
I was in a few and they weren’t balanced, so it fizzled out. But when several people can get together and can relate to one another, it is great.
I would say “if first you don’t succeed…try try again!”
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Looks like a solid group you’ve put together Donna. I think most groups can be beneficial if they’re managed properly, but when you can get a group of 10 or less and you’re all on the same page the results can be powerful. Best of luck and keep it going.
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Thanks Steve!
We do have a pretty powerful group! Even though we are working on different projects, we hold one another accountable for what they are doing.
There is no procrastination going on here!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Donna,
having a mastermind group is essential for success. The power of seven minds working on one problem is much stronger than the power of one. After heaving read “Think and grow rich”, I am convinced that mastermind group is a must. The first thing is that you have to attract the right people. Vibration on the same frequency is a requirement for best fit. You are lucky to have found the right people to work with.
Blessings!
Margarita recently posted..How To Start Your Business Year With A Bang
I count my blessings Margarita.
We all are in the same age bracket, we have similar things going on in our lives and are all internet marketers.
It is such a blessing to me that we “stick together”
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Twitter: learn_to_blog
January 13, 2013 at 11:35 am #
Hi Donna, what a great post. I have found the Networking Superstars a great source of motivation and support since joining. I am launching a membership site this year and intend to include regular hangouts as part of the programme as I find them invaluable. So pleased you are your group have become a mastermind group. My next step is to run a meet up, probably in March, as I have also benfitted a lot from attending meet ups in the UK for the past 3 years.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
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Hi Mandy,
It started with Networking Superstars, but I am no longer part of it. I came into it because tons of my friends were there, but I just had to shave things down for the new year.
There are only so many groups I can be in. However, we met there and have been going strong ever since as our own little group.
It’s great that you are launching your own membership site! Keep me posted!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Donna, you have a group of some of my favorite people! I just read Adrienne’s post about a mastermind group and actually, the first time I heard the word mentioned I think it was by you! I have actually joined a mastermind group since then and I agree it’s a really great way to share ideas and get support. The other nice thing is that sometimes you only get to really meet people online, but you can get to know someone and really help and even become friends through phone calls and hangouts. Knowing you bunch, I bet you have some pretty great interactions!
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Carol,
If you only knew….besides all the good stuff we do, it is laughing going on so much! Throw in a tad of gossip and we usually are hysterical.
You know us and you can just imagine!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Twitter: hollyfulfordjef.
January 12, 2013 at 9:38 pm #
I have been involved in a few, but only one has stayed happening. We do not have the accountability to it that you have, so I must say that, that would be a positive attribute for the group..
I must say, that I too am envious of your accomplishments in your group what I wonderful way to help each other out.
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Holly,
I think it takes the right combination of personalities. We are approximately in the same age bracket, have care-taking issues, have pets we care about. When Sue lost her dog, we all mourned.
Some mastermind groups I was in were specifically oriented. They were designed to create a product together….that flopped.
One was designed to have some learning curve worked on….that was short lived.
But ours is more of a Wednesday Evening get together to have a go-round to see what we are working on during the week. Then we are there to reinforce each other. When one of us gets off our game the others, will push.
Plus we laugh so much it is the highlight of my week.
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Twitter: sylvianenuccio
January 12, 2013 at 8:42 pm #
Hi Donna,
What a great idea to blog about our mastermind group, Donna, and how happy and honored I am to part of such group.
We sure listen to each other and laugh with each other and even “cry” with each other, and all in all have lots of fun together.
I love to observe every one of you with your very different and specific personalities, and that makes it all the more fun for me 🙂 What I can say is that we are a bunch of very strong women, and how strong that man must be to sick with us. Indeed a courageous man, that is Michael.
I am so glad to have met you all, funny, smart, strong headed, natural, and more 🙂
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Do People Settle For Less?
I love it Sylvianne,
Especially the part of we laugh and we cry together. We all have different personalities that blend so well. I think the core of our group is that we care for one another.
We are there when someone feels down, when there is a problem. We do last 2 hours sometimes. You and I on the East coast will stay up late and so does Michael.
He is a courageous man!
I am blessed with you,
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Twitter: suejprice
January 12, 2013 at 8:19 pm #
Hi Donna
I am so glad you blogged about this and thanks for the shout out. I too like everyone else love our group and support that we offer each other.
Of course it goes beyond business as you have supported me through my dog passing and my parents illness. And of course we were all there with our prayers when the hurricane and hit and countless other things.
I just love that here I am on the other side of the world being part of a group. Now that could not have happened before the internet.
Thanks again Donna for this post.
Sue
Sue Price recently posted..Is the 4-Hour Work Week a Possiblity?
I am honored to know you Sue!
Before the internet there would have been no way for us to find one another.
Our group is so great, especially supporting one another with our prayers.
That is the best thing I just love about it. Because we are all in the same age range, it is a plus. We are going through care taking issues and who is starting a blog, and who is having a plug in problem.
Then Adrienne comes along and teaches Triberr, which I’m getting the hang of these days.
I can’t wait until Wednesday night to catch up!
Blessings,
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Twitter: alanjenkin
January 12, 2013 at 6:52 pm #
Hi Donna,It sounds like you have a great group there, and how fortunate that it happened the way it did!I have been in 3 different groups in the past, and found they were a great help when I got \”stuck\” – I really miss the benefits.I\’d be interested to see a follow up post with your ideas on how to form such a group.Alan
Thanks for stopping by Alan,
Our group rocks! It’s a good idea you have, Maybe I can get the gang to participate in another post.
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Oooooh, what a great idea.
Wonderful thanks for sharing it.
I’m definately going to look into the mastermind group idea.
BTW loving google hang outs
thanks for sharing!
Glenn
Glenn Seddon recently posted..Promise to Palace
Hi and welcome Glen!
A mastermind group is great especially with those that have the same mindsets. You can try it on Google+ Hangouts, this way you can see one another and take turns talking.
You can even record it if there is something you want and put it on your blog.
Just an idea!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Twitter: AdrienneSmith40
January 12, 2013 at 4:10 pm #
Well hey there partner!
Ah, the magnificent seven superstars! I love that name Donna.
I feel so blessed to be among so many awesome people and I love also that the majority of us are around the same age too! That type of support is truly awesome and I know how many people are going to be SO jealous of us too! 😉
The support that everyone brings to the table has really helped me move forward in the short time we’ve been meeting and I now know that I can achieve anything I put my mind to. You guys will kick me in the you know what if I don’t do what I said. See, I have people that will hold me to it and I can’t let them or me down.
Thank you for this fabulous shout out Donna and I’m truly honored to be in a mastermind group with you. 😉
Enjoy your weekend now. I’ll see you next week!
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Why You Should Be Part Of A Mastermind Group
Hey there Adrienne,
I just had to shout it out. There are so many people lost out there and we are living proof that Mastermind groups work.
Our little group is more than a mastermind, it is also accountability. If one of us says we are going to do something, the rest of the group holds us accountable.
It is the best way to drum up incentive for me! I just had to link everyone because tons of people know us. I know they will be jealous lol
I just can’t wait for Michael to get his blog up.
I am truly honored to be a part of this gang.
Donna
P.S. I’m doing so much better with Triberr thanks to you teaching me.
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
Twitter: simpblognetwork
January 12, 2013 at 4:02 pm #
Hey Donna,
Knowing everyone of those fabulous lovelies I am in insanely jealous. Mastermind and Accountability groups are wonderful. I really value the groups of people I network with online, they have a very special place in my heart.
Thanks for letting the world know how wonderful it is to hangout with cool people online to grow our businesses.
Beth 🙂
Beth Hewitt recently posted..Life in Fast forward
Aren’t they the coolest Beth?
I am blessed that we somehow all ended up together. Not only do we meet each week, but we are constantly PM ing on Facebook.
If someone runs into a problem, we all jump in and try to fix it.
I love my group. It’s better than therapy lol
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups
This goddess has been part of what started off as a blog syndication tribe for about two years now, and it’s no coincidence that I refer to them as the Wednesday Wonderfuls!
We’ve become a mastermind/support group/cheering squad and more than that, deep and committed friends.
Aren’t we so blessed to live in an age when technology makes this possible? Somehow pen-pal letters wouldn’t have the same impact.
Bliss-ings
the goddess known as Jacqui
the goddess known as Jacqui recently posted..What a Hot Yoga Class Can Teach You About Business, Life and Touching Your Eyebrow With Your Foot.
That is Fabulous Jacqui!
The best part of a group is the “cheering squad” isn’t it? When a group of people can meet like you do on Wednesday Wonderfuls, the group keeps growing closer.
We are so blessed to have technology to make it all possible.
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Mastermind Groups