Building An Empowering Community
One of the strongest success tools available is community and giving and receiving support.
It is appreciation in action, valuing our selves and our needs and valuing the strengths,
talents and wisdom of each other.
One-on-one support in the form of mentors and role models and, of course, personal
coaching ;), or support through participating with a group as in a Mastermind Group or
Advisory Circle. The point is to not do it alone, we all know that two heads are better than
one and for the entrepreneur, solo practitioner or anyone else out there trying to do
something good...don't do it alone. Find a person or persons and a group that you can be
honest and open with, that will help you along the way... and that you can help, we love to be
useful.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
- Helen Keller
Below are tips and tools to different types of support and the gifts they offer. If one of these
interests you and you'd like some support creating it, call me, I'd love to be of service and
help you build an empowering community to support you.
Mastermind Groups
Imagine having a powerful and intelligent group people that come together once a week to
support you in creating your success, in the goals you’ve chosen. A group that you trust and
that you know only wants the best for you. A place were you can bring your challenges and
questions to, people who will help you, motivate and encourage you, hold you accountable
and support you in becoming all that you can be. A group who’s agenda is success. That is
a Mastermind Group.
A mastermind group is a selected group of about six people that are committed to
their success and willing to commit to meeting once every week or two for an
hour or two to support and be supported by one another in the achievement of
professional and/or personal goals. They share knowledge, wisdom, and
expertise while problem solving and brainstorming each individual’s challenges,
working together for a defined purpose.
In his book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill describes a mastermind group as
“Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people,
for the attainment of a definite purpose.” He shares that many powerful persons participated
in mastermind groups including Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Andrew Carnegie to reach
great levels of success and wealth in their business and personal lives.
In The Success Principles Jack Canfield writes that “…masterminding, is one of the most
powerful tools for success…” and that he doesn’t “know anybody who has become super
successful who has not employed the principle of masterminding.” And the stated purpose of
the group Jack Canfield belongs to is “to help each other achieve our individual and
corporate goals and contribute to the well being of humanity”. What a great goal.
If you'd like to set up your own group Check Out My Mastermind Package.
For more information on Mastermind Groups and information on setting up one of your own,
call or email me or check out:
Mentors and Role Models
Another great way to support yourself and your success is finding role models and mentors.
Get help from someone who's been there, who knows the way and can help make your path
to success quicker and easier. I know sometimes it can feel intimidating and it's one of those
steps that can build your confidence and let you know that you're serious about your
success.
Here are some tips:
You’ve chosen someone that you’d like to ask to be your mentor. Now what?
Before contacting someone to ask them to be your mentor here are some
questions to answer for yourself:
- Why them? Be ready to let them know why you’ve chosen them – what is it about
who they are and what they have accomplished that you admire and want for yourself?
- What kind of help are you looking for? Be ready to ask for what you want very
clearly and what that would require of them (maybe 15 to 30 minutes a month on the
phone).
- Finally, what would you like to cover in your conversation? They’re successful
and busy, and they want to help someone that sounds like they have their stuff
together. So, be prepared. Be clear about what you’re doing and what you need.
Here’s a sample conversation:
Hi Morgana, my name is Lisa Bradley. We haven’t met but you gave a workshop that I
attended last month. I was really impressed at the way you brought both professionalism
and warmth to a challenging topic. I’m just starting out and I bet some of the things that I’m
having a difficult time with you went through and could help me with. I would really
appreciate it if you’d consider being my mentor. That would mean spending about 20
minutes a month on the phone with me, so I can ask you some questions. I’d really
appreciate it. Would you be open to that?
When they say yes, ask the questions that you came up with in #3 above. Then, listen
closely, ask more questions if you’re not clear and listen some more. Don’t think of why
you can’t follow the directions, think, “how can I?” and if you’re not sure, ask more
questions, followed by more listening. When you’re finished with the conversation have clear
steps to follow and a measurable goal.
Thank the person for their time.
After the call... It’s great to say thank you and the best way to let them know you
appreciate their advice is by taking it. Demonstrate your commitment. Apply what they say
and keep track of what you’ve done and how well it worked – this is one of the reasons for
having a clear goal. Share your successes with them during your next conversation or in an
email between. Make it personal…if you can, add a little quip about you’re experience.
Share a bit of who you are and get to know them just a bit.
And to frost the cake…a great way to reciprocate, if you see an article or learn something
that you believe would be helpful to them, pass it along. Or if you have a talent or skill in a
place that you see they have a need, offer to help them in a specific way. It’s all about
partnership and making a better world together…which takes both givers and receivers.
So, before you make that call… Remember, successful people like to help each
other become more successful! It’s what truly successful people do. …they also
ask for help. :)
If you have any questions, have any feedback on what I've written so far, or would like a bit
of coaching on creating your own empowering community, call or email me.
To your wild and wonderful success!
Lisa
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