Part 1 of our Utilizing the Mastermind Principles Blog Post helped you identify your DEFINITE PURPOSE. Now it’s time to take action in the direction of that desire and purpose. Not sure what action you should take? Napoleon Hill had the perfect solution, The Mastermind Group, which he defined in Think & Grow Rich as “a friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.”

Hill acknowledged that any successful action plan will require certain specialized knowledge that we may not possess within ourselves. No one person is going to be an expert or authority on all aspects of business. But, that doesn’t mean that this specialized knowledge cannot be acquired. Hill envisioned the Mastermind Group to be the well from which that specialized knowledge could be drawn. Each member of the Mastermind Group would leverage their experience and education and that of the group to elevate all of their respective positions and achieve greater success.

Hill pointed to the example of the great industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, in support of the Mastermind Group. “Andrew Carnegie stated that he, personally, knew nothing about the technical end of the steel business; moreover, he did not particularly care to know anything about it. The specialized knowledge which he required for the manufacture and marketing of steel, he found available through the individual units of his Master Mind Group.”

5 Benefits You Can Gain from a Master Mind Group?

1 – Tap into the experience and skills of others! You don’t have to be an expert in all areas of business. The Mastermind group provides access to the specialized knowledge of the other members of the group including marketing, administration, networking, etc. A Mastermind Group is the perfect place to find new ways to jump-start your business.

2- Get “unstuck” and gain a new perspective! Often other people can see within us that which we cannot see within ourselves. Certain choices and options may be obvious to the group, but escape you in the present moment. Brainstorming within the group can provide fresh perspectives and options that you would not have otherwise considered.

3- Increase confidence in your decisions! No one has to be their own support network. The Mastermind Group is a safe and supportive environment for vetting your most crucial decisions. The members can become an instant and invaluable support network!

4- Validate that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals! You can leverage the combined knowledge and experience of the Mastermind Group to validate your current or future actions or to tweak them for greater success.

5 – Find a sense of shared endeavor with others in the same position! Chances are that you are not alone in the struggles and challenges you are facing right now. Sometimes knowing you’re not the only one can make all the difference. And there is no better way to boost your passion and desires than by sharing them and feeding off the passions of others as well. Mastermind Group members tend to energize both themselves and the group as a whole by sharing those passions.

Utilizing the principles taught in Hill’s Think & Grow Rich, the Ascher Group has created a new series called The Mastermind for Masterminds. As Hill envisioned, this is not just another business network or networking event. We’re building a community of professionals dedicated to helping one another overcome obstacles and achieve greater success. Our Mastermind for Masterminds includes 12 monthly meetings; quarterly 30 minute private coaching sessions with Ascher Group president, Susan Ascher; and a quarterly gift of at least one bestseller to help you grow you and your business.

The Mastermind for Masterminds Was Specifically Designed to Provide Members With:

• New connections with a supportive team of Mastermind partners
• Relationships with like-minded professionals who want to MEET or EXCEED their goals
• New ideas for REAL CHANGE to get you where you need to be
• Elevating your passion for life and work to overcome the fears that are holding you back

In Napoleon Hill’s seminal work, Think & Grow Rich, he professed, “all who are ready may learn, not only what to do, but also how to do it; and receive, as well, the needed stimulus to make a start.”

Eighty years have passed since those words were first published, but their truth continues to resonate. If you are ready and willing, everything you need to be successful in both your professional and personal life is available to you right now.

Hill talked about an essential component to the secret to attaining wealth and that was DESIRE, a desire that was definite, focused and specific — without the worries of implementation overshadowing or lessening its realization. When that desire was combined with the conviction of your thoughts it created your DEFINITE PURPOSE.

But, how to do you discover your true desire? Is it a general desire like wealth and influence, or more specific like attaining the position of bank manager by 35? Each of us has our own unique desire based on what we want.

Not Sure What You Want? Start by Asking Yourself These 4 Questions.

1- What are you passionate about? Passion is a powerful force that can propel us to take leaps and bounds beyond our comfort zone. For many, that passion is what gets them out of bed every morning. Look for those aspects of life or business that put a smile on your face. Those actions or responsibilities that come naturally and/or effortlessly. Once you identify that passion, ask why? What about this sparks my passion?

2- What are your strengths? Too often we focus on the areas of our lives that aren’t working or we obsess over our weaknesses, instead of identifying our strengths and nurturing what is working. If you’re great at numbers and love spreadsheets, don’t force yourself to tackle all the creative responsibilities in your business. Play to your strengths.

3- What did you learn from your past experiences? Sometimes we need to identify what we don’t want in order to clearly understand what we do want. There is no better way to do that then to look back at your previous experiences. In your old jobs, careers or businesses, what didn’t you like? What areas of those experiences do you not want to repeat going forward? Having that understanding ahead of time can help facilitate the answer to question 4.

4- What does your ultimate goal look like? Be specific! If you want your business to be more profitable, what increase in profitability do you want to achieve? Do you want a 5% growth and why? If you attain that 5% in growth, what will that allow you to accomplish? If you want a business where you are supported by employees, then how many employees and what responsibilities will they have?

In Think & Grow Rich, Hill recounted the story of Edwin Barnes whose desire was to become a business associate of the great inventor, Thomas A. Edison. Edwin ultimately reached his goal with the greatest of success, but at the start he had nothing except “the capacity to know what he wanted, and the determination to stand by that desire until he realized it.”

Determination and conviction were two of the keys to Edwin Barnes’ ultimate success. Instead of wallowing in all the reasons why he wouldn’t succeed, he focused his efforts on attaining his ultimate goal. To foster that kind of faith in yourself and your desire, you first must be clear whether you are in a state of success or failure consciousness.

5 Ways to Determine if You Are You Stuck in Failure!

1- Always making excuses, instead of looking for options and solutions. If you’re always making excuses for why you can’t achieve this or can’t accomplish that, you most likely are not fully committed to your desire and purpose. You also might be afraid of what will happen if you actually succeed.

2- Always accepting what is, instead of focusing on what could be. Clinging to what hasn’t worked will only continue a cycle of failure. One must accept change and see it as an opportunity for gain and not as the possibility for loss.

3- Always focusing on your weaknesses, instead of appreciating your gifts. We all have strengths and weaknesses; it’s a part of being human. No one is good at all things at all times. That’s why it is essential to identify your gifts and appreciate the unique value you provide.

4- Always staying within your comfort zone, instead of taking risks. In order to discover what is possible, we often have to venture into the impossible. And that can only happen when we choose to take the initiative to move beyond our comfort zone.

5- Always settling for what you can get, instead of fighting for what you want. People’s greatest limits are often self-imposed. Giving in to fear, loss and failure can prevent you from staying the course and reaching your ultimate goal. Too many people quit and give up right before they have achieved success.