The Role of Masterminds in Your Personal Development Journey

I believe that masterminds are an important part of personal development. The reason mastermind group coaching is so powerful is that they provide you with support and accountability. Not only are there other people who spur you on…but you have the chance to invest in others. 

What Are Masterminds?

A mastermind group can take many forms, and everyone does things differently. But, essentially, a mastermind is a group of people that band together and strive to reach a common goal. These goals usually have to do with either personal growth or professional growth, or both. 

Some groups go on trips together, others have weekly calls, and some do specific activities together as a small group on an ongoing basis. Masterminds naturally play into our human instincts because we were created to live in a community with others. And it’s important to choose the people you enter into community with wisely. Like Jim Rohn says, you are the average of the 5 people you hang out with. So, you want to make sure your closest community is made up of others that model the kind of life you want.

How Masterminds Help With Your Personal Development Journey

When joining a mastermind group of other like-minded people, you are all going to grow together. Here are a few ways I’ve found that masterminds have helped with my personal development:

1. Accountability

The purpose of the group is to keep each other in check. Some weeks, you’ll be checking in with the other people around you, and other weeks, they’ll check in with you. There are people that will say, “Hey, did you do the thing you set out to do this week? What progress did you make?” They take interest in what your personal life goals are. 

2. Shared Interests and Goals

It’s important to join a mastermind with people that have a shared interest. Maybe they want to increase their income, have more impact in the world, be a better spouse or parent, etc. Whatever the shared interest is, it usually means that the people around you have similar goals to you. There are many great benefits of a mastermind group.

It’s nice being around people that have the same interests as you. You have no choice but to feel inspired and grow in the areas that are important to you…because others are doing the same thing. And, a lot of times, other people have the same questions and problems you have. So, simply having conversations with like-minded people can keep you motivated.

3. Motivating and Inspiring

I have written about resistance before…which is your brain’s way of keeping you in the status quo. Being around other people that are trying to reach the same goals will push you. There will be people in your group that are doing bigger things than you are currently doing, which helps you see what can be accomplished and inspires you to push harder.

For me, being around others pushes me to be a better person, father, boss, and influencer. The accountability, influence, and pressure from others cause me to take action. Joining a mastermind group has been a great influence in my life. 

4. Pushes You Outside of Your Comfort Zone

I found that another benefit of masterminds is that it pushes you out of your comfort zone. For example, the group members in my mastermind have weekly calls. I wanted to contribute to the calls, but it felt uncomfortable for me to give advice. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone to do that. 

Also, on the weekly calls, I’m a part of, I have to be the person who shares what’s on my mind. It’s kind of like public speaking…which caused me to get used to talking in front of others. I end up in a lot of conversations that I wouldn’t normally be a part of because of my mastermind. 

How The Iron Sharpens Iron Mastermind Works

I joined the Iron Sharpens Iron Mastermind a few years ago. It’s led by Aaron Walker, creator of View From The Top. I joined this group because it had a lot of the things I was looking for. I wanted to be part of something that helped develop you personally and professionally, had weekly meetings, focused on reading good books, and held in-person meetups. 

To paint a better picture of what masterminds do, here’s a look at how my Iron Sharpen Irons group works. 

Weekly Zoom Calls

Every week during work hours, I get on a zoom call with my pod (10 other guys), and we spend an hour in our meeting. For the first 30 minutes, we go over our wins, goals, tips, tricks, and other resources. Then, we make 2 guys a week the man in the middle. We give them 15 minutes to talk about whatever is on their mind. This could be a problem they are dealing with, the feedback they want, marriage advice, or whatever they are thinking about. 

Book Club

There is a book reading club that meets 2 times a month to discuss the current book the group is reading. For example, we’re currently reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If you’re interested in the book, you can join in the discussion, but it’s not mandatory.

In-Person Meetings

Two times a year, we get together for a two-day retreat. During the retreat, there are sessions, networking opportunities, and different exercises that help us get to know others in the group. This is also a great opportunity to meet other business owners.

Monthly Speakers

Once a month, a speaker will do a webinar on a specific topic. It usually coincides with the book we are reading in the book club. 

How to Pick a Mastermind Group That’s Right For You

Start by getting an idea of what the group could look like or what you’d like to do in that group. The chances are that there is a mastermind that functions in a similar way to what you are envisioning. I knew I wanted to be with a group that was full of entrepreneurs and met on a weekly basis. For you, it could be a group that goes white-water rafting, watches movies, learns a new skill, etc. 

What’s most important is that you find a way to get plugged into a community of people that are like-minded. It will help you reach your personal and professional goals faster when you have group members that are spurring you on. When you find a mastermind group that speaks to your needs, you will be able to watch yourself flourish.

Key Take Aways

• We are meant for community, so it’s important to find one we can join. 
• Masterminds provide accountability and support, as well as help you get out of your comfort zone. 
• Find a group of like-minded people that will inspire you to take action. 
• Community and relationships are essential to personal growth.