Last month’s newsletter mentioned the new “Masterminding” programme I was going to launch in January. Here are the details of a very exciting programme, which is going to be hugely beneficial and will really help many company owners and directors generate more independence in their businesses and lives.

First of all some background information…

I first came across the Mastermind idea about ten years ago when I read Napoleon Hill’s classic book “Think and Grow Rich”. The basic concept is that one is as successful as the peer group you belong to and the circles you mix with. Obvious but when you are firefighting and dealing with floods of emails, cashfow and messages, it isn’t something that one remembers. After interviewing many successful business people in the US, Napoleon Hill developed this into what he called the “Mastermind” group, where a group of business people met each month to discuss how they can best help and support each other, find solutions to challenges, learn from others wisdom and experience, and progress the implementation of each other’s action plans.

I first came across the UK version of the “Masterminding” programmes eight months ago when I discovered “Beyond Excellence” in Kent and Yorkshire. I got really excited about this, as I had previously had experience of running a similar business development programme few years ago in Corby. As an added bonus the “Masterminding” programme allows me to offer a very effective tool for those who appreciate the massive collegiate, melting pot process involved with this sort of inter-action between peers to move their business forward”. Basically the “Masterminding” programme provides an opportunity for up to twelve like minded business people, from a range of sectors and sizes of business, to take time out once a month to focus on working on their business in a friendly, confidential and supportive environment. Through their combined knowledge and experience, members help each other to focus, find solutions, address challenges, sound out new ideas, increase motivation and commit to action. The thing is when you have twelve committed people sitting round a table from different sectors, backgrounds and jobs you have up to four hundred years of combined wisdom, knowledge and experience in business and life that can resolve any challenge.

Most issues you come across in business – maybe even a personal issue – will have cropped up at some time for others around the table and in this present economic climate it is absolutely invaluable for those who have never been through rocky times to find people around with some grey hair who have. The sessions include tools and strategies to help accelerate business growth and development, and powerful exercises to help participants focus and get things in perspective. Finally experience has taught me that it is all very well having action plans created at a well presented workshop, but the proof of the pudding is the implementation and so there are also individual mentoring sessions in between the monthly sessions, to help members with the difficult bit of implementation.

I am planning on launching two groups – one in Derby, based at the brand new Cathedral Quarter Hotel and the other in Coventry, whose location is still not finalised. The inaugural launch of the Derby “Mastermind” programme will be held on March 18th at the beautifully restored Cathedral Quarter Hotel, which by the way is the only four star hotel in the city centre - with the first programme being held on April 16th at the same location. The launch in Coventry will be on April 8th at the brand new IT Suite in the Coventry Motor Museum. The launch will be by invitation only due to space limitation and so if you are interested in some independence and thriving along with another eleven other dedicated business peers at the beginning of this great journey, please fill in this form.

When planning the MasterMinding group I was very mindful that time is always a critical factor for anyone running a business - owners and directors. So prior to meeting on March 18th at the launch, I’d be grateful if you could give me an idea of your present business situation by answering a couple of questions below… if time is pressing please just complete these three contact detail boxes…

Your name*

The best telephone number to get you

Your email*

1. What is the most burning issue that you are faced with at this moment i.e. Sales, Marketing, HR, communication, credit control, Costs, Margins…………………………………………………………………………..?

2. What is the one thing that you want to develop, launch, change or improve in 2009 i.e. new products, better leadership, succession, exit strategy, partnerships..……………………………………………………….?

Many thanks for your time and I will be back in touch within the next 24 hours. I look forward to meeting you in person on March 18th at 10am at the fabulously refurbished and recently opened Cathedral Quarter Hotel, St Mary’s Gate, Derby to discuss your goals and later possibly their implementation in more detail at the “Masterminding” group meeting starting on April 22nd.

©William Barron MBA MPNLP MAC

Creating Insight January 10 2009

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