First Public Library

MasterMind Groups That Change the World
By Keith MacLean

Subscribing to the old adage “two minds are better than one”, mastermind groups employ the use of like-minded people who come together to challenge one another, create and implement objectives, and to brainstorm ideas in order to support each other in the pursuit of a common goal. Like rungs on a ladder, each member of a mastermind group aids and sustains the others in his or her climb towards their objective.

Mastermind groups were formerly introduced by Napoleon Hill, an American author and one of the first pioneers of the “self help” genre. His book “Think and Grow Rich” is one of the best selling of all time. Hill states that mastermind groups are “the coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work towards a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony.”

Although Hill may have been the first to coin the term “mastermind group” these kinds of assemblies have been in effect throughout the existence of humanity. Socrates’ academy fits the definition as does Jesus and his twelve disciples. The Great Pyramid builders would also have been a mastermind group. Using the skills of architects, astronomers, mathematicians, scientists, designers and a force of four thousand general laborers, these builders used the strengths of many to reach their famous and impressive goal.

In the early 1700’s, Ben Franklin purveyed one of the most socially relevant mastermind groups of that time. Commonly called the Leather Apron Club and officially termed the Junto, this group of young men who had no financial or social advantages, met weekly to discuss subjects such as philosophy, morals, economics and politics. It was comprised of enterprising tradesmen and artisans who adhered to the belief that each of them had something to teach and to learn. The group was in effect for forty years and eventually became the American Philosophical Society, the works of which are still evident today. The group was responsible for the implementation of the first public library, volunteer fire departments, the first public hospital, police departments, and even paved streets.