In the early 1920’s, six men in Chicago (later referred to as the Big 6) formed a group that met once a week over dinner. At the time their names would have been unimportant, today we know that each of them went on to be hugely successful; thanks largely in part to the company they kept, proving that like-minded, goal-oriented individuals can radically influence each others success. The members included Charles Wrigley (the owner of the Wrigley chewing gum company), William Hertz and William Ritchie (the founders of the Yellow Cab Company), Albert Lasker (the owner of the Lord and Thomas Ad Agency (which was at that time, the largest ad agency in the world), John R. Thompson (the owner of a chain of successful lunch rooms) and Andrew Carnegie (who amongst other impressive endeavors, founded and owned the Carnegie Steel Company, a business that was worth millions). These men adhered to Napoleon Hill’s belief that “When a group of individual brains are co-coordinated and function in harmony, the increased energy created through that alliance becomes available to every individual brain in the group.”

Other mastermind groups include Presidents and their advisors, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Walt Disney and his brother Roy, and Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Being famous however, is not a prerequisite; consider a group of students studying together for finals or a board of directors meeting.

Organizing a mastermind group is relatively simple. The key factor is to establish a protocol before the group is formed. Ask yourself what it is that you would like to achieve and then turn your attention to the people who you believe can help you attain that goal. Each member requires his or her own personal or business mission to accomplish and, the time in which to devote to that objective. Each person’s participation is essential, whether the members meet in person or via telephone or on line. Peers give feedback, brainstorm new possibilities and set up accountability guidelines that keep the meetings focused. In addition, it is important that the participants trust one another implicitly in order to create an environment that is safe and non-judgmental. Gary Ralston, a senior business consultant at Ralston Consulting in Ohio says, “Trust deepens as the group forms. Confidentiality, like a water-tight bond, is the most important part of mastermind groups.”