Why Mastermind Groups are Perfect for Introverted Entrepreneurs

In my work with introverted entrepreneurs and career changers, I have noticed several common behavioural traits that cause people to fall short of doing what they say they want to do:

• A tendency to overthink,
• A need to be perfect, to be right, and to know (the answer, the outcome - preferably in advance),
• A reluctance to ask for help and a tendency to try to do everything on their own,
• A love for knowledge and information that can cause them to get sidetracked and distracted as they seek ever more "proof" to validate their opinion or understanding.

Each of these traits is sufficient to derail an individual from achieving their goals and desires, however well-intentioned or knowledgeable they may be. This is where a mastermind group can help.

According to Napoleon Hill in his book Think and Grow Rich, a mastermind group is “a friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.”

The purpose of the mastermind group is to:

• Create an environment that supports and nurtures growth,
• Provide accountability, and
• Organize useful knowledge that members can draw on

Most importantly, the mastermind group is where each mind stimulates all the other minds in the group.

In the past two years, I have been involved in two mastermind groups, as a member and as facilitator, and have found the experience enormously beneficial on a personal and professional level.

I will share just two examples of these benefits.

There is something deeply humbling yet motivating to know that my fellow members are ready to support me every step of the way as I pursue my business goals, and that I am committed 100% to doing the same for them. This support includes firmly but gently checking in on a regular basis to make sure that I am doing what I said I would do last week or last month, and that when I do stumble, encouragement and resources will be forthcoming with no judgment.

It is easy to make excuses when I'm by myself about why I didn't get a certain task done, or feel unmotivated about my tasks, but not so easy if I know that I have to tell someone else about it - and publicly acknowledge that I did not keep my end of the agreement. This is the power (and the beauty) of accountability.

As a business owner and sole trader, I am prone to bias, which may make me overly attached to a certain way of doing things or limit my ability to see the bigger picture. When a member of my mastermind group casts fresh eyes on my business, they not only see things I have missed, they also bring a creative and diverse perspective that has on many occasions resulted in solutions I would not have been able to come up with myself.

When like minds come together for a mutually beneficial purpose, each one gets to tap into the collective wisdom of the others, saving time and energy while generating more, and higher-quality, solutions, ideas, and options.

This, I believe, is what Napoleon Hill meant when he called the mastermind group "the principle through which you can accomplish in one year more than you could accomplish without it in a lifetime if you depended entirely on your own efforts for success".

Serena Low coaches introverted professionals who are ready to transition intentionally from working for others to creating a sustainable, purpose-driven, and values-focussed business and lifestyle.

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