Recently I picked up my copy of Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich. It is truly an amazing book, filled with a great deal of insight and practical advice. One particular chapter, chapter 10 drew me in once again. In this chapter, entitled “Power of the Master Mind” the “master mind” is defined as the ability to coordinate the knowledge and effort in the spirit of harmony between two or more people for the attainment of a specific purpose. He goes on to say that “No individual may have great power without availing himself of the “Master Mind.”
So what does that really mean? How does one develop a true “Master Mind” outlook to life? What Napoleon Hill is describing is the learned ability to adapt to a situation and make the most of the resources available to you. It is also about finding the balance between what you know, what your intellect tells you, and what is physically possible at the time. After all, you can know that your goal is to become a Fortune 500 company, but you might not have the resources to accomplish that goal by tomorrow.
The other aspect of this outlook is the ability to coordinate your efforts and insights with the people around you, and work together through a desired goal. Every person is unique, and can bring new abilities and insight that can be used to complete the task faster than one could do alone. A true “master mind” outlook will make it that much easier to recognize what needs to be done.
The trick is to find the people and the resources you need to accomplish your goal. One resource that is definitely worth a look is a group led by Carrie Wilkerson, otherwise known as the Barefoot Executive. She truly is an amazing woman, and well worth the effort it takes to follow her on Twitter. She can be found at @Barefoot_Exec.
The group meets just four times per year, plus there is a 90-minute conference call each month. During these times, ideas, and plans are shared, and each member is held accountable for progress on their goals. If you think about it, having a regular group to converse with and keep you on track is an extremely good practice. While you might not always agree with what they say, but the mere fact that they are willing to take the time and give you insight into your situation can speak volumes.
Proverbs 15:22 perhaps says it the best. “Without counsel, plans go awry. But in the multitude of counselors they are established.” The truth is, sometimes even an expert can be too close to a situation and not see different important aspects. It’s like taking a rock and peering at one nook by placing it close to your face. The rest of the rock, and how it can be used to help build the wall of your business can be lost to your view.
So no matter what you’re trying to do, or what dream your trying to realize, make sure you recognize the people and resources around you for the assets that they are. After all, when a group works towards a common goal, absolutely anything is possible.