| Mastermind vs Networking |
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| Written by Daine Bogino |
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Mastermind: Napoleon Hill, author of the best seller, Think and Grow Rich defined a mastermind group as: “Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” This idea has it roots all the way back to ancient times. Hill, however, is given credit for the term “mastermind.” Benjamin Franklin had a group called, Junto. Who would think that in this technological explosion we live in something so old would be useful today? Everything Old Becomes New Again We live in the age of instant and speed. We want faster internets, speedier downloads, and we communicate instantly via MP3s, PDAs, and email. What purpose can a mastermind serve since it commands change over time and we have to sit face-to-face and talk to one another? Well actually you can join mastermind groups on the internet but I would prefer seeing the person I’m speaking with. Yes, yes, I know, with a web cam, you can even do that! Nothing can take the place of direct human contact and the intimacies it can create. This is not a sexual thing, but rather the blending and bonding of human spirits, emotions, and trust. These “old ideas,” like the mastermind, may become “new” again. In all this talk and tangle of technology, there has come change that presents the lure of personal development to unprecedented numbers of people. And it’s doing it at a speed Benjamin Franklin could only have dreamed about. Exposure and Change Not only are more generations being exposed to personal development, more people in those generations are being exposed to it and of course there are more people to expose it to. Now couple all of these people with the change that’s happening in the corporate world and you have a whole new movement, uh, that is with an old concept. What’s this big change in business? Just as the Industrial Revolution made an impact on business so today is the “success movement” having an impact on individuals and organizations. The focus of business is changing from the “inner workings” of its organization to the “inner workings” of its employees. Just learning skills, being proficient with tasks, and understanding processes is not enough. Employers now know that people not only need to develop skills, but themselves as well. Personal development creates ideas of success and successful thinking. This in turn leads to stability, inner satisfaction, and an even higher regard for the employer. This personal development idea proves to be a winning situation for all concerned. What “ingredients” go into personal development? (to be continued)
For additional information contact Diane Bogino (This is the first of several articles discussing mastermind groups and networking!) |