| Once you know the purpose and type of | | | | groups. |
| mastermind group you wish to create, it's time to | | | | Ask, ask, ask everybody: " Who do you know |
| find, choose and invite prospective members. What | | | | that...?" |
| kind of qualities are you looking for? Start with | | | | You want to choose carefully and find the right fit, |
| yourself. Take a good look at what you are bringing | | | | but don't get stuck over-thinking this process. Often |
| to the table, not only in experience and skills, but also | | | | the best members for your group are closer than |
| values. A well-bonded mastermind group will often | | | | you think. |
| stay together for years while growing and evolving. | | | | How do you screen and invite prospective members? |
| The following is a list of qualities and traits to refer to | | | | Now that you have some good prospective |
| as a guideline when deciding who you want to invite | | | | members in mind and are convinced the person |
| into your own group. Use it as a starting point and | | | | would be right for your group, contact them by |
| add your own desired traits. | | | | phone, in person, or even by email if far away. |
| - Creative | | | | Explain the purpose of forming the mastermind, why |
| - Open | | | | you think they would be a great addition to the |
| - Positive | | | | group, and invite them to join you. |
| - Intuitive | | | | This is the first conversation with this person, and |
| - Supportive | | | | you are feeling pretty good but not 100 percent sure |
| - Committed | | | | yet that you want to issue an invitation. To further |
| - Confident | | | | qualify this potential member, use some of the |
| - Generous | | | | following questions. This isn't necessarily an interview |
| - Good listener | | | | or audition, especially from their point of view, so |
| - High integrity | | | | just work them into the conversation gently as |
| - Achievement oriented | | | | questions. If an assessment is something you want |
| - Willing to give and receiveWhere do you find this | | | | to use, feel free to help yourself to any of these |
| wonderful people? | | | | statements. |
| Everywhere. If the purpose for forming your | | | | |
| mastermind group is for personal reasons such as | | | | 1. I appreciate the value of brainstorming new ideas |
| pursuing a hobby, weight loss, self-improvement book | | | | with a trusted team. |
| group or creativity group, start with your friends and | | | | 2. I am willing to respect the privacy and protect the |
| neighbors. Even a family member may be a good | | | | confidentiality of the group members. |
| choice. If you can think of only one person who is a | | | | 3. I am open to learning from my peers. |
| good candidate, start there and put your heads | | | | 4. I am willing and able to give as much as I receive. |
| together to find more members. | | | | 5. I am committed to attending all meetings and |
| Draw from people in your work, school, church, | | | | treating them as a high priority. |
| fitness club or exercise class, chamber of commerce, | | | | 6. I am able and willing to give myself permission to |
| Rotary club, and other organizations you belong to. | | | | succeed. |
| Consider people you see regularly and are friendly | | | | 7. I am a person of my word and will take the |
| with in stores you frequent or other places you go, | | | | actions I say I will. |
| such as a dog park, farmers' markets or at concerts. | | | | 8. I see myself as a glass-half-full (positive) kind of |
| If you regularly run into some of the same people, it | | | | person.Next step, set a date for your first meeting |
| could be a sign you have similar interests. | | | | and start inviting. If you think some people have |
| Run a classified ad seeking mastermind members in a | | | | agreed to attend the first meeting to check it out |
| weekly lifestyle or entertainment paper, local | | | | first before committing to join for the long haul, then |
| newspaper, area business journal, an organization's | | | | invite more than your ideal size. You can then ask for |
| newsletter, or online at CraigsList.org or | | | | a firm commitment after everyone has had a taste |
| If you are open to a long-distance group, members | | | | of what the group is about, what the ground rules |
| can be located anywhere in the world as long as you | | | | are, and decided if it is a good fit for them. |
| can coordinate the meeting time to suit everyone. | | | | Enjoy the process. If a person doesn't fit for the |
| Do an Internet search in your area of interest or | | | | mastermind group, you still may have made a great |
| type of group you have in mind. Check the Yahoo | | | | new friend or business acquaintance. |