The Home of Steven Barnes
Author, Teacher, Screenwriter


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Mastering the Mastermind

If you lack knowledge or talent, there is only one thing I know of that can compensate for these things, if you desire success--and that is the Mastermind. A "Mastermind" is the coordinated effort of two or more people who are totally aligned in intent.

Re-read that sentence: A MASTERMIND IS THE COORDINATED EFFORT OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE TOTALLY ALIGNED IN INTENT.

So let's lay down some rules:

1) ONE PERSON. If you have no external partnerships, you must have yourself, conscious and (as much as possible) unconscious as ally. This is where goal-setting, meditation and journaling comes in. You must be certain you have internal and external permission to succeed, as well as clear goals and a sense of the road ahead.

2) TWO PEOPLE. Your primary "mastermind" should optimally be your intimate partner. Such a person, with whom you interact on all seven levels, is perfect, and to the degree possible, you should aspire to this. Nothing touches it. But if you can't turn your husband, wife or S.O., into this primary person, a close friend, business partner, or family member will suffice.

3) THREE PEOPLE. If you have three people all aligned, all committed, all seeing the same goal for their own personal reasons...you probably are on your way to success. But this is critical--don't add a third person unless you are totally aligned. Having Two aligned people is hugely better than three people who bicker, just as keeping your own counsel is better than sharing goals with someone who will try to tear you down.

4) FOUR PEOPLE. Brothers and sisters, if you can ever get to this level, you are entering the closest thing to a "sure thing" you can get. Frankly, I've never had a mastermind that large. It is foundational, and solid, and you can lose one person and still have a solid three-person mastermind. This should be your goal--not because you need it, but because IF you can ever get that far, you have soemthing extraordinary, and the process is purifying.

Those are the basics. We're going to apply them to family, writing, fitness, business...everything you want. Going right down the center of the issue: How do I create practical magic in my life?

Excelsior!

Steve

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