On my brother’s blog, he’s started to discuss some of things he believes important in forming a master mind group. He asked me to check it out and give some input.

First off, here’s some of Napoleon Hill’s tips from Think And Grow Rich

• Ally yourself with a group of as many people as you may need for the creation, and carrying out of your plan, or plans for the accumulation of money…
• Before forming your “Master Mind” alliance, decide what advantages, and benefits, you may offer the individual members of your group, in return for their cooperation. No one will work indefinitely without some form of compensation. No intelligent person will either request or expect another to work without adequate compensation, although this may not always be in the form of money.
• Arrange to meet with the members of your “Master Mind” group at least twice a week, and more often if possible, until you have jointly perfected the necessary plan, or plans for the accumulation of money.
• Maintain PERFECT HARMONY between yourself and every member of your “Master Mind” group. If you fail to carry out this instruction to the letter, you may expect to meet with failure. The “Master Mind” principle cannot obtain where PERFECT HARMONY does not prevail.

In my mind, a master mind group is less about bonding (although you do need to be able to get along) and more about holding each other’s feet to the fire. There is no success without action.

I think one of the reasons Napoleon Hill suggests that you meet so often at first is just so that you can help each other brainstorm quickly and get a plan down so that you can get to the “doing” of your plan.

So what’s the most important attribute to develop if you want to be a part of a successful master mind group? I’d say listening. I’ve blogged about listening before, and it really is a lost art. After all, most people can work out a solution to whatever problem they have if they just get a chance to tell someone who’ll sit quietly and nod.

Advice is fine, but listening is divine.