I recently delivered a presentation at the Galloping Governors Toastmasters Club on becoming a speaking entrepreneur. At the end of the presentation, I pointed out the importance of being in a mastermind.

In Chapter 10 of his classic self-development book Think and Grow Rich , Napoleon Hill defines the Mastermind as: “Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”

After the meeting where I delivered my presentation, a friend from the Galloping Governors Toastmasters Club, Lynne Strang, sent me a message about an article she authored on the Mastermind for Toastmasters Magazine: The Value of Mastermind Groups. It is an excellent read if you want to advance your career. It will save you years of effort.

Below are my thoughts on how joining a mastermind group can help you.

Knowledge of others

Brian Tracy says we could live to a hundred years and still not gather the knowledge we need to succeed unless we tap the wisdom of others.

Knowledge from others can take many forms – reading and listening to books, listening to podcasts, viewing videos, reading and contributing to social media, etc.

However, there is another way to obtain knowledge from others that may be the fastest – a Mastermind Group.

In sync with Napoleon Hill’s original intention of Masterminds, they allow you to coordinate your and others’ knowledge and effort. A spirited debate with other like-minded people breeds harmony, with harmony opening areas of discussion.

It is also important to note that Masterminds are not just discussion groups. They have a definite purpose – to advance the careers of their members.

Knowledge of others saves you valuable time. So don’t ignore others’ wisdom.

You can think of your Mastermind as an implementation of the Corridor Principle.

Corridor Principle

In the 1980s, Professor Robert Ronstadt of Babson College espoused the Corridor Principle. The Corridor Principle states that “the mere act of starting a venture enables entrepreneurs to see other venture opportunities they could neither see nor take advantage of until they had started their initial venture.”

Even though Professor Ronstadt was referring to entrepreneurship, the Corridor Principle directly applies to Masterminds.

Imagine you enter a corridor with doors on each side that open and present new opportunities. The analogy is your Mastermind is the corridor, and what the members of the Mastermind share are the doors opening with opportunities. You would not have seen these doors of opportunities without first entering the corridor (your Mastermind).

A key ingredient of making the most of your Mastermind is ensuring you are “walking in the right corridor.” Therefore, your highest priority should be determining your highest definite purpose in your speaking career.

If your definite purpose is to expand your speaking business, don’t expect wisdom on this from a Mastermind concerning writing mystery novels. Choose your Mastermind wisely.

For the simple price of providing your wisdom, a Mastermind offers you the insight of other Mastermind members.

Use the Corridor Principle to expand your opportunities in your speaking business.

So, the wisdom of others and the implementation of the Corridor Principle can propel your speaking to new heights.

Your Mastermind group also provides accountability which also adds to your speaking success.

Accountability

Have you ever started a book and did not finish it? Unfortunately, there was no one to make sure you finished the book.

You may also start things in your business and not finish them. We call that the “Shiny Object” syndrome. You are constantly chasing the latest business tool, reading the latest business book or the latest small business course seeking ways to accelerate your speaking business success.

One of the most valuable things you get from a Mastermind is accountability.

When you state your goals with deadlines to your Mastermind Group members, it motivates you to finish your goal on time.

You also contribute to your Mastermind group by holding others accountable for their goals and deadlines.

The recognition you receive from other Mastermind group members after you achieve one of your goals will also motivate you to achieve your succeeding goals.

Your Mastermind provides you with the wisdom of others, automatically implements the Corridor Principle, and provides accountability, all of which adds to your speaking success.

If you are serious about succeeding in your speaking business, join or start a Mastermind!

Call to Action

• Join a Mastermind and use the wisdom of others to accelerate your speaking success

• Implement the Corridor Principle in your life to discover hidden “doors of opportunities”

• Use accountability from your Mastermind to finish what you start in your speaking.

Frank DiBartolomeo is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and award-winning speaker, presentation and interview skills coach, and Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. He was awarded Toastmasters International’s highest individual award, Distinguished Toastmaster because of his outstanding work in public speaking and leadership.

Frank formed DiBartolomeo Consulting International (DCI), LLC (www.speakleadandsucceed.com) in 2007. The mission of DCI is to help technical professionals to inspire, motivate, and influence their colleagues and other technical professionals by improving their presentation skills, communication, and personal presence. Reach Frank at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com and (703) 509-4424.

Don’t miss Frank DiBartolomeo’s latest book!

“Speak Well and Prosper: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Better Presentations”

Available now at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com