The Benefits of a Mastermind Group

One of the ways I've benefited most from this community of women is having the opportunity to join a mastermind group. Ever heard of one? I've got to admit, the first time I heard of a "mastermind group" I couldn't help but think of Pinky and the Brain, those mice who were always scheming to take over the world... but, it's not that. Promise.

I first heard of the concept from Jessi and Hayley before The Influence Network even existed. They were both involved with a group of women that met on a weekly basis over Google Chat to discuss each other's goals related to blogging, business, and life. It was a way for them to stay accountable with their on and offline lives, to throw strategic ideas around with a group of like-minded women, and to have a safe place to lay out prayer requests with one another. Once The Influence Network was created, a discussion was started in the forums for members to form their own mastermind groups and connect on an even more personal level with women from our community. It was incredible to watch strangers in a new place reaching out and getting excited to form their own group with 4 to 6 other women.

Now, I'm going to be honest here. At first, the idea of committing to a group for blog accountability scared me. It sounded like a big step to take in order to be more responsible with my online space, to ask for help with finding my voice, and strive to be intentional with my blog during a season of slacking and feeling burnt out.

Being intentional, accountable, and responsible - all great things for someone looking to use their voice for God, right? Well, it scared me.

But, relationship-building? I could do that. That sounded much easier. I could totally see myself meeting with a group of women several times a month to talk life, provide prayer, and encourage each other. So, I decided to take a risk and join a group of women who were looking to use their blogs and businesses as a tool to spread the Gospel. I figured their creativity and fresh ideas could possibly rub off on me.

I've now been meeting twice a month with some lovely Influence Network members: Lindsey, Kim, Jessi, and Lindsay. I now look back at the fear I once had about joining an influential group of gals and wonder why we didn't start it sooner. Being connected and sharing life with these women has been one of the highlights of my year. It's been a blessing to know that twice a month, while my children are napping, I'm able to sit on my couch and chat with some beautiful souls for an hour. The conversation is different every time we chat, but we're always left feeling clear-headed and motivated about our passions and goals when our meeting is over. There will be occasions where we only discuss life and times where we structure our chat more around our online spaces. We've come to meetings with a list of questions to answer about being strategic with our voices and times where we've met with nothing to talk about in particular other than babies.

During our chats, we've been able to discuss topics like healthy blog growth, share wisdom on how to create a community within our own blogs, and provide ideas on how to better serve our blog sponsors. We've critiqued each other's handmade shops, thought of blog posts to write during dull seasons, and have shared ideas on managing our time well. It's refreshing knowing that during those chats, I can throw out questions, burdens, and encouragement with a group of women who understand and support who I am as a mom, wife, friend, blogger, and business owner.

Are you part of a mastermind group? If so, what has been the most beneficial aspect of meeting intentionally with your group of women?

If you are not part of a mastermind group, but would love to join one, throw out your name and information on in The Influence Network forums. Other women are in your shoes and currently looking to connect even more personally within our community. This could be the perfect opportunity to make your online life mean something.