The Power of a Mastermind Group.

I first got exposed to the concept of the mastermind from reading the classic book, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. He describes the mastermind as the “Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” In the past couple of years, I tried forming a mastermind with some friends but we were not able to stay consistent with it as life happened to us all. I have recently been exploring and seeing firsthand the power of the mastermind in my goal-setting journey.

Mastermind – Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.

Joining Masterminds

In 2022, I decided to join a running club and it was very transformative in my running adventure. I had always thought that someday I would run a major marathon such as the Boston Marathon. But when I started running with the Running Rats Running Club in downtown Toronto every Tuesday, my perception changed. I ran with people who had run the Boston Marathon multiple times, some were finishing a marathon in a time of 2 hours 30 minutes and most had lots of experience running. As a result of my running experience with the club members, I began to believe that I could qualify for the Boston Marathon and even run a sub-3 hours Marathon.

I have not yet achieved the sub-3 hours marathon time or qualified for the Boston Marathon yet but I am getting closer. In 2022, I ran six full marathons with a personal best of 3 hours 44 minutes.

In 2023, I ran nine full marathons and two half-marathons across all the Canadian provinces except Newfoundland. The 2023 Toronto Marathon, The 45th Stewart McKelvey Fredericton, New Brunswick Marathon, The Emera Blue Nose Halifax, Nova Scotia Marathon, The Servus Credit Union Calgary Marathon, Alberta, Calgary, The Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Marathon, Winnipeg, Manitoba, The 2023 GMS Queen City Marathon in Regina, Saskatchewan, The Quebec City Beneva Marathon, The Royal Victoria Marathon, and The Prince Edward Island Marathon. I was able to reduce my personal best to 3 hours and 20 minutes which is a reduction of 24 minutes in a calendar year.

It has not been easy executing the multiple marathon running challenges but I have learned a lot about myself and what is possible, if one puts their mind into achieving a goal. The conviction to go for the goal was entrenched in the running club as I was in close proximity with people who had achieved what I intended to pursue. That is the power of the mastermind, the members of the group push you knowingly or unknowingly. The experience with the running club was an eye-opener as I finally grasped what Napoleon Hill was referring to in his book and I have recently joined a Scrabble Club and a Swimming Club to further experiment with the concept of the mastermind.

A mastermind could come in different forms: A group of like-minded individuals, business professionals, and allies that meet regularly to achieve a common goal. An organization such as Toastmasters International is an example of a mastermind group. Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that builds confidence and teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of clubs that meet online and in person. The groups main purpose is to help individuals develop communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.

Meditation

Daily Calm with Tamara Levitt – Sati
Sati means Mindfulness in the Pali language. Mindfulness entails watching the breath and noticing body sensations. The original etymological meaning of Sati means remembering. Every moment of mindfulness is colored by the outlook we bring to it. Mindfulness practice requires us to recollect a special outlook on our experiences.

We try many ways to be awake, but our society still keeps us forgetful. Meditation is to help us remember. – Thich Nhat Hanh

Daily Jay with Jay Shetty – The Same Page
Setting Expectations: Constraints or Context.
Constraints Example: Setting meeting agenda for a meeting session.
Context: Before diving into a discussion, be sure to lay out the blueprint of the discussion.

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