The tools you need to run a successful mastermind group all depend on your group’s format and structure. A group that meets primarily in-person may not use any technology at all, whereas a group that meets online will never have to rent space. Keep it simple for your sake and for the members’ sake. Don’t add things that are unnecessary to fulfilling your group’s purpose, vision, and mission.
Resources For Online Webinars
Google Hangouts: Google Hangouts is a free application with your Gmail account that allows you to host video conference calls. With Hangouts you can share your screen with attendees as well.
WebinarJam: WebinJam is an app that layers on top of Google Hangout to offer more community engagement like chatting, polls, and offers during your webinar. It also has backend tools that automate reminders and track attendance.
Free Conference Call: Free Conference Call gives you a toll free number to host an audio-only conference call that can also be recorded. You can mute or unmute guests for live Q&A as well.
Resources For Member Growth
The stronger your membership is, the stronger you group becomes. So helping them grow is imperative. Here are some resources to help facilitate that.
The Entrepreneurial Profile 10: This $10 test is based on Gallup’s research on what make entrepreneurs successful and it will show you how you rank in these 10 key areas.
The Gallup StrengthsFinder: For only $15, this quick assessment will help you identify your top 5 strengths and give you recommendations on how to build your life and work around them.
Myers Briggs Test: The MBTI is the best known and most trusted personality assessment in the world. From developing more effective work teams, to building stronger families, to creating more successful careers, the MBTI assessment can improve the quality of life for you and your organization.
Resources For Online Community Development
BuddyPress: BuddyPress is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create a social network in minutes. You can find various themes on ThemeForest.net to customize your community’s look, feel, and functionality.
Wishlist Member: Wishlist Member is a powerful, yet easy to use membership solution that can turn any WordPress site into a full-blown membership site. A single site license costs $197.
MemberMouse: MemberMouse is an easy to use WordPress membership plugin that allows you to sell products, subscriptions and memberships, setup a password protected member’s area, offer 1-click upsells and downsells, manage customers, automate customer service, track critical retention metrics and more. No matter where you’re starting from, MemberMouse has the power you need to maximize revenue and get your business running like a well-oiled machine.
Resources For Finding Venues
AirBnB: AirBnB is a great option. There are tons of cool spaces always readily available. Just let the host know that you won’t be staying the night and that you just want to use the space for a meeting with a certain number of guests. Most host will be accommodating.
Hotels: Hotels have plenty of conference rooms that can sized according to your group dynamics. You have have chairs only, rectangular tables, or circular tables. If members are coming from out of town, you can get a group rate for them to stay there as well.
Living Room: Don’t overthink it. Sometimes your living room is enough. If you have a small group that is local, your living room can be the perfect safe space for your mastermind group to meeting and connect.
Office: Sometimes you can give a member a discount if they have office space that you can use to host a meeting in the evening and/or on weekends.
Restaurant: If your living room is not big enough, consider renting out the upstairs or back room or a restaurant just like many weddings do. Some restaurants have great space and your food and drinks will be taken care of so you have one less thing to worry about.