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Mastermind Groups:

Are You Missing Out?

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In May, 2013, I formed a mastermind group of six with the help of my colleague and friend, Trent Adams. It is not an exaggeration to say it was the best business decision made all year. Not only have we dissected each of our businesses in a grueling but highly-rewarding fashion that would make the Shark Tank venture capitalists proud, we have laughed together, challenged, and been there for each other through personal and business changes, crises, and triumphs.

Our rules were fairly simple:  Each person committed for three months to meeting for 90 minutes every Wednesday before work and 80% attendance was required, no exceptions. To our delight, it worked and all agreed to continue for at least a year. Today, we routinely turn down requests to join our group as word has got around that we have a good thing going.  Truly, we all feel as if our investment of time has become an almost unfair business advantage.  What’s more, it has been a commitment to myself and my business development, I wish I had implemented years ago.  This post is designed to explain a bit more about mastermind groups, in general, to help you decide if joining or starting one is right for you too.

If you haven’t heard much about mastermind groups yet, you will. Thanks, in part, to the praise they have been receiving from some of the top business podcasters, they are springing up everywhere these days. Mastermind groups are usually limited to a maximum of 8-10 people.​ While not a new phenomenon—Ben Franklin was in a Philadelphia group he called the “junto” (latin for “meeting”) for 37 years, they are experiencing a fresh, 21st century resurgence. Some take place in-person, others are made possible by fast web-based video and cheap phone connections. All are fueled by a growing understanding that collaboration with others is the primary way of succeeding in today’s interdependent marketplace.

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Posted on February 11, 2014 In Blog Post , ,
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Fire Your Excuses in the Media

January 7, 2014

Welcome Read to Lead Podcast listeners!

This week, Dr. Bill Dyment was Jeff Brown’s featured guest for Episode #024.

Click here to listen to the podcast

Click here to pick up your copy of Fire Your Excuses

To hear more of Jeff’s Podcast just click on the icon below:

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We are also grateful to Forbes:

Click here to read Forbes Article on Stress Management

Click here to read Forbes Article on Workplace Personality Style

Click here to read Forbes Article on Surviving a Bad Boss

Click here to read New Year’s Day Forbes Article on 2014 Personal Goal-Setting

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Will Your Face Limit Your Success?

November 5, 2013

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What happens to the “temperature” of the room when you walk in?

Andrea shuffles into the ballroom and sits a chair or two away from the nearest attendee. Her head down, she intently scrolls through her phone for a last minute message or two.  A few moments later, she looks up and we greet her with a hello and a quick introduction. She politely responds and instantly resumes her typing. At that moment, Pam enters. Picking up the presentation materials and scanning the room for her preferred seat, she chooses one four rows from the front.  Warmly, she introduces herself and says, “I am so looking forward to this. I hope we have a great turnout.  We really need to hear this.”  Immediately, those nearby turn toward her and begin to engage in conversation.  She smiles broadly and laughs easily. Maybe, she is their manager, we guess. We soon learn we are wrong. Pam is a new hire.  In fact, Andrea, who remains isolated by a wide buffer of empty chairs, is her boss.

Researchers have known for some time that those who express a joyful spirit also have the most influence, be it in a boardroom or among a group of friends. It is important to note that a warm or cold demeanor is something separate from one’s extrovert or introvert personality leanings. Case in point: Some of our most encouraging participants, never say a word throughout our seminars but their body language, facial expressions and eye contact exude openness and warmth.

In a fascinating study, father of positive psychology, Dr. Martin Seligman, along with Harold Zullow examined the outcome of 10 presidential elections. With the exception of the 1968 campaign, November’s winner was the more optimistic one; even if he trailed in the polls! (see link)

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Thank You October 25th Fire Your Excuses Seminar Attendees

October 31, 2013

Thank you to all the mental health and addiction professionals who attended our October 25th Fire Your Excuses continuing education seminar. A big thank you also to our sponsors:

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Weaknesses-The Ultimate Motivator?

October 10, 2013

In Chapter One of Fire Your Excuses, “Blind Spots and Weaknesses,” we write: “Having a weakness is not the same thing as an excuse, not doing anything about it, is! John Wooden said it best, ‘Don’t let what you can’t do keep you from doing what you can.'”

Our challenge is two-fold:  First, to honestly and accurately define our weaknesses. Then, second, to courageously seek out that one thing we can start to do, even this week, to begin the journey of turning that weakness into an emerging strength.

In the clip below, Kevin Gaffney shares about his battle with Multiple Sclerosis, also known as “MS.”  Instead of allowing the challenges that many face with this disease to bring him down, Kevin founded, TEAM CRASH, a bike team that rides annually to raise money to find a cure for MS. Over time, Kevin has turned his weakness into a strength, and in so doing, empowered himself and many others to ride into their illness head on. Kevin is quick to add, “I ride because I can.” And each of us, inspired by his actions, must consider, “How about us?”

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Fire Your Age-Related Excuses: [Video] 54-Year-Old Stuns ‘X-Factor’ Judges

Have you been using your age as an excuse not to pursue your “calling,” passion or career?

The truth is some are “winding it down” and others are looking ahead for their next challenge.  What about you?

If you feel like there’s a big song still left in you, find someone your age or older for inspiration who is not being held back by the calendar and model your life after their courage. There are many ways to be 30, 50 even 80 and you get to choose.

Posted on September 16, 2013 In Blog Post
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Join us for our Fullerton Barnes & Noble Book Signing (2-4 p.m.) and Mastermind Dinner (4-5:15 p.m.) Saturday, September 14th.

August 27, 2013

 

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Saturday September 14th: Fullerton Barnes & Noble Book Signing-Fire Your Excuses (2-4 p.m.) immediately followed by a Mastermind Dinner.

Author Signing Event and Mastermind Dinner–the details

1. Meet Dr. Bill Dyment and Dr. Marcus Dayhoff, authors of Fire Your Excuses, at our book signing from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Barnes & Noble Fullerton, Amerige Heights Town Center, 1923 West Malvern Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92833, 714-871-9855

2. Immediately following (at 4:00 p.m.) head over to Souplantation in the same Amerige Heights Town Center plaza and join us for our Mastermind dinner.

Dinner is on you, the FREE coaching question and answer mastermind session is on us!

Why attend?  Do you have a question you would like to ask us for free? Perhaps, you have a personal challenge or business, or book idea you would like assistance getting off the ground. Then, come join us for our coaching mastermind dinner and ask away!  Bring a friend who is ready to change his or her life.

Let us point you in the right direction, hear the experiences of others, and meet new like-minded friends.

Here are the top questions we are asked these days:

  • How can I most rapidly transition into a new career or better job?
  • How can I develop a personal brand, and distinguish myself from everyone else?
  • How can I pursue my goals when I have a job, kids and responsibilities?
  • How can I also write and publish a book?
  • How can I become a paid speaker?
  • How can I permanently change a habit once and for all?
  • How can I motivate my son or daughter?
  • What can I do to earn extra money using the internet?
  • Where can I find the very best free information, mentors, and inspiration to help me make a huge change?

We’ll be there for dinner from 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. to answer your specific questions.  You can ask us anything we are typically asked as coaches but for free!

Barnes & Noble Store Directions

http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/4560431

Special Bonus Offer!

Be one of the first three to purchase a book at our Barnes & Noble book signing for you or your friends and receive a free one-hour coaching session, a $150.00 value!

 

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Posted on August 15, 2013 In Blog Post , , ,
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Will Your “Persistence” Ever Light Up a Room?

August 12, 2013 — Leave a comment

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Are you persistent? Do you give up after the first failed attempt? How about after several setbacks or negative comments about you or your idea? Success often comes with a price paved with long hours, hard work and persistence to see the job through. Recent data analysis suggests the average entrepreneur will fail three times before succeeding and has an 18% chance of succeeding on the first try.

Consider how much time it took to invent the light bulb.

“Most of us grew up believing that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. The truth is, he didn’t. What he did do was invent the first long-lasting light bulb, greatly improving on the work of others, and making it a commercial success. One thing that can be observed in all of the men who helped bring us electricity was their dogged determination. Joseph Wilson Swan was one of Edison’s predecessors and is credited with inventing the world’s first workable electric bulb. Beginning in 1840, he toiled for twenty years until, in 1860, he created and patented the first electric bulb which only burned briefly. Returning to his project in 1875, he achieved a better result—a bulb that burned for thirteen hours. Edison and his assistants tried 6,000 different types of filament before, in 1879, they surpassed Swan’s result. They designed a longer-lasting oxygen-less bulb with a carbon filament that burned fourteen hours. A year later, in 1880, Edison’s team came up with a vastly improved bulb that burned between 1,200 to 1,500 hours, which they took to market. As they say, the rest is history.

We can certainly admire such celebrated determination and spectacular results, but what about you? Would you try anything 6,000 times before you gave up? How about 2,000? How about twenty? What’s the most number of times you have tried anything before you finally succeeded? What did you attempt? How many times did you try?”

Excerpted from Fire Your Excuses.

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Join Us at the Local Author’s Festival in Orange, CA. This Saturday, July 27, 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

July 22, 2013

If you’re in the Orange, CA area this coming Saturday, July 27, please drop by and say, “Hi.” We will be joining 20 other local authors at the beautiful Orange Public Library & History Center for their annual Local Author’s Festival. We’ll be promoting and signing our book, Fire Your Excuses.

Click here for details!

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Does Your “Social Network” Support Your Success?

July 1, 2013
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Mark has 355 LinkedIn friends and 453 Facebook friends.  He is an active member of two professional groups, attends church weekly, coaches his son’s soccer team, and gets along well with his colleagues at work. So, when we ask him to name his closest friends, we are a bit surprised by his response.  Mark becomes thoughtful and quiet for a moment. Then he mentions a group of friends he sees a couple of times a month, and eventually names two people he would consider close. Suddenly he is a bit embarrassed.  Despite being focused in many areas of his work and home life, it is clear to him that he has not given his core network much attention or strategy.

Recent studies underscore that the people with whom we surround ourselves have a tremendous influence on who we will become and what we will achieve. Our closest online and face-to-face connections powerfully influence our career success, health, finances, even our charitable involvement and generosity towards others. When we do not give careful attention to choosing those who will influence us the very most, we can unwittingly set ourselves up for a significant, continuing, disadvantage in life.  In one fascinating study, Nicolas Christakis reported that if your friend grows obese, you have a 57% chance of becoming obese yourself during the same time period!

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