What is MASTERMIND?
Mastermind is by no means NEW. It was in the Mid-1930’s whilst Napoleon Hill was researching Business Success for Carnegie that he discovered and first coined the phrase. But it was also during the period Albert Einstein concluded “You will never overcome a problem, using the same level of thinking that created it!”
Hill learnt whilst interviewing some of the world’s most successful business leaders. That rather than being exceptionally secretive about them, their business, their journey. The business owners had set aside secrecy by acknowledging Einstein’s statement and collaborating with others.
A generation later, Jim Rohan had taken this a stage further, when he was quoted as stating “You are the sum of the 5 people you are influenced by the most!”
Hill challenged the popular quote “A problem shared, is a problem halved” by determining the only way this was factually correct, was if a person with a problem, shared it with one other. With whom agreed they would both halve the problem and work to resolve it.
i.e. I have 4 tonnes of coal to transport from A to B, and require it to be there by tomorrow evening. My cart only carried ½ a tonne, and the journey takes 6Hrs. My problem determines I cannot transport 4 tonnes in the time it is required to be there.
Solution: I also have a cart, which carried ½ tonne also. I will transport 2 tonnes, and you can transport the other 2 tonnes, and collectively we can meet the deadline.
Yes, the problem is resolved, but only by sharing the load. This defies Einstein’s theory of problem resolution and supports Rohan’s statement of influence.
However, Hill determined if you share a problem with one other, who subsequently during conversation sparks new thoughts and idea’s and during that discussion both parties begin to RAISE the level of conversation to a level that neither would have individually thought of the solution, this level of thinking became know as a MASTER MIND. A Combination of thoughts, idea’s experience and ability that would otherwise have never been achieved.
Now add a third, fourth, fifth person to the equation!
By coming together, and working collaboratively to listen, consider and discuss ANY problem. We are using the shared thoughts, idea’s qualifications, experiences of everyone present. And through SHARED thinking, comes a solution no ONE individual are ever likely to have considered. – MASTERMIND.
What is Explorer Mastermind?
My TrueNORTH host a series of Explorer Mastermind programmes. For established business owners looking to SCALE their business.
“I’ve been ‘involved’ in Mastermind most of my adult life. Both during and post Military Service.” – Jay Allen, Founder
Explorer Mastermind meet every 8 weeks for 24Hrs! It’s an integral part of Mastermind that you have built sufficient rapport with your fellow master minders that you are willing and able to share the REAL problems, concerns, difficulties that you face. “You only ever get out, what your willing to put in. And so, you have to be willing to share all if you expect others to do so also.” Jay explains.
Meeting the ‘night before’ for a private dinner, gives everyone the opportunity to talk openly about what they have been working on since last we met, and re-builds the rapport and trust sufficiently that coming to the boardroom table you are able to talk openly about the things you will benefit the most from sharing with other dedicated business owners to benefit from their help, support, knowledge, experience, qualification to overcome.
How does your mastermind Differ from others?
GREAT question. I don’t ever pretend we have the only solution. There are several mastermind groups available to business owners, from peer-to-peer advisory groups to more structured offerings. And I know and happy to admit, ours in not for all. It takes a certain type of business owner to be willing to share their business to the level required to benefit from what we have to offer, and for some they are either not comfortable with or willing to be that open.
Having previously served for 12+ years in a progressive and successful military career. And as the author of the award-winning book – Battlefield2Boardroom. I have witnessed first-hand (both within my own businesses and in supporting other business owners) to significance of my Military background, and the transferable skills to growing and scaling a successful business.
We have therefore, THEMED, each of our Mastermind sessions around various aspects of commanding a military regiment. Adopting the same considerations as required to successfully negotiate and manage a regiment through battle, and made relevant reflections and associations with how a successful business owner leads their business through the complexities of building a significant and sustainable business.
Furthermore, the investment required to partake in Explorer Mastermind is ALL INCLUSIVE. Unlike MANY other programmes, that quote one figure, but fail to advise it doesn’t include accommodation, refreshments, training, 1:1 coaching, car parking, and whatever else you really NEED whilst there. Our investment covers it all. Welcome drink on arrival at the 4* venue. 3 Course evening meal with table drinks in a private dining room. Overnight accommodation with a full English or continental breakfast in the morning, A FULL days mastermind (recorded and shared so you have a copy of every word spoken to refer to) A 2 course Hot/Cold luncheon AND 1:1 coaching both during and separate to the event from a 2 x Global Entrepreneur ‘Big Impact to Business’ Award Winning SCALE coach.
This unique approach has led us and our clients to the numerous successes we have all achieved. And what separates us from any other Mastermind offering on the market.
I’ve recorded a video explaining as much here:
What is the difference between My TrueNORTH and ACTIONCoach?
What is the difference between My TrueNORTH and Vistage?
What is the difference between My TrueNORTH and A.C.E?
What is the difference between My TrueNORTH and T.A.B?
What is a Discovery Day
As already alluded to. We know that what we offer and the way we offer is not for everyone. Some business owners are not willing to be as open as required to benefit from what we do within Mastermind. Others find it difficult to build sufficient trust and rapport with others in the room. Whatever the reason, this may NOT be the right solution for you.
And that’s ok.
We only want to work with Business owners who SEE the value of us working together and are ready to share openly and honestly them and their business. Their goals and aspirations, as well as their difficulties and hurdles.
For us to introduce Mastermind to Business owners who may not have worked like this before. For them to be able to sample what is involved, to ask whatever questions they have about either me, the business, the other people present, the process (or anything else for that matter) we host a DISCOVERY DAY.
During the day, I’ll share some valuable content that will help ALL business owners to grow them and their business. I’ll share more details about Mastermind, what we do, how we do, and the likes, and we will share with those in the room an example of HOW it works (using one of our existing Explorer Mastermind members) that you can also ask as many questions as you like as to how it is working for THEM.
At the end of the event, you will have gained so valuable content from what has been shared on the day, made some new connections, had all your questions asked.
IF you have got much from the day, and we feel you may benefit from what we offer within our #ADDAZERO Explorer Mastermind, you be invited to apply to join. However, if having attended the day either you OR I determine this may NOT be the right solution for you, we BOTH have the right to say thanks, but no!
This HAS to be a WIN:WIN for this to work, and so we BOTH have to agree it is the right fit for both your business AND ours.
IF we both agree, we can discuss, dates, timings and when you’d like to start working together. If EITHER of us determine Explorer Mastermind is NOT, the right fit. We can either discuss other ways of working together if we feel this might be more appropriate, or part as friends, having shared some content and connections on the day.
You can learn when our next DISCOVERY DAY is by visiting our EventBrite page
What is #ADDAZERO?
I’ve ALWAYS like to learn new things. And in 2015, I began researching why businesses fail! There is SO MUC information on BUSINESS SUCCESS, but I’m a firm believer, you can always learn SO MUCH MORE from failure than you do from success.
In 2008, a previous business of mine, was badly affected by the collapse of Woolworths. And ever since I’d wanted to understand more about HOW a business of such size, could subsequently fail?
I submitted Subject Access Data Requests to the Liquidators and began wading through the reams of data to understand HOW. I quickly realised even years later, I was still too emotionally affected by this, and so submitted more data requests for other national businesses that had failed to make comparisons.
What I soon learnt, SHOCKED ME.
Before long, I’d recruited a small team of Data Analysts, and over 4 years we researched the collapse of over 150 national businesses that failed! We identified there were 3 fundamental flaws present in ALL their businesses which were significantly impactful in their downfall.
I then became interested in WHEN during a businesses evolution and growth do these flaws become prevalent? And WHY does nothing get done to address them. To determine this, I reached out to two of the largest business associations of SME businesses in the UK – Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses. A survey of well over 250,000 SME businesses determined at least one of the three flaws we had identified within larger businesses, were also prevalent in more than 80% of small businesses!
So, why is this?
Essentially it is because we are not taught HOW to set up, grow and SCALE a business! And although there are a multitude of courses, workshops, qualifications we COULD take part in, the vast majority of business owners have received NO or LITTLE training on HOW to set up, grow or SCALE their business!
It was more important than ever now, that we determine what information was required, and how best to share this with business owners to inform, and aide their decision making process of business owners to avoid the flaws that had been the cause of so many businesses that failed.
ADDAZERO started as a ‘checklist’ for business owners, to determine if they have the relevant and necessary people processes and systems in place to reduce the risk of falling into the flaws identified. However, what it quickly became was a fully integrated mentorship programme, helping business owners to learn, implement and benefit from all we had to share.
Very quickly we found those implementing the #ADDAZERO programme were able to make bigger decisions far quicker and with more confidence, and as a result their businesses began to SCALE.
Within the first 12 months of launching, no less than 7 of our clients were listed as Finalists in the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, with many others being nominated for and winning both industry specific and regional awards also.
My TrueNORTH – Mission
We’ve made it our MISSION, to share this information with 100,000 Business Owners, and to mentor 10,000 of them to implement this within their businesses to significantly and sustainably SCALE both them and their businesses.
- If you are a business owner of an established business (This is NOT something you can implement pre-trade or as a start up!) and ready to take you and your business to the next level?
- If adding a zero to your personal disposable income would transform you and your family life?
- If you would like to be part of the 10,000 Business Owners we mentor to achieve this?
You can start by completing our ADDAZERO Foundations Audit. It’s FREE to use, and provides you with an in depth report on the current saleability of your business. Simply visit bit.ly/ADDAZEROAudit to get started.