(Reading time: 4 – 7 minutes)
Valentina Bellicova is a professional speaker, an author and an internet marketer mining years of experience as an executive in Corporate America. Years and years ago she walked into an editor’s office, a published article firmly tucked under arm, and parlayed her first job: editor of her very own weekly column for the Daily Mainichi Newspaper in Tokyo. She was 15. Today, Valentina has turned her penchant for writing into earning income from blogging. Valentina takes this stuff seriously, see -and learn – for yourself at Blog Income Life.
Over the next two weeks (January 18, 20, 25 and 27), Valentina is treating us to a four part series on MasterMind groups. She has extensive experience, as you will be able to see. Our series kicks off with a motivational story. Next (January 20, 2010) Valentina introduces us to the Father of the MasterMind Napolean Hill, and list many of the benefits you enjoy as part of a MasterMind group. In Part III (January 25,2010), we dig into the nitty-gritty, examining the “Five Ws”: Who, What, Where, When and Why. Valentina concludes with examples drawn from her own experience in Part IV (January 27, 2010).
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I hope you enjoyed the MasterMind Power series from Valentina Bellicova. Let’s do a quick recap:
- Valentina’s series starts with a story of how five boys grow into success by creating their own “mastermind group.”
- The series continues with Napolean Hill, and the seven characteristics of mastermind groups.
- Creating a mastermind group requires understanding the Who, What, Why, Where and When for the group.
- And in Part IV, Valentina concludes with five examples of mastermind groups drawn from her own experience.
Here’s the start of Valentina’s four part article on MasterMind groups, where we’re treated an inspirational story demonstrating why you need to tap into MasterMind Power.
The Power of the MasterMind – Part I
A story is told of a handful of pals who achieved extraordinary success in their lives. With the telling and retelling, the origin is somewhat hazy, but it is supposedly based on true life and while the details may be a bit scant, the concept is powerful. Perhaps you have already read of it.
It begins in a small town on a square block. Five boys, already friends, enter kindergarten together. Whether by default or design, they stand by each other and help ward off attacks by other children – nothing terrible, just the typical cruelties that children can inflict on one another. Throughout grade school and then high school, their friendships grow. Boy Scouts, summer camps, first love, disappointment, failure, success, tears of sorrow and of joy. These moments they share with each other. They become a tight knit group and heaven help the soul that dared slight anyone of them.
College took them in different directions. Yet every summer that brought them home, they were sure to get together for good old times’ sake. On graduating they made a pact – no matter what, their lines of communication would always stay open to each other and at least once a year they would get together just for a beer or two, some good laughs and precious life catch up.
Each entered a profession of his choosing. Each was supported by the other four. First there were weddings, then christenings, then a second round of weddings and christenings as their own children started families of their own. Throughout life they supported each other’s calling, giving introductions to valuable contacts, using each other as a sounding board for their goals and business directives – they also bought goods and services from each other and were not above giving a scold or two if a member appeared to be stepping out of line and that went double for their personal lives. In short came to know each other better than their parents, children, or spouses.
No matter what life hit them with in one thing they never wavered or faltered – they kept their lines of communication open and at least once a year came together. More importantly they were there for each other when things were rough, when a kick up the butt was needed, when tragedy and sorrow struck, when celebrations were in order and of those there were many as each rose to a status of wealth and power.
Many years later their hometown newspaper ran a story on them. Their unparalleled success had not gone unnoticed. When asked if there was any one thing that they could ascribe their success to, they had an answer. It seems that of late they had asked that very same question of themselves. What are the odds of a small town growing five simultaneous success stories. They came to the conclusion that it was more than happenstance or their friendship. It felt as if, they said, there was an unseen power and a synergy that helped guide them.
Without knowing it, they had created a mastermind.
Stay tuned for MasterMind Power Part II: Napoleon Hill – Father of the MasterMind and learn seven principles common to all mastermind groups.
Valentina Bellicova builds on her years of experience in Corporate America to succeed as a professional speaker, author and internet marketer. At age 15, she pitched her first article, obtaining a weekly column for the Daily Mainichi Newspaper in Tokyo. Visit Valentina: Blog Income Life.
Dave – I am so sorry I haven’t been by in awhile. 2010 has started off in high gear and it seems I’m already behind. But I digress.
I am dying to know who the five boys are that Valentina talks about above….will she tell us over the course of the next couple of days?
And I’m so happy I met her actually through either a link here on your site or possibly one of the other great guys you associate with!
Looking forward to the rest of the series and I’m bouncing back to your BLOG becomes J.O.B. post now….and then I’m getting my blog post out for today….yep, I didn’t do one all of last week (shamefully hanging head).
Hope you are doing well!
.-= Michelle @ Your Virtual Assistant´s last blog ..2010 Goals for Your Virtual Assistant =-.
Sounds fascinating so far. Looking forward to it.
One thing, didn’t Napoleon Hill subscribe Mastermind groups meeting weekly. Perhaps these five guys were more of an alliance. No matter what, I’m looking forward to the rest. :)
.-= Gordie´s last blog ..Personal Development Through Song: “You’re The Best”. =-.
Michelle,
Isn’t that the truth – I have met so many wonderful people through comments on good blogs.
Gordie,
That is the wonderful thing about a master mind. It is not so much the frequency of the meetings, but the third mind that is created when the synergy meshes. In the story the five boys formed an accidental mastermind. They became aware of an energy and a power above their own that seemed to guide them.
best…………valentina
.-= Valentina´s last blog ..Golden Nuggets for Your Blog Income =-.
@Michelle – Good to see you back. Yes, Valentina actually makes real money doing this stuff. Nice, right? The story may be apocryphal, I’ll need to dig my NH again.
@Gordie – The biggest issue is accountability, which may well involve regular meetings, but might not. The folks I work with we usually meet over email. Works fairly well. Much, much better than not.
@Valentina – Thanks again for writing this series!
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Blogging Katamari Style (I’m gonna roll you up!) =-.