​I have to admit that a few years ago the first thing I thought of was the logic game Mastermind by Parker.  I'm actually pretty good at it.  Then my geeky side would bring to mind, pun intended, the talent of Star Trek’s Mr. Spock and his mind-meld technique.

But before the game and before the science fictional talent, a man named Napoleon Hill coined the term master mind (two words) in reference to "The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony." The concept grew and caught on and today people all around the world meet in master minds.  Some are large groups, while others are small and exclusive.  Today people meet not only in person but also through online groups and with video conferencing.

For some, the term master mind brings forth images of men in business suits, high power and high pressure.  For others, what comes to mind are informal groups or circles of people with similar interests and pursuits looking to share information and receive support.

I've had the opportunity to participate in both large and small with varying degrees of formality. And I always felt that something was missing.  Something that I couldn't put my finger on. Something that would make the difference in how I could best participate and benefit.

Then at the beginning of 2015, I connected with another Master Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach™,  Kathy Kane.  Little did we know then where that collaboration of minds would lead.  We met to discuss master minds and how to design one that better supported creative people and the non-linear creative process.  That meeting of the minds turned into something greater than we could have imagined.  And we both have big imaginations!

The result was a master mind like no other.  A KMI Master Mind.

First, we looked at all the things we liked about master minds (connection, community, idea development, accountability). Then we removed the things that didn't feel right.  High pressure from unrealistic expectations and a self-imposed sense of feeling overwhelmed by the need to keep up with the Jones.  

Next we added in creativity -oodles of it - in the form of creativity tools, idea generation and elevation.  We included creativity in the setting and structure with opening and closing rituals that included guided relaxations.  We embraced the Kaizen approach of getting things done through small questions and small continuous steps.  We found this way to be fun and filled with self-compassion.  We found ourselves enjoying the process more and focusing less on a rigid end result.  We began to build a steady momentum towards our goals, one that was easy to maintain and sustain.

But that's not all.  We wanted to feel a sense of accomplishment during the master mind itself and not leave it with an even longer to do list.  So we added Parallel Universe Time™, a tool created by Jill Badonsky, founder of Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching™.  In each master mind session there is time dedicated to taking action - to taking a small step or two or three.  We wrapped all this goodness up in a flexible structure which follows a set agenda but leaves room for creative and intuitive detours.

And there is so much more ...   Click here for the juicy details about our upcoming Your Creative Edge: a KMI Master Mind.





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Sometimes the voice inside my head is strong and clear.  Ideas flow like the purple ink in my fountain pen onto the page.  There is no hesitation.  The words take on a life of their own, sharing their story.  I marvel as they appear effortlessly before my eyes.
 
Other times, writing is a chore - a task that demands attention, irrespective of creative inspiration or convenient timing.
 
Today as I write this blog post I’m reminded that writing is a creative process.  Being in the creative process can feel fluid and magical like the first example.  It’s also perfectly normal, depending on where I am in the process, for it to feel hesitant, reluctant and painfully like a bandage slowly being removed.
 
One thing that I’ve found that helps me to be and to stay in the creative process – the smooth flowing part of the creative process – is connection and community.  The energy held and generated by a circle is simply wonderful.  It helps to maintain my focus, clarify my intention and increase my productivity.
 
In geometry a circle is sacred.  It represents “the one” from which all other geometric shapes are derived.  Its design lets it expand or contract and still maintain its shape.  It is the perfect shape for meeting as it allows all participants to be seen and heard.  A circle creates a container for collaboration, communication, connection, confidence and confidentiality.  It’s like a cauldron overflowing with creative energy that is accessible to all.
 
The circle is one of my favourite ways to be in connection with others.
 
That’s why the 4Rs Circle at The Purple Ink Café is organized this way.  The 4Rs: Relax, Read, Review and Research is about coming together to create time and space in your busy day or week to relax and finally tackle that stack of books or backlog of blogs you want to read. It’s about refreshing a topic or skill by reviewing courses and resources you already have on hand.  And if you have a presentation, a project or a personal passion that needs some research, this circle is for you too.
 
Why join a circle? It’s a bit like doing yoga or writing or meditation or any solo activity.  You can do all of these on your own, but the structure of a class often makes it easier to show up and the company can make it fun.  Even more, it’s the energy of the group that helps to sustain our focus, to hold a pose a little longer, strengthen our writing muscle or push through a block that may have been holding us back.
 
I invite you to check out the 4Rs Circle.  There is a free kick off event Thursday August 18 at 11 am ET on Zoom.  Come and experience the energy of the circle.