Mastermind group members (and private clients) can get lost in the “thinking and planning” stages of any endeavor. Let’s face it — brainstorming about new ideas is fun and exciting! But new ideas aren’t enough.

If you want your members to be successful, a 90-day Challenge is perfect for getting them into action. One of the most important benefits of being in a mastermind group is that you create and implement an action plan. So, focusing your members on the action part of a project gives them rapid momentum. We could all use that, right?

8-Step checklist for creating your 90-day Challenge

1. Pick the dates for your 90-day time frame. Everyone in the group should be working on their Challenge simultaneously, so vote on the 90-day period that everyone will use. Don’t give members time to “think about it,” or it will never happen. People will procrastinate on picking a date so they don’t have to commit to getting tasks done. Better yet, just pick the time frame yourself and announce it to the group, as long as it’s far enough in advance that people don’t have prior engagements.
2. Have each mastermind group member choose what goal they’ll accomplish in 90 days. Will you all work on the same goal, like losing 12 pounds in 90 days, writing a book in 90 days, or implementing a marketing campaign? Or will each person choose their unique goal for the Challenge? Read: Getting Your Mastermind Group to Set and Keep Goals
3. Set the parameters for the definition of success. Ask each member to write down specific tasks they will have accomplished at the end of the 90 day period. Make sure the tasks are specific, reasonable, doable, and measurable.
4. If it’s appropriate, have each member also list smaller milestones, the date when they’ll complete the milestone task, and how that milestone task will lead to the bigger goal. It’s so easy to get off track in 90 days, so breaking down the big goal into smaller chunks will ensure that people have created a 90-day plan that’s actually possible to do. (There’s no sense in self-sabotaging by choosing tasks that aren’t reasonable.)
5. Have mastermind group members list what resources they’ll need to accomplish the 90-day goal. Will they need to hire a specific sub-contractor? Find financing? Signup for a class? Read a book? Buy workout equipment? Talk with a partner?
6. Each member should list what might get in their way of accomplishing their 90-day goal. Will their family and friends support them or sabotage them? Will time management be an issue? What will they do if they self-sabotage this 90-day Challenge through procrastination, distraction or rebellion? It pays to think ahead about what could detour you and make a plan to circumvent the problem before it crops up. (As the coach and facilitator, it’s your job to be prepared to assist your clients when mindset problems get in the way of success.)
7. Decide on how often you’ll check in with each other. This type of Challenge needs a lot of support and encouragement. It’s easy to get off track, even for one or two days. (And when people get off track, they might decide to dump the whole 90-day Challenge project!) Checking in with others regularly will ensure that small setbacks don’t become a threat to your overall success in the Challenge.
8. Decide on how the check-ins will occur.  Will you check in as a group live on a Zoom meeting? Will you check in via an online message forum or a private Facebook group? Perhaps accountability buddies might work? Ask the mastermind group to vote on the best, most convenient way to do check-ins. If it’s not convenient, people won’t use it.

You’ll love how 90-day Challenges perk up your mastermind group members and get them to achieve something remarkable! This is the perfect exercise to do with your members after a summer holiday or to start a new year off right. (And create a 90-day Challenge for yourself, too!)

Want to learn how to start a mastermind group? Click here to get my free video tutorial on how to create a mastermind group of your own.