Napoleon Hill and Mastermind Groups
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Napoleon Hill and Mastermind Groups

Napoleon Hill on Mastermind Groups

By Karyn Greenstreet

What did Napoleon Hill have to say about Mastermind Groups?

Napoleon Hill wrote and taught extensively for decades. Throughout his career, he advocated the use of mastermind groups as a way of taking your personal and professional life to the next level.

He first wrote about “master mind alliances” and the “master mind principle” in 1928 and in 1930 (not in the 1937 book Think and Grow Rich, as most people assume!). That’s nearly 100 years ago, and the idea of mastermind groups still flourishes today.

Why does he call it a “master mind alliance,” compared to the more modern phrase, mastermind group?

Hill originally said that when two people got together and worked on a problem or towards a goal, a third mind was created called the “Master Mind.” To him, it was a separate force in the conversation and had an energetic/spiritual connotation.

Over the past 85 years, it’s morphed from “master mind alliance” to “mastermind group,” but the meaning and underlying principles are still the same.

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.

1928 – The Law of Success

Most people think the first mention of mastermind groups was written by Hill in his book, Think and Grow Rich. But nearly 10 years earlier, he wrote The Law of Success, and talks about “the Master Mind” and how it’s a friendly alliance among people to support each other with their plans.

In The Law of Success, Hill adds another element to the idea of a mastermind group: the group helps to organize useful knowledge, creating a virtual encyclopedia from which each member can draw information.

1930 – The Magic Ladder to Success

Hill continues his thoughts on the master mind in The Magic Ladder of Success:

“The process of mind blending here described as a “Master Mind” may be likened to the act of one who connects many electric batteries to a single transmission wire, thereby ‘stepping up’ the power passing over that line by the amount of energy the batteries carry. Each mind, through the principle of mind chemistry, stimulates all the other minds in the group.”

1937 – Think and Grow Rich

In Think and Grow Rich, he talked about something called a “master mind alliance.” He goes on to describe a mastermind group as, “A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.”

Napoleon Hill feels so strongly about this that he says, “Maintain perfect harmony between yourself and every member of your mastermind group. If you fail to carry out this instruction to the letter, you may expect to meet with failure. The master mind principle cannot obtain where perfect harmony does not prevail.”

That’s a strong message about what makes a mastermind group succeed or fail.

1945 – Master Key to Riches

In Master Key to Riches, Napoleon Hill says, “Every mind needs friendly contact with other minds, for food of expansion and growth.”

To Hill mastermind groups are established to help create an environment that nurtures and supports growth.

Notice how he uses the word “friendly” throughout his discussion of mastermind groups? Hill believed that a harmonious groups of two or more people who come together for a specific purpose, or around a specific topic, bring forth the power of creativity and support that you can’t find when you go it alone.

Napoleon Hill television series

Napoleon Hill recorded a multi-part television series in the 1960s, reviewing his Master Keys to Success principles. I have found it both on YouTube and on Netflix. Here is the full TV series on Youtube (will open in a new tab). The “master mind principle” topic begins about 10 minutes into the video.

In this television show, he says one of the keys is a mastermind group:

“Now, here are some interesting facts about the mastermind which give you an idea of how important it is and how necessary that you embrace this principle and make use of it in attaining success in your chosen occupation. First of all, it is the principle through which you may borrow and use the education, the experience, the influence, and perhaps the capital of other people in carrying out your own plans in life. It is the principle through which you can accomplish in one year more than you could accomplish without it in a lifetime if you depended entirely on your own efforts for success.

Wow, that’s powerful!

When starting or joining a group

When starting a mastermind group, or joining an existing one, look for these three hallmarks: friendly, growth-oriented, and willing to share information.

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


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.


4 thoughts on “Napoleon Hill and Mastermind Groups”

  1. Jef Menguin says:

    I like to think that “friendly” really defines what a mastermind should be. I have attended one mastermind group before, and it seemed people do not really know each other much.

    It was not friendly. I did not attend again.

    1. I feel the role of the Mastermind Group Facilitator is to create that friendly atmosphere you’re referring to. When there is a strong sense of rapport and trust among the members, a mastermind group can be a very powerful thing.

  2. Davida Yemi-Akanle says:

    Thanks Karyn for sharing from your rich treasures.

    I have started a master mind group and it’s doing wonderfully well. Like you said the members need to be growth oriented, and willing to help one another succeed.

    1. You’re welcome, Davida! Look for more new articles in December and January — I’ve got a huge list of mastermind group topics to write about! 🙂

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