United States Declaration of Independence Masterminds

The Declaration of Independence, which led to the United States of America, was the result of one of the greatest mastermind groups in history.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin and the rest of the Founding Fathers used the principle of the mastermind to lead the American Revolution.

What is a mastermind group?

A mastermind group happens when people come together to share ideas, create plans and hold each other accountable for executing those plans.

The groups are often called by different names like committee, congress, cabinet, convention or board, but the fundamental process is the same.

A mastermind of revolutionaries

Leading up to the American Revolution, this power was applied by the mastermind group formed by Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee and John Hancock. This led to organizing the Committees of Correspondence.

The committee arranged for a meeting of the First Continental Congress in September of 1774. This group of revolutionaries included John Adams, Patrick Henry and George Washington.

As delegates, from the colonies, they discussed the desires of the people they represented, namely, the right to self-government. They designed plans to accomplish their goals through a boycott and negotiation. They called for another meeting to form new plans if needed.

Like any good mastermind, they had a definite goal, plans for accomplishing it and a commitment to keep working together adjusting the plan until it worked.

The United States Declaration of Independence masterminds were the members of the Second Continental Congress, which met in the spring of 1775, and the United States Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4th, 1776.

The group was made up of brilliant minds like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson who wrote the original draft together.

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with one another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature’s God entitle them…

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

This decision and its declaration, made by 56 men was one of the most powerful choices in human history. It represents a commitment to the principles of liberty and freedom. Millions have given their lives to defend it.

The profound impact and success of the declaration is of course due to its “self-evident truths” but also to the strategies used in its creation. The power of the mastermind.

Napoleon Hill holding book 1937The mastermind group is one of the secret tools of successful people

In the popular book by Napoleon Hill, ‘Think and Grow Rich,’ a mastermind alliance is defined as: “A coordination of effort and knowledge in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people for the attainment of a definite purpose.”

Thanks to the sacrifices of those who lived before us, we don’t have to fight for our basic freedoms and liberties.

Life isn’t perfect today, but in much of the world, many of us are seeking a different kind of freedom and independence. We’re seeking the freedom to live life on our own terms.

With just a few edits, the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson can be adapted to demand liberty, freedom and independence for the citizens of cubicle nation;

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all PEOPLE are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, JOBS are instituted among WORKERS, deriving their just powers from the consent of the WORKER, That whenever any WORK becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the WORKER to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new WORK, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that… it is their right, it is their duty… to CREATE new OPPORTUNITIES for their future security.”

This power of the mastermind has been used throughout history by people seeking freedom.

Today this strategy is applied in study groups, peer advisory/accountability groups and by professional coaches and mentors. People use these groups to become better entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists, doctors and parents. A mastermind group can help people to achieve whatever they define as success.

Technology is enhancing group organization

Technology has helped to make it easier to organize these groups and meetings. The founders of America communicated through handwritten letters which took days to be delivered and had to travel to Philadelphia for meetings. They didn’t have telephones, let alone email and social media.

Today many masterminds are held using virtual meeting software. With tools like Skype or Google Hangouts we can see and hear each other as if we were in the same room. We can keep notes in Evernote and share documents with Dropbox.

The current technology is helpful, but we believe it can be better. That’s why we created Mastermind Manager. We’re combining everything needed for a great virtual mastermind into one easy-to-use app. We’re even including features to make in-person mastermind sessions better.

If you want to apply the secrets used by the Founding Fathers and some of the most successful people in history and leverage cutting edge technology to make it even more effective, click here to learn more.

Do you want better results from your Mastermind?

Mastermind Manager combines video conferencing and goal tracking for your mastermind group.

We're currently in beta.

Currently participate in a mastermind, peer-to-peer group or similar?

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This