I always thought cohort was a singular word. Like partner, or companion.
Likewise, I always thought mastermind was singular, and was usually preceded by the adjective “criminal.” I thought it was a synonym for “evil genius.”
As I delve deeper into the business world as a solopreneur (another word I didn’t even know existed), I find that these are words relating to groups. Here’s one definition of “cohort.”
a group of people who share a common characteristic over a certain period of time.
stitchdata.com/cohort-analysis
And while the conventional definition of mastermind is still something akin to that of “evil genius,” the concept of a mastermind group is a new development and is explained as offering the following:
“a combination of brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen your business and personal skills. A mastermind group helps you and your mastermind group members achieve success. Members challenge each other to set strong goals, and more importantly, to accomplish them.
https://www.thesuccessalliance.com/what-is-a-mastermind-group/
So your class at school is a cohort. You and your fellow studio members are a cohort.
If you are working together on a project, or a recital or program of some kind, you are in a type of mastermind group.
One of my new studio options is the MVP Program, which stands for Musically Vibrant Performer. While all my students are MVPs, this particular program is for students who are planning on a performance career, and who want to work toward that goal. In that respect, they are in a mastermind group. The entire studio is a cohort, but the MVPs are part of a mastermind group and have access to studio classes, coworking sessions, and other offerings that may come up from time to time.
I am the evil genius mastermind group facilitator for the MVPs, and for any other full studio events that come up that require collaboration and accountability. Which goes along with my self-definition of myself as “inspirer and facilitator” rather than merely “voice teacher,” a term I got from a long-ago failed TV show called Eastwick, which I wrote about here.
So if you aren’t sure whether you’re in a cohort or a mastermind group, well….
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The main thing about these two terms is the sense of community, which is one of MVS’ most important values. If that’s one of your values as well, contact MVS to find out how you can be a part of a community, a cohort, and a mastermind. Set up a Vocal Discovery call to find out if this is the right place for you.