Wellness Masterminds with Stoyan Yankov

Wellness Masterminds with Stoyan Yankov
3 min read, Nov 8, 2020
Future of Wellness Conference will not only provide wellness-related knowledge from the world-known speakers, but also will create an opportunity for the audience to discuss and evaluate all received information within the small groups. Future of Wellness has collaborated with Stoyan Yankov, an entrepreneur, keynote speaker and productivity coach based in Denmark. He is using mastermind groups as an effective tool to boost productivity and create successful teams.
Future of Wellness Conference will not only provide wellness-related knowledge from the world-known speakers, but also will create an opportunity for the audience to discuss and evaluate all received information within the small groups. Future of Wellness has collaborated with Stoyan Yankov, an entrepreneur, keynote speaker and productivity coach based in Denmark. He is using mastermind groups as an effective tool to boost productivity and create successful teams.
Alena Shaidulina & Eddie Stern at EMERGE 2020
Stoyan Yankov opening Samodiva Mastermind Summit, Sofia, 2019. Photography: Yanne Golev
Future of Wellness Team had special interview with Stoyan Yankov and below are the most interesting parts of it:
Future of Wellness Team had special interview with Stoyan Yankov and below are the most interesting parts of it:
What is a masterminding?
What is a masterminding?
Masterminding is a peer-to-peer mentoring format in which the members help one another to solve their problems through input, advice and accountability. For an effective mastermind session to happen, the participants should be very open-minded and leave their egos out of the room. The format is very interactive and engaging and everyone who participates gains a lot out of the experience.
Masterminding is a peer-to-peer mentoring format in which the members help one another to solve their problems through input, advice and accountability. For an effective mastermind session to happen, the participants should be very open-minded and leave their egos out of the room. The format is very interactive and engaging and everyone who participates gains a lot out of the experience.
I’ve personally been organizing mastermind groups since 2013, firstly for my own personal growth. And since 2017 professionally, bringing leaders together and organizing mastermind experiences (retreats, summits, workshops, groups.) with my partners from Samodiva Masterminds. I am always impressed how much people open up, share and support each other when they are brought into the right and trusted environment.
I’ve personally been organizing mastermind groups since 2013, firstly for my own personal growth. And since 2017 professionally, bringing leaders together and organizing mastermind experiences (retreats, summits, workshops, groups.) with my partners from Samodiva Masterminds. I am always impressed how much people open up, share and support each other when they are brought into the right and trusted environment.
Eddie Stern and Eliza Vinokurova at EMERGE 2020
Stoyan Yankov delivering a keynote in Kaunas, 2019
Could you tell us about the mastermind "hotseat"?
Could you tell us about the mastermind "hotseat"?
Sitting on the so-called mastermind "hotseat" is not always a pleasant, but a very rewarding experience. The person whose turn is to be on the "hotseat" has to share something that they need help with or want to improve. That could be a personal or professional issue.
Sitting on the so-called mastermind "hotseat" is not always a pleasant, but a very rewarding experience. The person whose turn is to be on the "hotseat" has to share something that they need help with or want to improve. That could be a personal or professional issue.
The task for everyone else is to support this person by: asking the right questions, sharing their own experiences or suggesting solutions to that issue. Usually the most effective mastermind sessions are in a group of 4−6 people, not too few for a productive discussion to evolve and not too many — so everyone has equal time to contribute. Ideally everyone will take a turn to sit on the "hotseat" for a specific amount of time.
The task for everyone else is to support this person by: asking the right questions, sharing their own experiences or suggesting solutions to that issue. Usually the most effective mastermind sessions are in a group of 4−6 people, not too few for a productive discussion to evolve and not too many — so everyone has equal time to contribute. Ideally everyone will take a turn to sit on the "hotseat" for a specific amount of time.
What are the 3 Cs of masterminding?
What are the 3 Cs of masterminding?

To ensure the process is safe everyone needs to agree with the 3 Cs of Masterminding.

  • Candor
    It’s your task to be candid to the person on the "hotseat" and tell them the truth that they need to hear. In the same manner, the person on the "hotseat" needs to be candid and open.
  • Care
    Being candid doesn’t mean you should be rude. Quite the opposite. The aim of a session is not to show the others how smart you are, but to support the person on the "hotseat" to grow and get better. That means you should always respond from a place of care.
  • Confidentiality
    "What happens in a mastermind session stays in a mastermind session."
    To ensure a trusted safe space, where people aren’t afraid to open up it’s important everyone agrees that this conversation will stay confidential.

To ensure the process is safe everyone needs to agree with the 3 Cs of Masterminding.

  • Candor It’s your task to be candid to the person on the "hotseat" and tell them the truth that they need to hear. In the same manner, the person on the "hotseat" needs to be candid and open.
  • Care Being candid doesn’t mean you should be rude. Quite the opposite. The aim of a session is not to show the others how smart you are, but to support the person on the "hotseat" to grow and get better. That means you should always respond from a place of care.
  • Confidentiality "What happens in a mastermind session stays in a mastermind session." To ensure a trusted safe space, where people aren’t afraid to open up it’s important everyone agrees that this conversation will stay confidential.
Who can participate in a mastermind session?
Who can participate in a mastermind session?
Everyone can create their own mastermind group. Depending on the area you want to grow into, you will also invite members that fit. If you want to grow as an entrepreneur, if might want to have a mastermind group with other ambitious entrepreneurs, for example. Often the most productive mastermind sessions happen when people from different backgrounds come together. I remember at one of the latest retreats at Samodiva Masterminds I was in a session together with an actor, an international business consultant, a corporate executive and a yoga teacher. Because of the diversity everyone had the chance to see the issues from a completely different angle and get an input they would not be able to if everyone had the same background.
Everyone can create their own mastermind group. Depending on the area you want to grow into, you will also invite members that fit. If you want to grow as an entrepreneur, if might want to have a mastermind group with other ambitious entrepreneurs, for example. Often the most productive mastermind sessions happen when people from different backgrounds come together. I remember at one of the latest retreats at Samodiva Masterminds I was in a session together with an actor, an international business consultant, a corporate executive and a yoga teacher. Because of the diversity everyone had the chance to see the issues from a completely different angle and get an input they would not be able to if everyone had the same background.
Stoyan Yankov leading a mastermind session at Digital Freedom Festival, Riga, 2019
How can our audience prepare for the masterminding?
How can our audience prepare for the masterminding?
First of all — come with an open mind and let go of all your expectations. We will have fun and hopefully everyone will get a chance to learn something new, to meet new friends and leave a little more inspired.
First of all — come with an open mind and let go of all your expectations. We will have fun and hopefully everyone will get a chance to learn something new, to meet new friends and leave a little more inspired.
Wellness Masterminds with Stoyan Yankov will be a mind-blowing experience. You definitely have to try it! Masterminds as well as the whole conference is free of charge. What are you waiting for? Go and grab your ticket.
Wellness Mastermind with Stoyan Yankov will be a mind-blowing experience. You definitely have to try it! Masterminds as well as the whole conference is free of charge. What are you waiting for? Go and grab your ticket.
  • Katsiaryna Rabtsava
    Contributing Author, Future of Wellness
  • Katsiaryna Rabtsava
    Contributing Author, Future of Wellness