Month: October 2025

Stop Pushing, Start Connecting: How the Mastermind Builds Your Empire When Your Body Says Rest

If you're in network marketing or direct sales and also navigating life with a disability or chronic condition, you've likely felt a painful disconnect. You're handed a playbook from the "old school" of business building. The message is clear: push, hustle, grind. Make your list of 100 people, send cold messages, and just get your product or opportunity in front of as many faces as possible, no matter what.
For those of us managing chronic pain, fatigue, or other health challenges, this model isn't just difficult—it's a recipe for burnout. Our energy is a precious, finite resource. The idea of "pushing" through another rejection, another "no," or another draining interaction can feel like being asked to climb a mountain on a day we can barely walk to the kitchen.

I was there. I believed this was the only way. But what if there was a method built not on brute force, but on synergy? A strategy that doesn't drain your energy, but actually multiplies it?

This is the profound lesson from Chapter 10 of Napoleon Hill's classic, "Think and Grow Rich"—The Power of the Master Mind.

What is a Mastermind, Really?

Forget the image of stuffy boardroom meetings. Napoleon Hill defined a Mastermind as the "coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose."

In simpler terms: It's a supportive alliance. It's a collective brain. It's your personal board of directors, all working together for mutual success. When two or more minds come together in perfect harmony, a third, invisible mind is created—a force that is greater than the sum of its parts.

This isn't about pushing your products on your friends. It's about pulling together with trusted allies to solve problems, create strategies, and provide unwavering support.

The Shift from Pushing to Pulling
The "old school" method is a lonely game of pushing. It's all on you. Your energy, your effort, your resilience.

The Mastermind principle is a collaborative game of pulling.

• Pulling Resources: Instead of just your own ideas, you have access to the experience, skills, and perspectives of your entire group.
• Pulling Energy: On a day when your health is low and you feel defeated, your Mastermind partners can lift you up, brainstorm for you, and remind you of your "why."
• Pulling Solutions: Stuck on a problem? Instead of spinning your wheels and draining your battery, you can bring it to the group and receive innovative solutions you never would have thought of alone.

For an entrepreneur with a chronic condition, this isn't just a good idea—it's a non-negotiable key to sustainable success. You can't afford to waste energy on outdated methods that don't honor your physical and mental well-being.

My Personal Lessons with the Mastermind Principle

My Biggest Business Flaw Was Never Learning to Relate

I’m a huge believer in Napoleon Hill’s Mastermind concept from Think and Grow Rich, but for years, I didn't just lack one—I didn’t even have the foundation for one.

My early life didn't equip me for the business world's relational demands. My parents, while loving, were my first unintentional "mastermind" in reverse: they demonstrated a belief in working for others, not building your own empire. More critically, they never demonstrated how to build relationships. We were isolated. No friends came over. No relational blueprint was ever laid down.
This isolation became a gaping hole in my adult life and, critically, in my business.

The Missing Piece That Crippled My Career
When I started my own venture, the lack of relational skills translated directly into a lack of success.

I could be a high-drive, dedicated person:

I’ve constantly pushed for better health while managing a disability since my teens.

I was a dedicated volunteer first-aider and marine radio operator, always giving time to help others.

I held niche, passionate interests like trains.

But I consistently struggled to find my mastermind circle. I'd try to connect with people I felt I should relate to—old schoolmates, colleagues—only to find zero common ground. Our values, hobbies, and lifestyles (like my near-zero alcohol consumption versus regular drinkers) put us worlds apart. I was stuck using outdated, transactional sales methods because I simply didn't know how to build a relationship first.

The Power of A True Mastermind

Years into this struggle, I finally found the answer. It wasn't my drive or my work ethic that was failing me; it was the relationship building skills I'd never been taught.

The breakthrough came through authors and mentors who exemplified the true mastermind concept. I finally learned that success in a home business—or any business—isn't about selling products; it’s about building genuine friendships and mutual growth.

My current mastermind group isn't just a place to talk strategy; it’s the place that taught me to finally connect and relate to people who share my drive for growth. It’s what allowed me to leave behind the old, cold methods and start building a real empire built on warmth, trust, and mutual success.

🔥 Mastermind Lesson: If your business is struggling, ask yourself: Am I trying to sell a product, or am I building a relationship? A Mastermind provides the support and the skill-set to do the latter.
P.S. The initial lesson on why relationship skills were my failing was highlighted in a powerful way by Michael Dlouhy's book, Success in 10 Steps. Link at the bottom for anyone who needs to find their missing piece!)

Building Your Empire, Sustainably
The Mastermind allows you to work smarter, not just harder. It replaces the frantic hustle with focused, harmonious effort. It honors the fact that you are a whole person—a parent, a spouse, a health-conscious individual, and an ambitious entrepreneur who also needs to manage their well-being.

It’s the modern, heart-centered way to build. It’s about creating genuine connections that lead to organic growth, rather than forcing transactional interactions that lead to burnout. It's about building an empire not in spite of your health challenges, but in a way that truly supports them.

You don't need a huge group. You just need one or two other people who share your vision, your drive, and your commitment to mutual success. Find your people, create that harmonious alliance, and watch how the collective energy lifts you higher than you could ever climb alone.

"Ready to build your own Mastermind? Take the first step today. Identify ONE person in your life or network who you admire and trust, and reach out to them to start a conversation about mutual support."

About the Author and Our Supporters

Author: Benjamin "Ben" Mathew Drake of Coach Freedom and Friends

Supported By:

Mentor Ben Drake: Get your free eBook, Success in 10 Steps, written by Linda and Michael Dlouhy for the Mentoring for Free system.

Ben's Customer: Discover fantastic health and wellness products to help you achieve your health goals.

World Help Organisation Team: A dedicated team of mentors helping families live better lives.

A Brand New You: Helping families transform their health, one family at a time.

You Can Do This Also: A team that uses the Mentoring for Free system and training to help families achieve the life of their dreams through education and teamwork.

Sytoomba Mountains Layout: A layout based on our version of the Sydney to Blue Mountains with mountain ranges.