Podcast

May 7th, 2026

The Apple Cart: S5, E6: How to Find Support and Grow Your Business with a Mastermind

In this episode of the Apple Cart, I’m joined by Mark Webb to talk about how being part of a mastermind allows you to connect with peers for support and advice and ultimately grow your business.

Mark Webb, an experienced business coach since 2002, brings 25 years of expertise from high-performing teams at companies like IBM, BA, NotOnTheHighStreet and Costa to small business owners through A-Game Masterminds.

He specialises in building resilient and sustainable businesses by facilitating peer support, group brainstorming, workshops, and co-working sessions.

Mark’s background in Agile/Lean coaching, combined with a passion for gamification and strategic planning, informs his unique frameworks like MAGIC and 54321…Play.

His approach emphasises play, collaboration, continuous learning, and group support, integrating fun and adaptability into business growth to help entrepreneurs thrive.

Listen to the Interview

Why a Mastermind is so Powerful

90 years ago, American author Napoleon Hill coined the term ‘master mind’ to describe two or more people coming together to discuss life and business. “They’re coming together to focus, so you get three individual minds, plus the combination of all three in once place.

“We’re herd animals, and we work and communicate better when we’re together. You don’t necessarily have to start a mastermind, but all business owners should find a support group.  Even just sharing the experiences is enough to add an extra value, an extra leap up.

“But where a mastermind really shines is with the structure and processes you put into it, so it’s much more than just a chat over coffee. It leverages the combined experience, which takes it up a notch from just your knowledge or theirs. You bounce idea around and learn from each other.”

How to Prevent Your Mastermind From Stagnating

If you organise your own mastermind group, there’s a risk of you losing focus and members drifting away. Hill suggests moving on once you’ve got as much as you can from it, but Mark has other things to think about to help it really work:

“It’s a good idea to establish certain things from the outset. That might be setting goals, or agreeing on the level of accountability you offer each other. It needs to be beneficial to you and the other participants. You all need to make progress and be clear on what you want from the sessions.

“What I do in AGame is I serve as the facilitator. I don’t keep people accountable, but I do keep them on track and make sure everyone gets a chance to speak. If you don’t want to invite someone in just for this role, take it in turns to facilitate each meeting you have.”

mastermind

The Benefits of Having Frameworks in Your Business

Mark has developed frameworks for his business which he uses to guide people through a mastermind or coaching session. I asked him why these are helpful for business owners:

“It ties in with how our brains work, because they’re pattern orientated – they look top down. If you’re dealing with a lot of complex things, having a framework to hang them on makes it a bit easier. People only have to remember the framework, so what they’re learning is less confusing.

“A framework helps people to remember things and they start to stick. Once you’ve got the basics down, then you can move on to having deeper conversations. And of course, having a proprietary framework is a good way as a business owner to differentiate themselves.”

Common Blocks to Growth

Mark says that one surprising thing he finds with many business owners is that they’re scared by growth. “They don’t want to do it. They’re happy doing what they do, and they earn enough to pay their staff and live comfortably. But I’d argue that life changes so much that you HAVE to think about growth.

“Some of the things you do no longer may no longer work again. Everyone’s talking about AI taking people’s jobs, but even those who don’t work online need to be aware of change. Tech and tools are constantly being improved, so even a plumber should look to the future.

“Growth is something you should always have in mind, but it doesn’t mean that your business grows into a monster you can’t control. Another thing that slows growth is overplanning – spending too much time thinking and not enough time doing. You just need to do enough to take the first step, and reassess and plan for the next one.”

How to be More Creative 

Mark’s advice is to be open to new experiences and trying new things. “My wife and I doing a new creative activity every year – we buy each other an experience as gifts, and then we try them together. Last year we did some forging and made knives, and we’ve also done pottery.

“Trying new experiences is another way of being creative. And don’t worry about not being able to do things. Everyone goes into these things not knowing what to do, even the experts. You’re never going to be able to do things right the first time.

“And if you find it too easy, then try something different and challenge yourself. Don’t worry about making a mistake, because it’s the mistakes help you create better things next time. It’s the mistakes that count. That’s where we learn.” 

Timestamps

  • 01:54 – 05:14: What Mark has learned from his experiences
  • 07:24 – 14:26 How Mark got to where he is today
  • 14:29 – 17:39: Why a mastermind is so powerful
  • 17:45 – 26:05: How to prevent your mastermind from stagnating
  • 26:31 – 30:20: The benefits of having frameworks in your business
  • 31:35 – 35:54: Common blocks to growth
  • 37:43 – 39:54: How to be more creative 

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