I’m The Real Jason Duncan, back with your Beyond the Grind blog, where we help entrepreneurs like you build thriving businesses without sacrificing your freedom. 🚀

Last time, I shared how Andrew Carnegie relied on a mastermind to help him make the biggest business decision of his life. But he wasn’t the only one. Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone built one of the most famous masterminds in history—not in a boardroom, but on the open road.

The Mastermind That Built an Empire

It was the summer of 1918.
The dust kicked up behind the convoy as they rattled down a winding dirt road somewhere in Pennsylvania.
Henry Ford sat in one of his custom touring cars, eyes scanning the horizon.
Next to him, Thomas Edison leaned back in his seat, deep in thought.
In another car, Harvey Firestone scribbled notes in a leather notebook, considering what the rise of the automobile means for his rubber tire business.

While these trips began as a way to escape the pressures of their busy lives and enjoy the outdoors, they naturally became forums for sharing ideas.
The convoy finally pulled off at a clearing, setting up an elaborate camp for the night. The fire is lit. The coffee brews. The conversation begins.
This wasn't just a road trip. This was a mobile mastermind.

At night, under the glow of lanterns and a sky full of stars, they sat around the campfire, discussing ideas, sharing stories, and occasionally debating business matters.
Ford spoke of his ongoing efforts to refine manufacturing—his revolutionary assembly line had been operating since 1913, making the Model T increasingly affordable for Americans.
Edison, ever the inventor, shared tales of his latest projects and ideas.
Firestone discussed the challenges and opportunities in the growing tire industry.
The naturalist John Burroughs, another regular member of their group, often joined them, bringing a perspective that balanced their industrial ambitions with appreciation for the natural world.

These weren't just casual conversations.
These were friendships that connected industries, influenced American innovation, and helped shape the future of transportation.
They called themselves "The Vagabonds."
And they understood something that most entrepreneurs ignore: Success is never built in isolation.
They weren't competitors. They weren't just friends. They were a mastermind.

These camping trips didn't directly lead to specific business breakthroughs, but they reinforced relationships that had already transformed American industry.
Ford had already revolutionized manufacturing with his assembly line.
Edison had already changed the world with his inventions.
Firestone was already a leader in the tire industry.
And together, they enjoyed the fruits of their success while cementing legacies that would inspire future generations of innovators.

Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Mastermind

The Vagabonds understood something that most entrepreneurs miss: Success isn’t a solo journey.
They weren’t sitting in boardrooms, making stiff, formal presentations.
They were in the wild, swapping stories, testing ideas, and sharpening each other’s thinking.

This is the real power of a mastermind—it’s not just about learning new strategies.
It’s about having the right people in your corner who challenge you, encourage you, and help you see opportunities you’d miss on your own.

Too many business owners try to figure it all out alone.
They make decisions in isolation, struggle with the same bottlenecks, and wonder why they’re not growing fast enough.
The truth? You don’t know what you don’t know.

Carnegie, Ford, Edison, and Firestone weren’t successful because they had all the answers.
They were successful because they surrounded themselves with the right people who helped them see what they couldn’t see on their own.

Who’s In Your Circle?

Think about the last big decision you had to make in your business.
Who did you turn to for advice?
Did you have a group of high-level thinkers to challenge you?
Or were you left figuring it out alone?

One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is thinking they can grow their businesses without surrounding themselves with the right people.
The Vagabonds didn’t need a fancy conference room to have high-level conversations that shaped industries.
They had a campfire, an open road, and a shared commitment to pushing each other forward.

Carnegie, Ford, and Edison understood something most business owners miss:
You will always hit a ceiling if you rely only on your own perspective.
You’re too close to your own problems.
You have blind spots you can’t see.
And you don’t know what you don’t know.

That’s why masterminds—both informal and structured—are a key to real growth.
Some entrepreneurs rely on a trusted group of friends and peers to bounce ideas off of.
Others invest in structured masterminds, designed to put them in a room with high-level thinkers who challenge and sharpen them.
But the worst thing you can do? Try to figure it all out alone.

The truth is, you need a group of people who:

• See your blind spots before they cost you time and money

• Challenge your thinking and help you make better decisions

•  Hold you accountable so you actually take action

•  Give you access to strategies and insights you’d never get on your own

That’s why I created The Exiter Club—a mastermind built for entrepreneurs who want to grow, exit, and scale their businesses while getting their time back.

Success leaves clues. The company you keep will either sharpen you or slow you down. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, push you, and help you see what you can’t see on your own. That’s how you grow. That’s how you win.

Thank you for reading!

Go beyond the grind,
The Real Jason Duncan 🚀