Leadership, Legacy & Playing a Bigger Game: What Mat Rogers Taught Us at Mastermind with Sherrie

At our fifth Mastermind session of the year, we were joined by someone who’s played on the biggest fields in the world and is now, playing a whole new game: Mat Rogers.

You might know him as a dual international athlete, Survivor star, or founder of the 4 ASD Kids Foundation. But what he brought to our Mastermind with Sherrie session wasn’t a highlight reel. It was the hard-earned, behind-the-scenes lessons of leadership, growth, and getting your house in order — literally and figuratively.

And yes, he made us laugh. Yes, he told us how he once tackled his own teammate in his first ever footy game. But he also gave us some of the most practical and powerful mindset shifts we’ve ever heard.

“If one person gets away with a mistake… so does everyone else.”

Mat shared how his coach once pulled him aside and said:

“If it’s okay for you to make a mistake… it becomes okay for all 17 players to make a mistake.”

Sound familiar?

If you let one person in your team coast - the rest notice. And the standard drops.

Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about chasing better, every day, publicly and consistently.

Whether it’s prospecting, presentations, or performance reviews - what you tolerate becomes the bar.

“I’m not building a business to create jobs. I’m building it to create a life.”

Mat’s a business owner (across multiple ventures), and his mission is simple:

Build a business that doesn’t need you.

Let’s be real: how many of us say we want freedom… but then structure our business so we must be in the middle of everything?

His goal is to replace himself, and to do that, he focuses on finding the right people, building trust, and creating systems. Exactly what I teach with my EBU structure — and why letting go of control is one of the hardest (but most necessary) things to do as a leader.

“Save your best for your best.”

This one rocked the room.

Mat shared a moment with his mentor who told him:

“You’re killing it in business. But your family’s suffering — and they’re not telling you.”

So now? He sits in his car before walking inside at the end of the day and reminds himself:

The people behind that door are your best. Don’t give them what’s left of you.

Sound familiar?

How many of us smash out a 12-hour day, give everyone else our best energy and come home running on empty?

Business is important. But significance? That’s what lasts.

Servant Leadership > Boss Energy

Mat broke down three styles of leadership:

• Autocratic (top-down)

• Democratic (all voices in)

• Transformational (vision-driven + people-focused)

The one he lives by?  Servant leadership.

“It puts change in your pocket so that when you do need to lead hard, you’ve earned the right.”

So, what is it?

Servant leadership is about leading by lifting others. It means putting your people first, backing them to grow, and investing in their success - not just directing it. It’s leadership that earns loyalty, not demands it.

You’re not the boss who barks orders.

You’re the one who gets in the trenches, clears the path, and builds people up so they can go further - with or without you.

Sound familiar?

It’s what great teams are built on. It’s also what gives you the freedom to step back without everything falling apart.

His reminder: Leadership isn’t just about calling the plays. It’s about growing the players.

“If you don’t have a goal, you’re just busy.”

We’ve all said it: “We just need to raise some money.”

Or “We just need more listings.”

But Mat flipped that mindset completely.

He shared how a vague “just raise money” goal turned into a record-breaking $100K+ fundraiser when they set a specific, meaningful goal (building a playground at a special school).

The takeaway?

Be precise. Be public. Be accountable.

Because clarity creates momentum.

Real leadership is in the little moments.

There was a story Mat told about a waiter giving Warren Buffet a cherry cola (Buffet’s favourite) before a million-dollar mentoring dinner… and landing 30 minutes of one-on-one time just by being intentional.

“Everyone communicates. But not everyone connects.”

Sound familiar?

You can have the perfect script and a killer pitch, but if you’re not paying attention - to your clients, your team, your own energy - you’re missing the mark.

Final Thoughts 

Mat’s session wasn’t just motivational. It was a reminder that:

• Your leadership style shapes your business.

• Your standards shape your results.

• Your personal life shapes your capacity.

As we approach the final Mastermind of the year, now’s the time to reflect:

• Are you clear on your goal?

• Are you growing the team or just managing the chaos?

• Are you showing up at home the way you show up for your business?

• What did you write in your ‘Letter to Future Self?’

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about ownership.

Because like Mat said — success is about you. Significance is about others.

And I know which one I’m chasing.

Sherrie x