For Leaders Under Load
Ballast Network
Ballast brings together high-responsibility men leading companies, families, and communities who want to stay grounded, resilient, and faithful under real pressure.
THE PROBLEM
Leadership Compresses Life
As responsibility increases, margin disappears.Decisions stack up. Expectations multiply. The cost of getting it wrong grows. And over time, many capable men find themselves carrying more than they were ever meant to carry alone.Not because they’re failing—but because leadership quietly narrows the places where honesty, rest, and recalibration are possible.Ballast exists because unchecked pressure eventually takes something from every leader.
THE RESPONSE
Ballast adds weight where it counts
bal·last
noun
1: Weight added to a ship to improve stability in rough water.
2: A device used in lighting systems to regulate electrical current and prevent burnout.Through consistent community, peer groups, curated trips, and honest conversations, Ballast creates space for men to stay grounded while continuing to lead—at work, at home, and within themselves.Ballast helps men lead steadily over time.
Shared Experience
How Ballast Works
Ballast is a local community of men in Cincinnati who are carrying real responsibility at work, at home, and in their faith.Wide Community: The member-only community sets the tone. Men gather periodically to share a common pursuit of humble excellence in their vocational leadership, family life, and spiritual vitality.Core Groups: Many step into monthly peer groups where the deeper work happens among a small and committed circle of leaders from similar vocational contexts. This is the primary arena of transformation.Trips and Experiences: When you're part of Ballast, you're on the invite list for local events and national adventures. Shared experiences with peers.Those groups stay intentionally small and meet regularly. They’re built for continuity, not drop-in participation. Over time, men get to know each other’s context and stay engaged season after season.Most men experience Ballast in two ways: as part of the broad local community and within a smaller group that knows them well.
For Me...
WHO BALLAST IS FOR
Ballast is for men who are carrying responsibility for others and feel that weight.Men leading companies, teams, churches, or families. Men who are showing up, but know they don’t want to do it alone or drift through life unchecked.Ballast fits men who take their work, relationships, and faith seriously—and want to stay honest and steady over time.If you are a leader who values consistency, direct conversation, and being known by a committed group of peers, Ballast will be a helpful part of your regimen.
Or not for me...
WHO BALLAST IS NOT FOR
Ballast probably isn’t a fit if you’re looking for quick fixes, networking, or a place to perform.It’s not therapy.
It’s not a mastermind.
It's not a church men's group.
It’s not built for drop-in participation.Ballast works best for men who are willing to show up consistently and take the long view.
Ballast Core Groups
Small Business Owners
Ballast serves men who own the outcome.These are founders and small business owners carrying payroll, clients, families, and the long-term consequences of their decisions. The work is personal. The pressure is constant. Wins and losses rarely stay at the office.For the last several years, a core group of small business owners has gathered monthly in a committed peer group—walking through seasons of growth, failure, doubt, and rebuilding together. The group doesn’t exist to fix each other, but to help each man stay clear, honest, and aligned across work, faith, and family.This group shaped the original thesis of Ballast.Group 1 is currently full.Group 2 is forming, with a planned launch in Spring 2026.
Corporate Team Leaders
Ballast isn’t just for owners.Many men lead teams, manage large responsibilities, and carry real influence without having equity or final authority. The pressure is still real. The expectations are still high. And the space to process leadership honestly is often thin.Ballast creates peer groups for corporate leaders who carry responsibility for people, culture, and outcomes—without needing to posture or perform. These groups focus on clarity, integrity, and long-view leadership rather than career tactics or networking.If you lead others and feel the quiet weight of that responsibility, Ballast may be a fit.New corporate-focused groups will form as demand and fit align.
Young Professionals
Some men want to build well before things break.Ballast can serve younger professionals who are serious about the kind of leaders, husbands, and men they are becoming—not just the careers they’re building. These are men early in responsibility, asking better questions now so they don’t drift into misalignment later.Groups for young professionals emphasize formation, consistency, and learning how to carry ambition without burning out or isolating. This isn’t a shortcut or a hustle group—it’s slow, intentional development alongside others who want to lead with character.These groups are selective and form intentionally based on readiness and commitment.
Details & FAQ's
Ballast Membership
Ballast is $75/month or $800/year
Membership includes monthly formation gathering, weekly focus email, trip and experience invites, peer network access, and more.
Membership is currently open to any man who resonates with the Ballast ethos and agrees to the code of conduct.
Ballast is open to men of all ages, 21+
Core Groups
Core group membership includes access to the broader ballast network benefits
Core groups are priced as follows:
Business Owner
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Ballast — for leaders under load
Steady community for leaders of character and consequence
If Ballast sounds like it might be a fit, the next step is a short application.
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