The Inner Entrepreneur

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I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I'll help you do the same.
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From Rock Musician to Nine-Figure Entrepreneur | Lee Benson
What does it really take to build an extraordinarily successful business without losing yourself along the way?
In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Lee Benson, serial entrepreneur, musician and business leader who has founded eight companies and sold three, including an aerospace business for well into nine figures.
Lee's story is anything but conventional. Kicked out of home as a teenager, he earned his living playing guitar in rock bands before going on to build a global aerospace company employing more than 500 people.
But what makes Lee's story particularly fascinating isn't simply his financial success. It's his philosophy that real success comes from creating value in three areas of life: material wealth, positive emotional energy and meaningful human connection.
We explore how Lee built an extraordinary company culture, why he believes most business leaders misunderstand their responsibilities, and how he achieved a remarkable EBITDA multiple when selling his business.
We also talk about the importance of continuing to grow, the dangers of becoming too comfortable, and why Lee believes the quality of our emotional energy determines so much of our experience of life.
Lee shares the difficult family circumstances that shaped his early years and how those experiences inspired his latest mission: helping families raise confident, capable children through his Dinner Table initiative.
This is a conversation about business, leadership, family, personal growth and what it really means to create a successful life.
About Lee Benson
Lee Benson is a serial entrepreneur, author, musician and business leader who has founded eight companies and sold three, including Able Aerospace Services, which he grew into a global business with approximately 540 employees and customers in 60 countries.
Through ETW (Execute to Win), Lee works with CEOs and leadership teams to help them increase the value of their businesses through better leadership, culture and execution.
He is also the driving force behind Dinner Table, an initiative helping families intentionally develop financial responsibility, character, leadership and stronger relationships.
Learn more about Lee:
Business and leadership: https://etw.com
Families and personal development: https://dinnertable.com
In This Episode, We Explore
How Lee went from playing rock music to building a nine-figure aerospace business.
Why financial success alone doesn't create a fulfilling life.
The three forms of value creation: material, emotional and spiritual.
Why positive emotional energy is one of the greatest assets a leader can develop.
How Lee created a company culture where employees took ownership of their results.
Why he believes a CEO's primary responsibility is to continually and responsibly increase business value.
How strong leadership, systems and culture helped achieve a 21.6× EBITDA sale multiple.
Why successful entrepreneurs sometimes need to replace members of their leadership teams.
The remarkable conversation with Jack Welch that validated Lee's approach to business.
Why healthy struggle and personal development are essential to a meaningful life.
How Lee's difficult childhood shaped his approach to leadership, family and success.
Why teaching children responsibility, resilience and financial literacy matters.
How to build a successful business while continuing to enjoy the things you love.
About the Host — Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, mentor and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast.
Having built an eight-figure business that runs without his day-to-day involvement, Paul now helps successful entrepreneurs achieve the same freedom.
Through conversations with entrepreneurs, thought leaders and experts in personal development, Paul explores the connection between business success, mindset, wellbeing and living a fulfilling life.
Work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/

Work With Paul
I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I'll help you do the same.
Apply to work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/
What if you could build an incredibly successful business without sacrificing your health, your family or the life you really want to live?
In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with legendary entrepreneur, author and speaker Jack Daly, a man who has built six successful businesses, led sales teams numbering in the thousands, completed numerous Ironman triathlons and marathons, and designed an extraordinary life around the things that matter most to him.
At 76, Jack has no intention of slowing down. In fact, his goal is to live to 125, and he approaches his health, relationships, business and personal ambitions with the same extraordinary discipline and intentionality.
But what makes Jack's story so compelling isn't simply what he's achieved. It's how deliberately he's designed his life to make those achievements possible.
Jack shares how, at just 13 years old, he began learning from successful people, asking questions and setting goals for the life he wanted to create.
We explore his philosophy of Life by Design, why most people never take the time to figure out what they really want, and how the choices we make every day determine the lives we ultimately live.
One of the biggest lessons from our conversation is that we all have exactly 168 hours every week. The difference between those who live the life they want and those who don't often comes down to two things: priorities and discipline.
Jack challenges us to look at our calendars and ask whether how we're spending our time actually reflects what we say matters most.
We also explore the importance of learning from people who've already achieved what you want, building a business that doesn't consume your life, overcoming setbacks and continuing to grow regardless of your age.
This is a conversation about much more than business success. It's about making the most of the life we have.
About Jack Daly
Jack Daly is an internationally recognised entrepreneur, bestselling author, sales expert and motivational speaker.
He has built six companies into significant businesses, led organisations with thousands of salespeople and spent decades helping entrepreneurs and business leaders achieve extraordinary results.
Jack is the author of several books, including Hyper Sales Growth and Jack Daly's Life by Design, which shares his approach to setting goals and intentionally creating the life you want.
An accomplished endurance athlete, Jack has completed numerous marathons and Ironman triathlons. His passion for personal growth, health and lifelong learning continues to drive him well into his seventies.
In This Episode, We Explore
Life by Design: Why creating an extraordinary life begins with deciding what you actually want.
The 168-hour principle: How priorities and discipline determine what we achieve with our time.
Your calendar reveals your priorities: Why what you do matters more than what you say is important.
Learning from the masters: How Jack began seeking advice from successful people at just 13 years old.
Business success without personal sacrifice: How to build a successful company while protecting your health, family and relationships.
The power of intentional living: Why goals, planning and accountability help turn ambitions into reality.
Health and longevity: Jack's ambition to live to 125 and the disciplines that support his lifestyle.
Overcoming adversity: How Jack has navigated profound personal loss, cancer and other life challenges.
Finding the right coaches: Why learning from people who've already succeeded can accelerate your progress.
Lifelong growth: Why Jack believes some of the best years of his life are still ahead of him.
About the Host – Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, mentor and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast.
Having built an eight-figure business that runs without his day-to-day involvement, Paul now helps other successful business owners create the same freedom.
Through his podcast and mentoring, Paul explores the mindset, psychology and personal growth behind building a successful business and, more importantly, a fulfilling life.
Work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/
The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast explores what it really takes to succeed in business and in life, through honest conversations about entrepreneurship, mindset, wellbeing, purpose and personal growth.

Work With Paul
I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I'll help you do the same.
Apply to work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/
About This Episode
What if being constantly busy is actually making you less successful?
So many entrepreneurs wear busyness as a badge of honour. Always working, always chasing the next opportunity, always dealing with another problem. It makes us feel productive, important and successful.
But being busy doesn't necessarily mean we're making progress. In fact, constant busyness can lead to burnout, poor decision-making and a loss of clarity about what we're really trying to achieve.
In this short Inner Mentor episode, Paul Ryan explores why we become addicted to being busy, how chronic stress affects our ability to think strategically, and why slowing down might be one of the most productive things we can do.
He also asks a powerful question: Are you running towards something you really want, or running away from something you don't want to face?
Because sometimes busyness isn't ambition. It's avoidance.
And when we learn to stop, face what we're avoiding and create space to think clearly, we give ourselves the freedom to build a better business and a better life.
Busy isn't always better. Sometimes it's the very thing holding you back.
Topics Discussed
The addiction to busyness: Why entrepreneurs associate being busy with achievement, importance and success.
Busy versus productive: Why working harder and longer doesn't necessarily mean achieving more.
The impact of chronic stress: How constantly operating in fight-or-flight mode can affect your wellbeing and decision-making.
The importance of a calm mind: Why strategic thinking, clarity and long-term planning benefit from stepping away from constant urgency.
Running towards or running away: How busyness can become a distraction from uncomfortable feelings and difficult problems.
Facing what you're avoiding: Why learning to sit with discomfort can lead to greater emotional freedom.
Building a better life and business: How to pursue meaningful goals without sacrificing your wellbeing, relationships or peace of mind.
About the Host — Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, business mentor and host of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast.
Having built an eight-figure business that runs without him, Paul now helps successful entrepreneurs move beyond the day-to-day demands of their businesses to achieve greater financial, time and psychological freedom.
Through his podcast, speaking and mentoring, Paul explores the connection between business success, mindset, personal growth and wellbeing, helping people build businesses and lives that truly work for them.
Learn more: https://www.pauljryan.net/

Work With Paul
I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I'll help you do the same.
Apply to work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/
 
What if the goal you're working so hard to achieve isn't actually what you want?
In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, I welcome back Jaclyn Orent, founder of Cultural Catalysts, for a fascinating conversation about impossible goals, personal transformation and the difference between achieving success and actually enjoying the journey.
After attending a private session with Dr. Benjamin Hardy in Dublin, I set myself an ambitious three-year financial goal. It was exciting, challenging and well outside my comfort zone.
But something interesting happened.
The harder I pursued it, the more I found myself slipping into a familiar pattern of striving, pressure and forcing things to happen.
And I began to question whether I was approaching the whole thing the wrong way.
Jaclyn combines Benjamin Hardy's Science of Scaling with the work of Dr. David Hawkins on consciousness, surrender and letting go. In a conversation we had before recording this episode, she challenged me to look beyond the financial number and ask a much more important question:
What is it that I really want to experience in my life?
That question changed the way I looked at my goal.
We explore why setting bigger goals isn't always the answer, how our attachment to outcomes can hold us back, and why learning to let go might be one of the most important skills an entrepreneur can develop.
In This Episode, We Explore:
The Science of Impossible Goals and Benjamin Hardy's approach to achieving extraordinary growth.
The three pillars of scaling: Frame, Floor and Focus.
Why you might be pursuing a goal that isn't actually aligned with what you want.
The difference between goals that pull you forward and goals you have to push yourself towards.
How striving, pressure and the need to prove yourself can get in the way of fulfilment.
Dr. David Hawkins' ideas about power, force, consciousness and surrender.
Why becoming a different version of yourself is often necessary to achieve something extraordinary.
Jaclyn's three-part approach to letting go of emotional attachments and limiting beliefs.
Why accepting your present reality doesn't mean giving up on creating a better future.
How to pursue extraordinary success without sacrificing the freedom and fulfilment you're trying to create.
This is a particularly personal conversation for me because it challenged something I've believed for a long time about ambition and achievement.
And perhaps the biggest takeaway is this:
You can still want extraordinary things. You just don't have to force your way towards them.
Connect With Jaclyn Orent
Cultural Catalysts: https://culturalcatalyst.net
Explore working with Jaclyn: https://culturalcatalyst.net/impact
About The Inner Entrepreneur
The Inner Entrepreneur explores the psychology, mindset and personal growth behind building a successful business and creating a fulfilling life.
Hosted by Paul Ryan, entrepreneur and owner of an eight-figure business that runs without him, the podcast goes beyond business strategies to explore the inner work that makes lasting success and genuine freedom possible.

I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I'll help you do the same.
Apply to work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/
What does it take to climb Mount Everest, survive some of the harshest conditions on Earth and rebuild your life when everything falls apart?
In this episode of the Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Pat Falvey, legendary Irish explorer, mountaineer, entrepreneur and author, to explore an extraordinary life of adventure, resilience and personal transformation.
Pat shares his journey from growing up with very little in Cork to becoming a successful businessman, losing his fortune, battling depression and eventually discovering a new purpose through mountaineering and exploration.
Having climbed Mount Everest from both sides, completed the Seven Summits twice and led expeditions to some of the most remote places on Earth, Pat has experienced the extremes of what the human mind and body can endure.
We discuss the power of belief, overcoming adversity, what happens when you're pushed to your limits, and why Pat now believes that some of life's greatest achievements have nothing to do with reaching the top of a mountain.
In this episode, we explore:
How Pat went from leaving school at 15 to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
The influence of his grandmother and why she called him her "bar of gold."
What it really takes, mentally and physically, to climb Mount Everest.
How Pat rebuilt his life after financial collapse and severe depression.
The importance of resilience, self-belief and surrounding yourself with the right people.
What extreme adventures and near-death experiences teach you about life.
Pat's experiences with spirituality, Buddhism and searching for deeper meaning.
Why conquering mountains doesn't necessarily mean you've conquered yourself.
The lessons Pat learned about family, relationships and being present.
Why Pat now considers becoming the best grandfather he can be his greatest Everest.
This is a fascinating conversation about adventure, courage, the power of the human spirit and discovering what really matters in life.
About Pat Falvey
Pat Falvey is an Irish explorer, mountaineer, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. He has climbed Mount Everest from both the north and south sides, completed the Seven Summits twice and led numerous expeditions to some of the world's most challenging environments.
From building businesses to surviving personal setbacks and conquering some of the world's highest mountains, Pat's extraordinary life is a testament to resilience, determination and the power of believing in yourself.
Connect with Pat:
Website: https://patfalvey.com/

Work With Paul
I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I'll help you do the same.
Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/

Can we really see angels? Is there one God across all religions? And what happens to us when we die?
In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur, I sit down with bestselling author Lorna Byrne, whose book Angels in My Hair tells the extraordinary story of her lifelong experiences with angels.
I approach the conversation with curiosity and some healthy scepticism as we explore God, guardian angels, the soul, life after death and whether we're all connected to something greater than ourselves.
We also discuss why so many successful entrepreneurs become trapped in the pursuit of more money and success, often forgetting to actually enjoy their lives.
Whether you're a believer, a sceptic or simply curious, this is a fascinating conversation about spirituality, meaning and what really matters in life.
About the Guest
Lorna Byrne is an Irish spiritual author best known for her international bestseller Angels in My Hair. Despite severe dyslexia and being unable to read or write, she has published numerous books sharing her experiences with angels and spirituality. She also welcomes visitors to Sanctuary, a spiritual retreat in County Kilkenny, Ireland.
Topics Discussed
Lorna's lifelong experiences of seeing and communicating with angels
Is there one God across all religions?
What happens to our soul when we die?
Heaven, hell, forgiveness and the nature of evil
Guardian angels, intuition and recognising spiritual guidance
Why wealth and success don't guarantee happiness
Learning to slow down and reconnect with ourselves
The remarkable story behind Lorna's Sanctuary in Kilkenny
Connect With Lorna
Lorna Byrne — Official Website
Lorna's Books, including Angels in My Hair
Visit Sanctuary, Kilkenny
About the Host
Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, mentor and host of The Inner Entrepreneur. Having built an eight-figure business that runs without him, he now helps successful entrepreneurs achieve greater financial, time and psychological freedom.
About This Episode
Can we really see angels? Is there one God across all religions? And what happens to us when we die?
In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur, I sit down with bestselling author Lorna Byrne, whose book Angels in My Hair tells the extraordinary story of her lifelong experiences with angels.
I approach the conversation with curiosity and some healthy scepticism as we explore God, guardian angels, the soul, life after death and whether we're all connected to something greater than ourselves.
We also discuss why so many successful entrepreneurs become trapped in the pursuit of more money and success, often forgetting to actually enjoy their lives.
Whether you're a believer, a sceptic or simply curious, this is a fascinating conversation about spirituality, meaning and what really matters in life.
About the Guest
Lorna Byrne is an Irish spiritual author best known for her international bestseller Angels in My Hair. Despite severe dyslexia and being unable to read or write, she has published numerous books sharing her experiences with angels and spirituality. She also welcomes visitors to Sanctuary, a spiritual retreat in County Kilkenny, Ireland.
Topics Discussed
Lorna's lifelong experiences of seeing and communicating with angels
Is there one God across all religions?
What happens to our soul when we die?
Heaven, hell, forgiveness and the nature of evil
Guardian angels, intuition and recognising spiritual guidance
Why wealth and success don't guarantee happiness
Learning to slow down and reconnect with ourselves
The remarkable story behind Lorna's Sanctuary in Kilkenny
Connect With Lorna
Lorna Byrne — Official Website
Lorna's Books, including Angels in My Hair
Visit Sanctuary, Kilkenny
About the Host
Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, mentor and host of The Inner Entrepreneur. Having built an eight-figure business that runs without him, he now helps successful entrepreneurs achieve greater financial, time and psychological freedom.
 

Work With Paul
I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I'll help you do the same.
Apply for a strategy call with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/
What if the reason you're not creating the life you want has less to do with your circumstances and more to do with patterns you learned years aAo?
In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur, Paul speaks with Joey Klein, founder of Inner Matrix Systems and author of The Inner Matrix and Relationship Alchemy.
Joey explains how childhood conditioning shapes our emotions, thoughts and behaviours, often without us realising it. He shares how we can recognise these unconscious patterns, retrain our emotional responses and begin creating a different future.
They also explore why lasting change requires consistent practice, how to develop greater emotional awareness, and why taking responsibility for our emotions is essential to building healthier relationships.
Topics Discussed
How childhood experiences shape our adult lives
Why we keep repeating the same emotional patterns
How to recognise and change unconscious conditioning
Training your mind and emotions through daily practice
Why personal transformation requires consistency
The two biggest mistakes that damage relationships
How to stop living from your past and start creating your future
About Joey Klein
Joey Klein is the founder of Inner Matrix Systems, a personal mastery training organisation. For over two decades, he has helped entrepreneurs, executives and individuals develop emotional mastery and create meaningful change in their lives. He is the author of The Inner Matrix and Relationship Alchemy.
Connect with Joey:
Website: https://joeyklein.com/
Inner Matrix Systems: https://innermatrixsystems.com/
About the Host
Paul J. Ryan is an entrepreneur, mentor and host of The Inner Entrepreneur. Having built an eight-figure business that runs without him, Paul now helps successful entrepreneurs create greater freedom in their businesses and lives.
https://www.pauljryan.net

Work With Paul
I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I'll help you do the same.
Apply to work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/
 
What’s the point of building a successful business if it costs you your marriage, your family or your happiness?
In this episode of the Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Kevin Davis, entrepreneur, author and founder of Maxed Out Man, to explore why so many successful entrepreneurs sacrifice the things that matter most in pursuit of success.
Kevin shares how his relentless focus on work nearly destroyed his marriage, the wake-up call that changed everything, and why he believes too many entrepreneurs are driven by fear rather than purpose.
We discuss the difference between financial freedom and time freedom, why your calendar reveals your real priorities, and how to build a successful business without sacrificing your relationships or wellbeing.
In this episode, we explore:
Why business success can come at the expense of your marriage and family.
How fear drives entrepreneurs to chase more, even when they already have enough.
Why your calendar is the clearest reflection of your priorities.
The difference between financial freedom and time freedom.
Kevin's three pillars for a fulfilling life: Man, Mission and Marriage.
Practical ways to protect family time, strengthen your relationships and work less.
Why it's never too late to rebuild a relationship with your children.
This conversation is a reminder that real success isn't simply about how much money you make or how big your business becomes. It's about creating a life you actually have the time and freedom to enjoy.
About Kevin Davis
Kevin Davis is an entrepreneur, author and founder of Maxed Out Man, where he helps men build stronger marriages, improve their wellbeing and create more fulfilling lives.
Connect with Kevin:
Website: https://maxedoutman.com
Free Marriage Toolkit: https://toolkit.maxedoutman.com

Work with Paul
I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. I’ll help you do the same.
Apply for a strategy call: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/
About This Episode
What if the biggest obstacle to your success and happiness isn't your circumstances, but your relationship with your own mind?
In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Shane Cradock, executive coach and author of The Inner CEO. Shane shares his deeply personal journey from a mental health crisis that brought him to the brink of suicide to discovering a completely different way of understanding his mind.
We explore why even highly successful entrepreneurs struggle to find happiness, why the mind constantly pushes us to achieve more, and how learning to step back from our thoughts can transform how we live and lead.
Shane also shares practical techniques for developing greater awareness, reducing mental noise and finding more clarity, peace of mind and fulfilment without sacrificing ambition.
About the Guest
Shane Cradock is an executive coach, advisor and author of The Inner CEO, helping business leaders master their inner world to achieve greater success and fulfilment.
Book: https://theinnerceo.com/
About the Host
Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, CEO and mentor who built an eight-figure business that runs without him. Through The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, he explores the psychology of success, personal growth and creating a fulfilling life.
Topics Discussed
Shane's personal journey through depression and suicidal thoughts
Why you are not your thoughts or your mind
The difference between positive thinking and positive psychology
Why successful entrepreneurs are never satisfied
The endless pursuit of more money, success and achievement
The difference between achievement and fulfilment
How your inner world shapes your outer reality
The power of awareness, gratitude and presence
Practical mindfulness techniques and daily mental pit stops
How to become the CEO of your own mind
Work with Paul
Ready to build a business that gives you more freedom, not less?
Apply to work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/