Stream Stackers Radio: Recent Episodes
Ben Lyons
A Quest for the Ultimate Side Hustle. Ben Lyons takes you on a journey through his creation of a new Supercharged Business Model and ultimately turning a Side Hustle into a full time career. Along the way, there are marketing secrets discovered, personal growth and development, failures, successes and golden nuggets of information that can be used for any entrepreneur looking to level up their lives! This is the "how to" journey about turning a Side Hustle into a Dream Life.
When you watch a child put so much focus and energy into something they're excited about it's fun to watch. Then you ask the child to do something that they may not be interested in...and the excuses come out. Especially "I'm tired". If we expand this out to a bigger picture into our lives, do we exhibit the same behavior? Are we "tired" because we lack motivation toward what we're doing or are we truly tired. I believe most of the time it's the former not the latter. Time to do some introspect on your life!
My wife and I had a good chuckle this morning as we were driving home from dropping our daughter off at school. We had both girls with us and our morning routine is and has been the same for several years now...we ALL ride together to go to school. That short period of time we have with our daughters is special and we're intentional with it. We say our morning affirmations and off they go. What we noticed recently, and without intention, is that now there are several families that are doing the same thing. That's when I realized that our actions have so much power when they're directed in the right light. I realized that others were following suite (AKA husband and wife dropping off the kids) because we inadvertently shed light on that morning routine for others. It's the small things that matter!
We see signs all the time in our life, but do you recognize when it's something that should have meaning. Do you also hear the still, small voice when it's talking? Sometimes this voice defies logic and takes you down a path that may not make sense. It's important for you to recognize when this is happening and to identify in your life opportunities to create space for this voice to come through. Ultimately, it will tell you if you're on the right path.
The word "NO" sets boundaries. These boundaries close off certain areas in our lives and open other areas. The areas that are opened (intentionally or not) should begin to flourish. Saying NO is a powerful way to say YES to other things that we want. We have to move forward in some form or fashion, so be INTENTIONAL with your words.
Cognitive Dissonance is the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions. When you have cognitive dissonance, in my opinion, you are acting in a manner that's not aligned with your internal compass. This can create anxiety, anger, frustration and really put a downer on your life. What's a way to change that? LIVE UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL the best that you can in all areas! When you do that, inevitably you become happier. When you truly give something your all, you feel amazing. Try it and see!
Looking back, in retrospect, it's easy to see the pivotal moments in life that changed the trajectory for myself. Hard to go through those moments, but it's foundational components and lessons learned are powerful. In this episode, I share an embarrassing moment from my junior high days where I missed a tackle on the football field. The lesson I learned that day involves not the act of missing the tackle...but was I running full speed at it? In other words, it's okay to fail if you give it your all. Powerful lesson, hopefully it helps you!
When the storm hits in business, when the rocky times come...AND THEY WILL...are you ready? Have you put your head down enough and worked it enough to have a solid foundation? Also, have you really dove into what motivates you and what you focus on? When skies are blue and the sailing is easy, that's not the time to become a sailor. The true test is in the heart of the storm. Do you really enjoy yourself and like the company you keep?
The Rocking Chair test speaks to how you you feel near the end of your journey in this world. As your sitting in your rocking chair, reflecting on your life, are you proud of what you've accomplished? Are you proud of the legacy that you're leaving behind, the impact you've had, the moments you've been a part of? Put yourself in that moment emotionally and it will tell the story for your. If you put yourself (fast forward) into the Rocking Chair moment...it can change the trajectory of your life.
All the building blocks of our universe are mostly made up of NOTHING. This "nothingness" is just recently being looked at by quantum physicists and they are discovering that vibrations are actually some of the key building blocks in the universe as well. That begs the question that if it's "true or significant" in the physical sense...does our emotional or thoughts or intention emit a vibration or frequency as well? If you pay attention to real world examples, it's plain to see that it does!
Life skills are so important and it's equally as important to share a life skill or any skill for that matter that may improve someone else's life. It's the old saying, "give a man a fish OR teach a man to fish". One creates dependency, scarcity and fear while the other creates independence, self sufficiency, abundance and a lack of fear. If you have a skill, be sure to teach and share it with others!
Years ago I read a story about 2 brothers. The oldest brother was athletically gifted, the younger brother, not so much. Nevertheless, they were best of friends. One tragic Summer day the older brother dove into a shallow portion of a lake and became paralyzed. It changed their lives forever and the family had to get used to a new normal. Fast forward years down the road and the younger brother who had always struggled with his weight was in a "pity me" mode and complaining about working out and that it just was too difficult to get motivated. The older brother, in his wheelchair, responded "I would give anything to feel the pain of running again". That's all it took. That CONTRAST was so powerful the younger brother never looked back or complained about working out again. Contrast can be your friend on your road to personal development if you use it properly. SO USE IT.
What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Sometimes in life, we do all the things that have got us to this point. Those "things" allowed us to reach certainly levels and heights that we're reaching for. Sometimes those "things" suddenly stop working and we level out our gains. All of the sudden, we realize the "things" that got us there won't take us to the finish line. That's where it's critical to recognize the plateau and make a plan to "shake it up" or "shake it loose". In other words, when you hit that time, you need to make some tweaks to your routine. Make tweaks to your mindset or approach. Make just enough tweaks to know what works but not too many tweaks so you don't know what works at all anymore!?! That's the secret....find the happy medium, shake it up, continue to put in the effort and you'll start seeing NEW RESULTS!
My focus has been selling to "the past me"... What does that mean? Well, everything that I do to create the Stream Stacker Challenge and Business Model goes through the lens of "would the former me (10-15 years ago) get excited about this opportunity?". If the answer is YES, then it goes in. If it's NO then I cut it out. This challenge will allow you to dip your toe in the water of the Stream Stacker Business Model and see if it's right for you. If you'd like to try, go to www.streamstackerchallenge.com
IQ has been a measurement of intelligence for many years. It's been correlated with your "success" in life. EQ hit the stage not that many years ago and people began to wonder...what role does EQ have in your success? Is it more important or less important than IQ? How can it be used as a tool to further your journey toward your goals? Is it something that can be grown and developed? In this episode we take a surface look at which one is most important in your life and which one you should focus on!
Momentum is king. Momentum carries us through the difficult times and speeds us up when things are going good. Momentum creates options and opportunities for us on all levels. If your movement, motion AKA momentum gets stiffled, then you're in troubled waters! The biggest killer of momentum is uncertainty. It's critical to have a specific way to deal with uncertainty and I share that tactic in this episode. Use this tactic as a tool to move yourself forward in the face of uncertainty and move quickly toward your desired outcomes!
If you believe in God or a higher power, then you need to use this episode as a tool to take ALL of the items you can't lift on your own and put them in the hands of the power that will. I share an incredible tool that I used when I was overwhelmed and at my worst that changed everything for me. This tool can be used time and time again with no limit. Listen to the episode to find out how the "two columns" can be a catalyst for change in your life as well.
Sales is the fuel for your business! Without sales, most businesses are defunct. The sales process is more critical than ever, especially on high ticket items. In this episode I share with you the secret I discovered that shot my sales production higher than I ever dreamed possible. It's a simple strategy but it takes intention and focus. Listen to this episode to find out more!
When you set out to break a bad habit, you put yourself on a task that almost no one can achieve...I say almost "no one" simply because it's a small percentage of individuals that are driven enough to completely stop a habit in it's tracks. The vast majority of people have to REPLACE their habit with one that's more inline with their goals. In this episode, I give a few examples of how to replace your bad habit and I challenge you to discover 3 bad habits that need to be replaced in your personal life!
Life begins outside your comfort zone. When you push yourself to being uncomfortable, you GROW. When you stay comfortable, you begin a slow and subtle decline in all your accomplishments. The key to life is GROWTH. Get busy living or get busy dying! This episode is all about finding your "zone" that makes you squirm and embracing that because it means you are truly growing.
Have you ever worked hard to achieve a goal and really pushed to make it happen? Have you ever challenged yourself to move far beyond your comfort zone in an effort to do something great? If so, then this is a great episode for you! The journey of climbing Mount Rainier was EPIC, but the small moment I experienced on the Summit changed my life forever. It gave me PERSPECTIVE. Life is all about perspective and how you frame it...listen to gain the lesson!
In this episode we dive into the Mantras we Beat on a regularly basis and discover that they may not be serving us! WHAT A THOUGHT!?! A slight tweak to how we state things can make massive changes in our lives. It's simple, costs no money and is foundational work that we all need to do. Discovers some of the instances that have changed my life, some of the mantras that have limited me and how I've discovered them, changed them and built a path for success.
In this episode I talk about a discovery I made in the previous evening. Watching and studying the one and only, Russell Brunson, I realized at the core of my business there needs to be a huge WHY factor. I've been struggling with discovering a WHY that truly motivates me into serving others in a way that will improve their lives. Well, the wait is over and it came to me clear. My desire is to help everyone in the Stream Stackers ecosystem become DEBT FREE. Debt, in my opinion, is one of the biggest chains that holds us back. Becoming Debt Free allows us to improve the quality of our lives, move into wealth building stage for retirement, it helps us minimize the harmful stress that takes a toll on our health. Being Debt Free is the Ultimate Gift I can give an Entrepreneur to free them and help them advance to the next level. My hope is that they can, in turn, give back to their family, loved ones, community and society.
Maintaining your day to day and performing at a peak level are 2 different things. Most of us can put the "day to day" on cruise control, yet it's a struggle to keep motivated enough to perform at a peak level. Why is it important to perform at a high level? BECAUSE ALL the rewards go to those that do those little extras! You see, everyone can put it on cruise control but those that challenge themselves enough to do the extras are ones that live the extraordinary lives! Which one are you?
In this episode, I take just a moment to talk about what I witnessed this morning with my two daughters. The Elf on a Shelf returned for the Christmas season. My daughters were filled with excitement, wonder and curiosity. I thought to myself...why aren't most adults filled with these same feelings? We should be. Take time to recognize when these small moments enter your life and make them "magical" by stopping and appreciating what happened.
Having an abundant mindset comes from being GRATEFUL. When you enjoy and are grateful for the PROCESS of achieving your goals and dreams, then you come from a place of abundance. If you seek only the outcome of your goals...you miss your opportunity to smell the roses and feel the fulfillment along the way. Be intentional on shifting your mindset, no matter what step your at in your journey, and the quality of your life will be changed forever!
Neuro-Associations are SO IMPORTANT in your life. The more you can become aware of their power, the easier it is to achieve your goals. It's a never ending process...in other words, I just discovered an association that I made subconsciously that, if not checked, will set me back for weeks, months and potentially years. Find out the process of how I discover the association, address it and reattach emotion that needs to be there in order to serve my higher good!
When you think about the "Pinch Points" in your life, you should understand that these are your blocks that are stopping you from achieving your desired outcome. Whether it's a physical, financial or quality of life outcome, these pinch points are IN YOUR WAY and must be dealt with on a mental and emotional level. That's where Neuro-Associations come into play. This episode just helps you become aware of the tool that can change your life forever!
Feeling overwhelmed is no joke. It can stop all your momentum and really put you behind in life. Today's episode we revisit the "permissions" I give you as an entrepreneur...to take some time for yourself, gain clarity and to forgive yourself for not being a super human. On top of that, you'll get my "secret sauce" on how to take ACTION now. It's called the Snowball Effect and it really works wonders! Keep this tactic in your arsenal and you'll always have a rope to get out of the "overwhelmed" swamp.
Becoming overwhelmed is no joke as an entrepreneur. If you don't take time for yourself at some point, burnout will become VERY REAL. It's up to you to recognize when it's time to unplug and reset in your life. It's up to you to put your phone down and give everything a rest...trust me, LIFE WILL GO ON. Sometimes you need to experience what you DON'T WANT to truly understand and move toward what YOU DO WANT. In this episode, I give you permission to do just that!
The still, quiet voice told me this morning as I was getting ready to BUCKLE UP! Buckle up why? Because the end of the year is upon us. Every successful entrepreneur has a "sense of urgency" built into their lives. This is a trigger for us to pay attention to. That flag was raised today as I realize that we have about 45 days left until the end of the year. Time to TAKE ACTION NOW. Grab your whiteboard marker and start with "MTWTFSS". Listen to this episode to find out how this simple tool will have you leaving this year as STRONG as you can and going into next year with a mindful of success.
One thing I learned from holding myself accountable is that it forces me to take real action. It doesn't have to be elaborate or complicated...just simple actions. When I take action on things that "need" to be done (like household chores...but for your business) it's amazing how GOOD it feels, how much clarity you gain and how much momentum you walk away with!
I've struggled with finishing strong for many years. I put together these amazing projects and then at the end I loose my "UMPH"...and don't end up tying all the loose ends up and celebrating properly. WELL, NO MORE. I'm putting a STAMP on it and buttoning up all the loose ends, taking the time to reflect on the wins and the areas I could've improved and celebrating my efforts. THEN I can move onto the next project. Often times you go into the next venture how you left the previous one...so FINISH STRONG and go into the next push STRONGER than ever!
The Ultimate Side Hustle Summit was a culmination of 45 days worth of work to bring together Industry Experts to talk all things SIDE HUSTLE! It was a fantastic event and it's evergreen, so you can still view the content.
I GAVE AWAY MY TRUCK! Listen to this episode to find out why I did it and what lessons were learned. Also, be sure to watch the Disney movie TOGO!
Election Day! Win or Lose, there will be an outcome. Today's episode is how to deal with that outcome in a productive way. There are things externally that we cannot control. However, there are absolutely things we can control. WHAT WE FOCUS ON.
In this episode I share my 3 FALSE money beliefs that kept me from achieving wealth for many years. Get rid of those beliefs now and open the gates to financial freedom!
Most of us go through life without analyzing key "road blocks" that are stopping us from taking action. Action creates momentum, momentum creates opportunity and opportunities are what we need for success! In this episode, I'll share with you my a Major Road Block I faced in my life and how I overcame it. HINT: It's from my childhood.
On this episode I reveal how a real estate business that I created brokered over $100 Million in sales...and THEN CRASHED and burned. I walked away with less than nothing financially but I had the revolution and evolution of thought that eventually propelled me to my Dream Life! Out of the ashes of Failure often times comes the Brilliance of Success.
In this episode, I realized that working harder AND smarter is the key to success. I take you back to the moment that it came together for me...my thought shifted to doing all things with intention and efficiency. The restaurant business taught me a lot about life and this was one of the biggest lessons!
Ground Zero on Stream Stacker Radio. What is this journey about and what really is a Stream Stacker?