This week’s BHP Short comes directly from your questions.

One of our listeners, Melissa, asked for 5-10 things every entrepreneur must know before starting your own business.

Whether you’re contemplating starting your own business, already making it happen, or part of a team that is committed to excellence, this episode has something of value for you.

This list is not the only list you’ll ever need, but it certainly contains some tips and advice that will save you some heartache and get you started on the right foot as you create the business (and life) you want.

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 073: 8 Must Know Tips For Starting Your Own Business appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

In a world of lying, liars, and lies, show up as the truth. – Paul Reddick

Today’s BHP Short expands on an excerpt from a recent Going 567 podcast I did with Paul Reddick.

It’s an important idea that has the potential to make a profound impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.

It’s a simple concept: Show up as the truth.

What more could we ask for? After all, all progress starts with the truth.

But as we know, simple is not the same as easy. Showing up as the truth is often much easier said than done. Showing up in this manner requires us to be courageous, to risk greatly, to have the tough conversations, and it usually means saying what needs to be said or doing what needs to be done instead of what we might want to say or do.

I believe we have a responsibility to those we love and care about to not pull punches – to be an honest and accurate mirror for them, to tell them where they’re doing well, where they misstep, show them how they can grow, to hold space for and support those initiatives.

This is what real love, friendship, and leadership looks like…

So the thought for you to meditate on today is this: How can others show up as the TRUTH for you? How can YOU show up as the truth for others? How can you ensure that you’re portraying or perpetuating the lying & lies?

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 072: Show Up As The Truth appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

Things that work, tend to continue to work…right up until they don’t.

As my friend Paul Reddick says, “what raises us, can restrict us.”

The trick is to catch these things before they restrict, limit, or stunt our performance &/or development. Or at the very least, become aware of them as soon as possible so we can give ourselves the opportunity to course correct.

We see these “black swan events” so obviously in hindsight – but in real time, they usually come as a shock to some extent – as an event, like an upset, an outbreak, a mistake, collapse, or some other “newsworthy” occurrence. This is why we also call them “pattern disrupts”.

Hindsight is unfair – so we shouldn’t judge ourselves for mistakes: we’re looking back with our current knowledge and experience – things we didn’t have in the moment.

BUT, as we move forward, don’t expect things to continue as they always have – NOTHING lasts forever.

I’ve got a heartbreaking, but all too common, story to share with you in this episode and a challenge to take nothing for granted.

Appreciation, not expectation.

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 071: Trends, Black Swans and Momento Mori appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

Managing the tension between getting it done and enjoying it is a timeless and universal struggle.

This tension is what I think most people are trying to figure out when they talk about “balance”.

It makes for tricky conversation, because there is no singular answer that is right for all people, or for all seasons of an individual’s life.

Life is not static. It’s certainly not the static, unmoving Norman Rockwell-like image that many hold in their heads detailing “what should be”… (see our “distorted perceptions” episode)

Since life is always changing, we must allow our belief systems to evolve.

These shifts will influence shifts in how will find and define success, happiness, and fulfillment.

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 070: What’s Over The Next Ridge? appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

Today’s BHP Short features a few lessons from Staring Down The Wolf, the newest book written by friend of the BHP and previous guest, Mark Divine.

Mark Divine is retired Navy SEAL commander, NY Times best-selling author, and the founder of SEALFIT.

We got our hands on an advance copy of his new book (available March 3rd) and couldn’t put it down!

In the book, Mark breaks down his 7 Commitments That Forge Elite Teams:

The 7 Commitments

PRESS PLAY to hear a few of my biggest takeaways from this great book.

The post BHP Shorts 069: Staring Down The Wolf appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

There is an iconic scene in the cult classic Pumping Iron where the Austrian Oak himself, and reigning Mr. Olympia, Arnold Schwarzenegger takes ballet lessons.

This scene contains several lessons for us, starting with the fact that true mastery requires total ownership of one’s craft.

In other words, champions are willing to do whatever it takes to be the best.

In this case, the most famous champion in bodybuilding history realizes the moments on stage are about more than just the mandatory poses.

By thinking about the moments in between poses, and how one moves from pose to pose, he almost single handedly created “posing” as it is known in bodybuilding today.

Let’s step over this innovation that forever changed a sport, and instead focus on the fact that unlike any bodybuilder before him, Arnold realized the importance of the in-between moments.

And just like a bodybuilder on stage, we are being judged for the in-between moments.

If you have kids, you know they’re always watching and they learn more from what we do than what we say. This data gathering isn’t limited only to children.

We’re always watching and forming opinions based on our observations. Likewise, others are being informed by our choices, decisions, and actions.

Are we leading always? Are we demonstrating our values to others through our actions – not the just the poses with hit under the spotlights, but in those in-between moments, especially when we think nobody is watching?

It’s a question of integrity. Who are you in the in-between moments?

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 068: Arnold, Ballet, & The In-Between Moments appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

What do the Runner’s high, suspension of self, LuLuLemon, the neurochemistry of flow states and the Artist’s Journey have in common?

TUNE IN and you’re about to find out!

This seed for this episode was planted when LuLu Lemon founder Chip Wilson wrote the following statement: “the runners high hits after 35 minutes of sustained elevated heart rate and in this state we are present and somehow our past is no longer dictating our conscious thought or even subconscious thought.”

In this BHP Short, we’re digging deeper on:

We’re going pretty deep on the science, so bring your pocket protector and let’s talk mental and physical performance!

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 067: Get More Flow appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

If you want more discipline, consistency or follow through, you need to listen to this episode. If you constantly break promises to yourself, let yourself off the hook, or have trouble “staying on track” when things get a little tough, this is for you.

At its core, this message highlights the massive chasm between promises and commitments.

While that may sounds like semantics, you’ll realize the significance like a punch in gut when you hear how this plays out in a real world example.

And once you hear it, I hope you never look at goals, promises, or commitments that same way.

Be #ALLIN or GTFO.

#AllIn #BurnTheBoats

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 066: The Father Of The Bride Lesson appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

It’s only dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Or is it?

Risk is a tricky thing, and in some instances impossible to eliminate completely, but it’s not impossible to navigate.

Let’s look at driving.

There is a certain level of risk involved in driving your car across town today (and everyday) no matter how good of a driver you are – or how high your car’s safety rating.

But how does that risk change if we’re distracted? (You know using our phone for directions while talking and trying to take a sunset photo?)

And how does that risk change again if this time we trust that same daily commute to your 11-year-old nephew?

Due to his lack of knowledge – and experience – the risk level of riding in the same car, on the same roads, at the same time of day, significantly increases.

The takeaway: certain variables dramatically increase or reduce the risk involved in every situation.

When we sense risk, dig deeper.

Why do certain situations, scenarios, or decisions seem riskier than others? How can these answers serve us?

Usually, our lack of experience or expertise increases the associated risk. (See: 11-year-olds driving cars)

If awareness is the first step, then the second step is to identify our own gaps that make these scenarios seem high risk, then do the work required to close those gaps.

Like you’ve (hopefully) done to mitigate the risk of being behind the wheel of hunk of metal hurtling almost 100 feet per second, it’s time to learn, accumulate reps, and work towards a level of mastery that significantly shifts the odds of a favorable outcome in your favor.

Risk is inevitable. How we identify and prepare for it determines how it will effect us.

As the Navy SEALs say, “we don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to our level of preparation.”

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 065: Understanding Risk appeared first on Ryan Munsey.

“Becoming yourself is a beautiful struggle.” – Forrest Limon & Nathan Wagner

A few weeks ago I had coffee with two young entrepreneurs who, at just 20-years-old have already published their first book, are speaking to large groups of high school and college students, and are pursuing day jobs on Wall Street and Aerospace Engineering.

The morning we spent together was energizing and inspiring. I won’t bore you with details, but Forrest and Nathan wrapped up our conversation by asking me if I had any final advice for them.

In today’s BHP Short I recount how I answered that question along with some of the other advice I shared with them during our morning coffee.

PRESS PLAY to tune in.

The post BHP Shorts 064: Advice To 20-Year-Olds appeared first on Ryan Munsey.