The Inner Entrepreneur

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.

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.

Cultural Catalysts: https://culturalcatalyst.net

Explore working with Jaclyn: https://culturalcatalyst.net/impact

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.

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/

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.

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.

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

Lorna Byrne — Official Website

Lorna's Books, including Angels in My Hair

Visit Sanctuary, Kilkenny

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.

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.

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.

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

Lorna Byrne — Official Website

Lorna's Books, including Angels in My Hair

Visit Sanctuary, Kilkenny

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.

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.

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

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/

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

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.

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

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/

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.

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/

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.

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

Ready to build a business that gives you more freedom, not less?

Apply to work with Paul: https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/

I built an eight-figure business that runs without me. Now I mentor business owners who want to do the same.

If your business is successful but you're still trapped in the day-to-day, let's explore what's keeping you there.

Apply to Work With Paul:

https://www.pauljryan.net/welcome/

After nearly 300 episodes of The Inner Entrepreneur Podcast, I've noticed something that every successful person I've interviewed seems to have in common.

At some point in their lives, they've hit a wall.

It might have been a business failure, financial ruin, a health crisis or a personal loss. But behind almost every success story, there's a period when things looked pretty bleak.

And my own story is no different.

Over 20 years ago, I reached a point where I knew something had to change. A firewalking experience gave me the courage to face some uncomfortable truths about myself, my life and how I was running my business.

That experience changed the direction of my life. But there's a part of the story I used to leave out — the two very difficult years it took to actually make those changes.

In this solo episode, I talk about what I've learned from hundreds of conversations with successful people, the role fear plays in keeping us stuck, and why the difficult parts of our journeys are often the most important.

In this episode:

The one thing I've found successful people have in common.

Why hitting a wall can become a turning point.

How fear keeps us on a path we know isn't right.

The firewalking experience that changed my perspective.

The two difficult years behind my business transformation.

Why there's no shortcut to building a better life.

If you're going through a difficult time in your business or personal life, I hope this episode gives you a different perspective.

The life you want may be on the other side of some difficult decisions. But you have to be willing to make them and walk the road that follows.

What if the business you've worked so hard to build is actually holding you back from the life you want?

In this episode, I'm doing something a little different. I'm sharing a conversation where I was interviewed by Brian Keene on his podcast.

We talk about the moment, at 40, when I thought I was having a heart attack at my desk, and how that experience eventually led me to completely rethink the way I ran my business.

We get into the mistakes I made, the importance of culture and leadership, and how I built an eight-figure business that no longer depends on me.

But we also go deeper, exploring the psychology behind success, why financial freedom doesn't necessarily bring peace of mind, and how our fears and insecurities can drive us to achieve more without ever feeling it's enough.

In this episode, we cover:

Why you might be the biggest bottleneck in your business

How to build a business that runs without you

The importance of culture, leadership and letting go of control

The difference between delegating and abdicating

Why financial freedom and time freedom don't guarantee emotional freedom

What really drives our ambition and how we define success

Ultimately, it's a conversation about building a successful business without sacrificing your health, relationships or happiness along the way.

About Brian Keene

Brian Keene is an entrepreneur, author, business mentor and podcast host who helps business owners grow their businesses while creating more freedom in their lives.

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

What if the beliefs driving your biggest decisions aren't really yours? And what if the voice in your head that's telling you to keep pushing, achieving and doing more is the very thing holding you back?

In this episode of The Inner Entrepreneur, Paul Ryan speaks with Gaia Ferreira, an entrepreneur coach and personal development expert with over 20 years of experience working with founders, CEOs and business owners.

They explore how unconscious beliefs, fear and past conditioning shape our decisions, why so many entrepreneurs ignore the warning signs from their bodies, and how to reconnect with who we really are beneath the roles we've created for ourselves.

Paul also shares how trusting his intuition stopped him from making a €5 million investment just before the 2008 financial crash — a decision that may have saved his business.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

Why your mind doesn't always tell you the truth.

How unconscious fears and beliefs influence your behaviour.

The difference between intuition and the voice of your ego.

Why entrepreneurs often confuse being busy with being fulfilled.

How to break familiar patterns that no longer serve you.

Why courage comes before confidence.

How to create a meaningful legacy through the choices you make every day.

A conversation about trusting yourself, questioning what drives you and building a life that reflects who you really want to be.

Gaia Ferreira is an internationally recognised coach, speaker and author with over two decades of experience in personal development. A former Tony Robbins team member, she combines psychology, NLP, hypnotherapy, nutrition and spiritual practices in her personalised Total Intelligence Method, helping entrepreneurs develop greater self-awareness, clarity and fulfilment.

Website: https://gaiaferreira.com

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://calendly.com/inner-entrepreneur-podcast/discovery-call-with-paul-ryan