Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ryan Benz, Owner of Permission to Dream, LLC., located in Milford, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am an Inspirational Speaker, Mindfulness Educator, and Nature Therapy Guide supporting the health and well-being of organizations, communities, and individuals of all ages through inspirational talks, workshops, and consulting.
Tell us about yourself
I passionately believe that everyone deserves to have a fun, meaningful life. After starting my career as an Advertising and Marketing Executive, my life took an unexpected turn, leading me to support the health and well-being of organizations, communities, and individuals. I have worked with Fortune 500 companies, some of the nation's largest Non-profit Organizations, and top Universities, and I have inspired youth in school districts across the entire US.
While successful on the outside, by my early 30s, I was burnt out and felt empty and exhausted on the inside. With my mental health suffering, I became disillusioned by the life I had created, so I decided to take a nontraditional path to gain perspective—diving head first into the world of mindfulness, letting go of everything that was contributing to my unhappiness, including the career I had spent over 10 years building, and turned to the healing powers of nature, setting out to hike the 2,189.8-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.
That journey proved to be 5,305,130 steps toward the first day of the rest of my life. I never looked back, using it as a stepping stone to furthering my studies and devoting my work to helping others live happier, more fulfilling lives.
A student of life, I have studied one-on-one with a former Buddhist monk on my journey to becoming a certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training with the American Yoga Academy, and I studied with the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy, the most experienced global leader in Forest Therapy guide training, to become a certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, more commonly known as Forest Bathing, the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku.
Now, as an Inspirational Speaker, Mindfulness Educator, and Nature Therapy Guide, my work is centered around helping people of all ages develop and deepen the practice of mindfulness, as it provides the basis for awareness in all aspects of our lives, paving the way to self-discovery, transformation, and living a more conscious and joyful life. In a world that has moved largely indoors, I inspire my audiences to engage with nature in more meaningful ways to promote mindfulness and enhance mental health.
I connect with my audiences by bringing a positive message that is both relevant and impactful. Combining humor, sincerity, and a down-to-earth approach, I provide a real-life example of the rewards that result from taking risks and believing in oneself, proving through my own personal experiences that we are extraordinarily powerful creatures, capable of changing our lives for the better, and accomplishing things even beyond our wildest dreams.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Through my School Assembly Program, I inspire over 10,000 kids across the country to spend more time in nature to promote mindfulness and improve mental health.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Booking engagements.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Work on yourself first and foremost, and the rest will follow.
- Make beautiful choices for how you spend your time.
- Don't be afraid to take risks.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.aroundthebenz.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aroundthebenz/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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