Today on the Mentors and Moguls Podcast with your host, Heather Stone, Heather is sitting down with Stephen Scoggins, who went from homeless and hopeless to heartfelt industry leader, speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Now, he’s dedicated himself to serving the person he used to be.
Stephen’s first hint that he would have to grow up fast was when he was just a young boy living with his Grandmother, who had raised him up to this point. When she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, Stephen’s role quickly became that of a caretaker and the person who would ultimately spend time raising his little brother. When she passed, his parents returned to the picture, and Stephen went to live and work in construction with his father and his brother with their mother in Florida. It was in this transition that Stephen met his first mentor, Steve.
Steve was constantly putting Stephen in a position where he was being challenged. Coming from a family with a history of alcoholism, Steve presented him a choice. Pulling him aside, Steve asked him a simple question: What’s the difference between a poor person and a rich person? The answer isn’t just money. It’s the way they think. The idea of a poverty mindset was an ‘aha’ moment for him and sent him on a trajectory that forever changed his life. This piece of advice, coming from a man who would leave $1,000 tips just to make a difference in someone's situation, was incredibly impactful.
Then, Steve eventually gave Stephen the opportunity to build a business, covering the cost of many aspects and allowing him to make money. The problem then became how to be responsible for what he had earned. He found himself in a situation where he was questioning his worth, eventually leading him to walk off the job and ultimately homeless. Fast forward, after a moment of realization and finding faith, Stephen found a second chance. With some convincing, he was able to earn back his role.
Stephen’s advice to people who find themselves in a similar stuck position is to find someone who you aspire to be. Think about the impact they have. He believes that principles dictate promises. No matter what promises you make, there are principles to get you there. As far as building a successful business, it’s about testing the market, seeing if it catches, then investing. We have a tendency to skip the testing and go straight to scaling, which won’t land. Surround yourself with the right people and keep moving forward.
In the end, there are givers and takers, and then there are those in transition from one or the other. Stephen’s advice: if you’re not constantly evaluating your perspective, it’s easy to slip back into becoming a taker. When you can do that, doors open for you–you don’t have to go around pushing them open.
Links
https://stephenscoggins.com/
Things you’ll learn
In this episode, Stephen Scoggins shares with us his journey from homelessness to industry leader. He offers tips to avoid poverty mentality, the process of scaling a successful business, and how to align yourself with your principles to achieve the impact you want to have.
81 - Building Human Hearts in 2023 with Dr. Doris A. Taylor
80 - Unlocking Confidence and Joy: Exploring SELF!SH with Stephanie Szostak
79 - Comedian Becky Robinson, aka Entitled Housewife Unplugged
78 - Unveiling AI's Ethical Challenges: Insights from Reid Blackman, Ph.D.
77 - Certified Organic & Clinically Proven Skincare - Unlock Your Glow with Irene Forte
76 - Elevate Your Path: Embracing Growth with Paratrooper Father Peter Pomposello
75 - The Benefits of Cold Plunging with Susanna Søberg
74 - Bone Broth Breakthrough with Dr. Kellyann
73 - Finding Joy in What You Do with Robin Hoffman Haack
72 - How to win with money! Featuring #1 New York Times Bestselling Author and Financial Expert, Rachel Cruze
71 - 3 Steps to Creating a Non-Profit with Genevieve Piturro
70 - 6 Steps to Getting Published with Nicole Meier
69 - How to Persevere Through Dyslexia to Become Publisher of a Top New York Publication, with Elinor Tatum
68 - How to Become a Successful Sales Rep With Michele Romanello
67 - How To Choose The Best Preschool For Your Child with Linda Ensko
66 - Creating Viral Videos for Kids with Brecky Breck
65 - How to Follow Your Intuition to be Your Most Authentic Self "Soul Conversations" with Austyn Wells
64 - Catapult Your Influence & Personal Brand with Rory Vaden
63 - The Benefits of Yoga for Working Mothers by Rajashree Choudhury
62 - A Second Look at Life after Dying – the Story of Danny Bader and His Miraculous Journey
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Reaching your Goals
Insights@work
Chief Change Officer
The Ken Coleman Show
The Cardone Zone