Show Notes:

In this Bite-Size episode, Steven Twohig and I unpack one of the most difficult parts of transformation: why most people never change, even after powerful breakthrough experiences.

We discuss:

• The illusion of instant transformation.
• Why breakthrough events (like UPW) often aren’t enough.
• The brutal 2-year period I personally went through after my own wake-up moment.
• The fear that keeps most people from facing the work.
• Why real change requires going into the messiness — not avoiding it.
• How identity plays a crucial role in whether we follow through.

This is the honest, unfiltered truth about the price of real change — and why so few ever pay it.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steventwohig/

Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, 8 figure business owner, mentor, podcaster and creator of the 1-Hour CEO Mastermind. As a CEO, Paul has a depth of 'real life' experience of what it takes to be successful in business and life.

Connect with the host:

https://www.theonehourceo.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ryan-9a98774/

Chris O’Connell built a €25 million business. Then he lost it all—his company, his marriage, his home, and almost his life.

In this raw and powerful episode, Chris opens up about the pain behind the public success, the collapse that nearly broke him, and the long road back to purpose, mental health, and self-worth.

This isn’t just a story of business failure—it’s a story of rebuilding from the inside out.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why success can sometimes hide deep wounds
• The emotional toll of losing everything—and how to survive it
• How Chris transformed his pain into purpose
• The mindset shift that changed everything
• Why healing starts with honesty, not hustle

Full Episode:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-losing-my-%C2%A325m-business-was-one-of-the-best/id1712661051?i=1000680134298

https://youtu.be/t9x_ndawoIY?si=ql3Zno9K0pjpXh63

Host Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, 8 figure business owner, mentor, podcaster and creator of the 1-Hour CEO Mastermind. As a CEO, Paul has a depth of 'real life' experience of what it takes to be successful in business and life.

Connect with the host:

https://www.theonehourceo.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ryan-9a98774/

Summary:

In this soul-baring episode, Paul sits down with author and creative voice P. Lister to explore what it really means to grow through emotional pain. From the depths of Vipassana meditation to the vulnerability of writing a deeply personal book, P. shares how facing pain — instead of fleeing from it — became her path to healing and creative freedom.

This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn’t always feel like progress — it often feels like breaking. But you’re not broken. You’re just growing.

Topics Covered:

• Why emotional pain often signals transformation
• The surprising lessons of 10-day silent meditation
• How vulnerability fuels creativity
• What it means to write the truth — and stand for it
• How to stop seeing yourself as broken and start owning your journey

Power Quotes:

“You’re not broken — you’re just growing.” “I thought I was falling apart. I was really just unfolding.” “My mind created more suffering than the pain.” “The stories I feared most… became the doorway to healing.”

Host Paul Ryan is an entrepreneur, 8 figure business owner, mentor, podcaster and creator of the 1-Hour CEO Mastermind. As a CEO, Paul has a depth of 'real life' experience of what it takes to be successful in business and life.

Connect with the host:

https://www.theonehourceo.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ryan-9a98774/