Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby

Episode: How a Homeless Dropout Built 8-Figures Without Burning Out

Guest: Steven Scoggins
Date: October 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a deeply honest conversation between Joseph Shalaby and serial entrepreneur Steven Scoggins, whose journey took him from homelessness and dropping out of high school to building multiple 8-figure businesses. The discussion is centered around building a fulfilling and sustainable business and life—without burnout—by integrating authentic leadership, faith, and personal healing. Steven candidly shares lessons learned from both his lowest and highest moments, offering tactical advice and reflective practices that fueled his growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Morning Routines & Cultivating Presence

• [01:09–02:43] Steven’s daily “presence practice”:
  • Wakes up around 5:30–6:00 a.m.
  • Repeats mantras: “I am healthy. I am wealthy. I am wise. I am a steward of the most high. I love you, Steven.”
  • Walks grass by the lake to ground himself.
  • Journaling practice: writes "What I hear you say is..." and lets thoughts flow, often leading to breakthroughs and new ideas.
  • Quote:

    “If I could slow things down in my morning, I could actually accelerate things in my business.”
    — Steven ([01:27])

• Physical fitness and hitting the gym round out his routine.

2. Entrepreneurial Identity & Post-Exit Realities

• [02:49–04:48] Post-exit identity crisis:

  • After selling his company in 2023, Steven struggled with purpose despite financial and time freedom.
  • Quote:

    “What happens when you get, quote, unquote, the success that you think you’ve always wanted and you realize you’re still empty?”
    — Steven ([04:30])

• Importance of a “transformational transition strategy”—gracefully shifting identity after an exit.

• The journey from chasing self-worth to building legacy.

3. Balance in Leadership: One Part Lion, One Part Lamb

• [05:00–08:34] The Lion/Lamb paradigm:

  • Leadership is about integrating boldness (lion) and empathy (lamb).
  • Echoing old wisdom from his grandfather—now the cornerstone of his new book and leadership philosophy.
  • Quote:

    “To be successful at life or anything, you have to become one part lion and one part lamb.”
    — Steven ([07:12])

• Lion: courage, endurance, presence. Lamb: empathy, emotional stability, self-awareness.

• Internal work is prerequisite to effective external leadership.

4. Steven’s Rock Bottom and Climb Back

• [08:39–10:07] Homelessness and near-suicide:
  • Dropped out of high school to help family, early business success led to arrogance, then downfall.
  • After a “divine encounter” during darkest days, he rebuilt with a new sense of purpose.
  • Quote:

    “When people say, ‘How’d you become homeless?’ That’s pride and arrogance. At the end of the day, it was dumb, it was foolish. I wasn’t… I was an idiot.”
    — Steven ([10:02])

5. Five Constraints in Business & Personal Growth

• [11:03–18:18] Steven’s Five Constraints:

  • Arrogance: Masks insecurity; every entrepreneur faces humbling.
    • Quote:

      “People judge us by our actions. We always judge ourselves by our intentions.”
      — Steven ([12:00])

  • Ignorance: Overcoming what you don’t know through teachability.
  • Impatience: Most common; solution is presence and daily strategic action.
  • Insecurity/Fear: Suppressing others' ideas stems from insecurity.
  • Scarcity vs. Abundance: Scarcity leads to rushed, bad decisions; focus on long-term strategy.

• Importance of authenticity and long-term thinking (Bible’s Esau parable).

• The antidote to impatience and scarcity is presence and strategy—slowing down to speed up.

6. Building Unbreakable Culture & Scalable Teams

• [22:56–23:47] Leadership and team building:

  • Open culture, long-term colleagues, and creating “entrepreneurs” within the business.
  • Quote:

    “If you suppress your superstars, they will leave.”
    — Steven ([22:48])

• Shift from earning to compounding:

  • Seven-figure entrepreneurs focus on earning.
  • Eight-figure and beyond focus on compounding time, resources, and relationships.
  • Quote:

    “Eight figure and beyond are looking to compound. How do I make this one hour turn into four? This one dollar into a hundred?”
    — Steven ([24:34])

7. Embracing Stillness, Spiritual Grounding, and Journaling

• [31:03–40:48] Confronting restless ambition:
  • The importance of being still vs. “activity-based” faith practices.
  • Steven’s process: journaling in silence, using the prompt “What I hear you say is…”—a form of spiritual listening that “changed the game.”
  • Quote:

    “I am always talking, but my children are seldom listening. I trust you to listen.”
    — Steven’s journal ([36:32])

  • Stillness as a foundation for peace, joy, fulfillment—beyond material success.

8. Dealing with Labels & Self-Worth Post-Divorce

• [41:33–43:06] Letting go of negative labels (e.g., “divorced”):
  • Don’t allow events to become core identity.
  • Choose integration and grace over shame.

9. Goals & Legacy: Personal, Family, Business

• [43:56–47:44] The Three Goals:
  • Personal: Launch his book (“One Part Lion, One Part Lamb”) and get it into 1 million hands—focusing on impact, not profit.
  • Family: Be a legacy figure for his kids and grandkids—character over cash.
  • Business (Unstoppable Solutions):
    • Give emerging leaders an authentic voice, create content that adds value, serve first and trust that abundance follows.
  • Quote:

    “I want to be Steve Meyrick to them. Leave a legacy inside them, not just around them.”
    — Steven ([44:45])

10. Final Reflections — Meaning, Purpose, and Faith

• [47:44–48:29] On his epitaph and what God might say:
  • Hopes to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
  • Urges listeners to reflect on their own legacy and what ultimately brings meaning: “What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your own soul?”
  • Quote:

    “Here lies a wonderful husband, an amazing father, and also someone who set out to change the world—and did.”
    — Steven ([48:28])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• [01:27] Steven:
  “If I could slow things down in my morning, I could actually accelerate things in my business.”
• [04:30] Steven:
  "What happens when you get the success you think you always wanted and realize you’re still empty?"
• [07:12] Steven:
  “To be successful at life or anything, you have to become one part lion and one part lamb.”
• [10:02] Steven:
  "When people say, ‘How’d you become homeless?’ That’s pride and arrogance. ... I was an idiot.”
• [12:00] Steven:
  “People judge us by our actions. We always judge ourselves by our intentions.”
• [22:48] Steven:
  "If you suppress your superstars, they will leave."
• [24:34] Steven:
  “Eight figures and beyond are looking to compound. How do I make one hour turn into four? One dollar into a hundred? One relationship into six?”
• [36:32] Steven’s journal (God’s voice):
  “I am always talking, but my children are seldom listening. I trust you to listen.”
• [44:45] Steven:
  “I want to be Steve Meyrick to them. Leave a legacy inside them, not just around them.”
• [48:28] Steven (epitaph):
  “Here lies a wonderful husband, an amazing father, and also someone who set out to change the world—and did.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:09 — Steven’s morning routine and “presence practice”
• 04:30 — The emptiness after achieving business milestones
• 05:00 — Balancing leadership: The Lion/Lamb principle
• 08:39 — Hitting rock bottom and starting over
• 11:03 — The Five Constraints in business (arrogance, ignorance, impatience, insecurity, fear)
• 22:48 — Team building and creating a culture of ownership
• 24:34 — Earning vs. Compounding: The mindset leap to 8 figures
• 31:03 — Finding stillness, shifting from action to presence
• 36:32 — Spiritual listening through journaling (“What I hear you say is…”)
• 41:33 — Letting go of negative labels and self-worth traps
• 43:56 — Personal, family, and business goals
• 47:44 — Epitaph and ultimate legacy

Summary Flow & Tone

This episode is intimate, honest, and motivational, reflecting both men’s blend of faith, ambition, and humility. Steven is open about his journey—sharing actionable advice for business owners and entrepreneurs about the true nature of success. If you’re looking for wisdom on building scalable businesses and finding peace and fulfillment, this episode is packed with real talk, practical frameworks, and soulful reflection.

For more on Steven Scoggins:
Visit stevenscoggins.com or for an alignment tool: stevenscoggins.com/alignment

Host: Joseph Shalaby
Podcast: Coffeez for Closers