Podcast Summary: Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan

Episode Title: Confidence Classic: Discover Your Calling! With Ryan Blair Founder Of AlterCall
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Guest: Ryan Blair, New York Times Bestselling Author and Serial Entrepreneur

Introduction

In this compelling episode of "Creating Confidence", host Heather Monahan welcomes Ryan Blair, a transformative figure who transitioned from a troubled past to become a New York Times bestselling author and successful entrepreneur. Blair shares his remarkable journey, offering insights into overcoming adversity, finding purpose, and embracing faith to unlock one's true potential.

Ryan Blair’s Early Life and Gang Involvement

Ryan Blair opens up about his tumultuous upbringing and early involvement in gang life. Despite appearing to lead a perfect middle-class life on the surface, Blair faced significant familial challenges.

Ryan Blair [02:08]: "I started out in a middle-class environment... but on the inside, my parents were addicted to alcohol and drugs. My father was very violent."

The absence of his father forced Blair's mother to raise him alone from the age of 14, leading to rebellion and eventual involvement in a violent gang during the mid-1990s.

Ryan Blair [02:55]: "I found myself involved in a gang... and the gang that I was involved in was very violent."

Exiting the Gang: A Testament to Determination

Leaving the gang was no easy feat. Blair describes the bonds of protection, community, and financial necessity that gangs impose, making escape challenging.

Ryan Blair [04:20]: "I had made a deal with God... I was facing four years for strong-armed robbery. When he gave me leniency, I committed to leaving the gang."

Blair's strategy hinged on securing employment to distance himself physically and emotionally from gang activities, leveraging his commitment to prayer and spiritual guidance to stay steadfast.

Transition to Business: Embracing Mentorship and Self-Improvement

Blair credits a pivotal mentor for introducing him to personal growth literature, which fundamentally changed his mindset and propelled him into the business world.

Ryan Blair [06:06]: "My mentor gave me personal growth lessons and tapes like 'Think and Grow Rich' and 'The Richest Man in Babylon.' I listened to these tapes over and over, even sleeping to them."

This period of intense self-education allowed Blair to reprogram his thinking, shifting from a life of violence to one of business acumen and entrepreneurial success.

The Role of Faith in Blair’s Journey

Blair reflects on his evolving relationship with faith, highlighting how personal crises led him back to spirituality.

Ryan Blair [08:50]: "My journey up until I was 40... was a constant growth through... reconnecting to my faith and then growing again."

At 40, Blair sought to stabilize his spiritual life, dedicating two years to internal work, including vows of silence, meditation, and reconnecting deeply with his faith.

Ryan Blair [11:34]: "My daily practice is connecting to my faith. I do my best to connect my faith in everything that I do all day long."

Balancing Productivity and Generosity in Business

Blair emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between productivity and generosity to avoid the pitfalls of chasing money for its own sake.

Ryan Blair [18:25]: "There's a balance that we have to have between productivity and generosity. If you're just collecting money for the sake of collecting money, you're going to be miserable."

He advises entrepreneurs to integrate faith into their business practices, fostering a more fulfilling and impactful approach to success.

Discovering Purpose: Guiding Others to Find Their Calling

Blair discusses his philosophy on purpose, asserting that every individual shares a common goal: to leave humanity better than they found it.

Ryan Blair [21:00]: "Every one of us has a journey of the soul... our purpose is to leave humanity better than we found it."

He encourages experimentation and self-reflection to identify what brings joy and fulfillment, steering individuals toward their unique paths.

The Power of Forgiveness: Blair’s Personal Story

A deeply moving segment, Blair shares his journey of forgiving his father, which was pivotal in his personal healing and growth.

Ryan Blair [22:37]: "Forgiving ourselves means we love ourselves. Forgiving others means we love our neighbor as ourselves."

Blair recounts the moment of his father's passing and the subsequent realization of the importance of forgiveness, leading him to a transformative two-year period of reconciliation and healing.

Ryan Blair [24:35]: "I have so much love for my father now... I have deep empathy and compassion for him."

Embracing Miracles: The Intersection of Science and Spirituality

Blair explores the concept of miracles, emphasizing the synergy between scientific understanding and spiritual practices.

Ryan Blair [33:43]: "Science is taking an approach to finding evidence to support some of the things that we've known spiritually for quite a long time."

He advocates for openness and vulnerability as catalysts for experiencing miracles, underscoring gratitude and presence as foundational elements.

Ryan Blair [35:21]: "Miracles come when you're open to them... every day is a miracle."

Breath Work: A Tool for Emotional and Spiritual Healing

Introducing breath work, Blair explains its significance in managing anxiety, releasing trapped emotions, and fostering overall well-being.

Ryan Blair [36:55]: "Breath work is basically going back and expanding and relearning how to breathe. When you do that, you'll release anxiety... and old traumas."

He provides practical advice on incorporating breath work into daily routines, highlighting its immediate and cumulative benefits.

Navigating Personal Challenges: Autism and Miracles in Blair’s Life

Blair shares a heartfelt story about his son’s diagnosis with autism and the miraculous transformation that followed.

Ryan Blair [31:02]: "During one prayer, I witnessed a miracle happen. My son made deep, intimate eye contact with me for the first time."

Through a combination of therapy, dietary changes, and spiritual practices, Blair witnessed significant improvements in his son's behavior and abilities, reinforcing his belief in the power of faith and perseverance.

Ryan Blair [33:43]: "Now I can tell you that my son doesn't show any signs of autism whatsoever... He's social, he communicates, he is very smart."

Practical Steps for Personal Transformation

Blair offers actionable strategies for listeners to incorporate faith and positive habits into their lives:

1. Identify Joyful Activities: Write down activities that bring light and joy.
2. Evaluate Time Spent: Compare joyful activities with those required by work.
3. Create Boundaries: Limit time spent on time-wasters like social media and news.
4. Dedicate to Positive Practices: Allocate time to practices like breath work, meditation, or other forms of self-care.

Ryan Blair [39:26]: "Cut back on your Instagram for 10 minutes a day... you could do five more days a year worth of vacation."

Conclusion: Embracing Confidence and Purpose

Heather Monahan wraps up the episode by expressing gratitude for Blair's insights and encouraging listeners to connect with him for further guidance.

Heather Monahan [42:14]: "Grateful for you being here today. Grateful for you sharing all of this knowledge."

Blair reiterates his commitment to helping others discover their own miracles and purpose, emphasizing the transformative power of openness, faith, and intentional living.

Notable Quotes

• Ryan Blair [00:00]: "The first step to bringing more miracles into your life is just to start to recognize those miracles around you and then opening your heart to the fact that if you're open to miracles, they can actually come to you."
• Ryan Blair [06:06]: "I wanted to reprogram my brain. I didn't know this consciously, but that's what I was doing on a soul level."
• Ryan Blair [16:12]: "I've graduated from the teacher of suffering. I no longer need suffering the same way that I used to."
• Ryan Blair [22:52]: "Forgiveness is an opportunity to clear a channel between another individual."
• Ryan Blair [35:21]: "Every day is a miracle."

Connect with Ryan Blair

• Instagram: RealRyanBlair
• Website: altercall.com
• Email: Contact Ryan

Key Takeaways:

• Overcoming Adversity: Personal challenges can be transformed into platforms for growth and success through determination and the right support.
• Faith and Purpose: Integrating faith into daily life and business fosters a more meaningful and balanced existence.
• Forgiveness: Letting go of past grievances is essential for personal healing and fostering positive relationships.
• Mindful Practices: Incorporating activities like breath work and meditation can significantly enhance emotional and spiritual well-being.
• Intentional Living: Prioritizing activities that bring joy and setting boundaries against time-wasters leads to a more fulfilling life.

Ryan Blair’s story is a testament to the incredible power of resilience, faith, and intentional living. His insights provide listeners with actionable steps to navigate their own journeys toward confidence and purpose.