The Everyday Millionaire Podcast: Episode 212 - Shaheen Shahan on Uncompromising Excellence

Host: Patrick Francie
Guest: Shaheen Shahan
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Title: TEDM – Shaahin Cheyene – Uncompromising Excellence

Introduction

In Episode 212 of The Everyday Millionaire, host Patrick Francie welcomes Shaheen Shahan, an accomplished entrepreneur and author known as the "Willy Wonka of Generation X." Shaheen is the mastermind behind Podcast Cola, America's leading podcast booking agency, and has a stellar track record of building and exiting multiple eight-figure businesses. This episode delves deep into Shaheen's journey, exploring his philosophies on wealth creation, entrepreneurship, and personal development.

Shaheen's Background and Journey

Shaheen Shahan boasts over three decades of entrepreneurial success, generating nearly a billion dollars in revenue. His ventures include pioneering herbal ecstasy, launching a smart drug movement, and achieving significant exits from companies like Accelerated Intelligence, an eight-figure Amazon seller. Currently, Shaheen is working on his next nine-figure exit, with a documentary in production by an Academy Award-winning studio chronicling his rise from homelessness to entrepreneurial stardom.

Notable Quote:

Shaheen Shahan [02:01]: "Yeah, thanks for having me on. I was just thinking like everyday millionaire and I'm like, man, well first off, a million dollars obviously doesn't mean as much as it used to. And secondly, I think if you've made a million dollars, you are far from the everyday normal person."

The Truth About "Get Rich Quick" Schemes and Amazon Entrepreneurship

Patrick opens the discussion by addressing the proliferation of "get rich quick" content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, particularly in the Amazon selling space. Shaheen offers a candid perspective, emphasizing the myths versus realities of these schemes.

Key Points:

• Skepticism of Dropshipping: Shaheen critiques the oversaturation and misleading promises of dropshipping models, highlighting that genuine success requires building value and storytelling rather than relying on quick fixes.

• Realistic Outcomes: He candidly states, "When you join my Amazon course, you're probably gonna fail. Most people fail," underscoring the importance of resilience and learning from setbacks.

• Private Label over Dropshipping: Shaheen advocates for private label strategies, which focus on creating brands and products that offer lasting value, as opposed to the transient nature of dropshipping.

Notable Quote:

Shaheen Shahan [05:30]: "What we teach my students is that we learn from failure. It's not a roulette table... the key comes in is us learning from those mistakes, making shifts and tweaks to what we do and coming back and continuing to do it."

Overcoming Fear and Taking Action

Patrick draws parallels between entrepreneurship and athletic performance, questioning why many educated and supported individuals still fail to take action.

Key Points:

• The Importance of Showing Up: Shaheen emphasizes that "showing up is 80% of the game," highlighting that consistent participation and effort are crucial to success.

• Fear of Failure: He discusses how fear and doubt often paralyze individuals, preventing them from fully engaging with opportunities.

• Practical Example: Shaheen shares an anecdote about a participant who never engaged with the course materials, reinforcing that passive involvement leads to stagnation.

Notable Quote:

Shaheen Shahan [17:06]: "Showing up is 80% of the game. If you show up, if you glue your, your butt to the seat and show up to the program, show up to the coaching sessions, you're ahead of all the people."

Building Wealth in Economic Turmoil

Patrick inquires about the viability of Amazon entrepreneurship during times of economic uncertainty, questioning whether it serves as a side hustle or a full-time endeavor.

Key Points:

• Economic Opportunities: Shaheen asserts that economic turmoil is a fertile ground for creating wealth, stating, "In times of greatest economic turmoil, the most millionaires are made."

• Mindset Shift: He emphasizes the necessity of opting into a proactive mindset rather than succumbing to victimhood amid global challenges.

• Diversification: Shaheen outlines a multi-pillar approach to wealth creation, including e-commerce, real estate, rental income, and stock market investments.

Notable Quote:

Shaheen Shahan [20:46]: "You have to have multiple pillars. I started my first company when I was in my teens and very quickly we grew to about a billion dollars in revenue... You can have medium risk with very high reward."

Mindset and Defining Success

A significant portion of the conversation revolves around Shaheen's definition of success and the mindset required to achieve it.

Key Points:

• Personal Freedom: For Shaheen, success is defined by the ability to "do what I want, when I want, with who," emphasizing time and resource freedom.

• Avoiding Comparisons: He shares experiences where comparing oneself to others, especially those at higher levels of success, can undermine personal achievements.

• Living in the Moment: Shaheen advises focusing on the present and building stability through diversified income streams rather than chasing endless benchmarks.

Notable Quote:

Shaheen Shahan [39:23]: "Success comes from being able to do what I want, when I want, with who I want... absolute freedom."

Strategies vs. Goals

When discussing future planning, Shaheen distinguishes between traditional goal-setting and strategic planning.

Key Points:

• Rejecting Goals: Shaheen dismisses the conventional notion of setting specific numerical goals, advocating instead for a system-based approach.

• Objective, Strategy, Tactics: He outlines a three-part strategy framework:

  1. Objectives: Clearly define what you want to achieve.
  2. Strategy: Develop methods to reach those objectives.
  3. Tactics: Implement specific actions to execute the strategies.

• Flexibility: This approach allows for adaptability and pivoting when strategies do not yield expected results.

Notable Quote:

Shaheen Shahan [45:28]: "I think goals are bullshit. We believe in systems, we build systems to get us towards our targets... that's how you win."

Personal Development and Team Building

Patrick probes into Shaheen's approach to personal development and cultivating effective teams.

Key Points:

• Self-Reflection: Shaheen underscores the importance of knowing oneself, understanding strengths and weaknesses, and continuously seeking self-improvement.

• Team Synergy: He believes in building teams where members' strengths complement each other, allowing each individual to thrive in their area of expertise.

• Delegation: Recognizing his limitations, Shaheen delegates tasks outside his core competencies to specialized team members, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.

Notable Quote:

Shaheen Shahan [56:04]: "The most important thing, know yourself... This comes back to self reflection, self knowledge and discipline."

Rapid-Fire Q&A Highlights

To wrap up the episode, Patrick and Shaheen engage in a rapid-fire session, shedding light on some personal preferences and insights.

Highlights:

• Apple vs. Android: Shaheen prefers Android for its openness and flexibility, appreciating the ability to customize systems to suit diverse business operations.

• Recommended Books: He recommends Richard Koch's The 80/20 Principle and Rolf Dobelli's The Art of Thinking Clearly for their insights into efficiency and logical thinking.

• Favorite Movie: Shaheen cites The Godfather as his favorite film.

• Cleaning Preference: When it comes to tidiness, Shaheen prefers to clean his car before his desk or room.

• Gratitude: He expresses gratitude for his family, highlighting the importance of personal relationships alongside professional success.

Notable Quote:

Shaheen Shahan [53:19]: "I am a phenomenal storyteller. I'm great at influence... This medium of podcasting... empowers people to create and sell products that change and improve lives."

Conclusion

Patrick wraps up the episode by acknowledging Shaheen's invaluable insights into entrepreneurship, mindset, and wealth creation. Shaheen's candid discussions serve as a powerful reminder that true success is a blend of strategic planning, personal discipline, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

For those seeking to embark on their own journey toward becoming an everyday millionaire, Shaheen's experiences and philosophies offer a roadmap grounded in reality, resilience, and the unwavering commitment to personal growth.

End of Summary