A backpack full of rushes, a late‑night detour, and a cab ride that felt like forever. That near‑disaster on a dog‑trick commercial wasn’t just a wild production tale for Ben Stein; it became a mirror for the life he was building and the future he actually wanted. We bring you inside the highs and hazards of production and advertising, from public‑access beginnings and the award‑winning Paperclips documentary to brand rules so strict they required a last‑minute Yorkie swap.From there, Ben opens up about the deeper engine driving his choices: creativity as escape, growing up with a distant parent and a mum battling depression, and the numbing patterns that followed. He walks us through trying psychiatry and therapy, then finding coaching as a forward‑facing tool that changed behaviour, not just insight. You’ll hear how a three‑week sobriety experiment became a turning point, why he launched Purpose Up as a side project, and what pushed him to choose entrepreneurship after being laid off days after paternity leave.We also get practical. Ben breaks down the real differences between coaching and therapy, shares honest guidance on psychedelics and safer trauma work like RIM, and lays out a clear plan for career change in a tough market: get fluent with AI, build a portable brand through a side hustle, and network like a human so you rise above the algorithmic noise. For aspiring coaches, he’s blunt about training, picking a niche, learning ethical sales, and giving yourself more runway than you think.If you’re sitting in a “safe” job that no longer fits, this conversation offers both cautionary tales and a map. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find No Ordinary Monday. Links: WEBSITE - https://www.purposeup.com/BOOK - https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Up-Break-Free-Matters/dp/B0FTW9PGNFSocials:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstein/https://www.instagram.com/purpose_up/https://www.youtube.com/purposeuphttps://www.facebook.com/coachbenstein/https://x.com/iambensteinSend us a textSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at [email protected].

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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