Meet Ben Alexa | Business Owner & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Alexa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
One of the most important lessons I have learned from running my businesses is to allow yourself to slow down. We can become so caught up in our daily routines or daily work that we become blind to the blessings we are receiving or even unaware of the mountains we have moved to get to where we are at.

I work hard to remain humble and continue working, and sometimes that does not allow me to pat myself on the back at times for my accomplishments. I am beginning to learn that the fruits of our labor taste so much sweeter when we really understand what it took to plant the seeds.

We may lose touch with how much we are positively impacting those around us due to the speed at which we are working. Days can become weeks and weeks become months in a very short time it feels like and before you know it life has passed us by.

Knowing that, it is so imperative that we make time to stop and smell the flowers so to speak and make sure we are giving ourselves credit for all the energy we are putting into our mission or craft.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Looking back at how I got to where I am today, it was anything but a straight line. The amount of jobs I have held and left when I was younger is pretty astounding.

I had a habit of finding a job that would teach me a new skill I previously didn’t have, then get really good at that job or skill and leave to learn something else. In the moment that is a very stressful way to live as you feel like you are unable to find a way to make a living that really fits and is constantly challenging you. It made me feel like there was something wrong with me that I couldn’t be satisfied holding one position for too long.

Turns out, I am just a highly active individual who needs mental stimulation for problem solving and the ability to learn new things and apply new skills daily. Becoming a business owner has always seemed like a destined role for me now that I have been successfully running both of my businesses for over 2 years and understand the demand it requires. It seems like I have found the right balance of learning new skills and trades through my Handyman business which has a high involvement for problem solving and creating out of the box solutions. While also being able to satiate my need for social interaction via my Photo Booth Rental company.

It seems with the combination of the two different types of skillsets needed to run both businesses at a high level I have found something that really “fills my cup” so to speak. Yes there are days where it can be too much and feels like I can not do everything that is required of me, but then there are more days where I feel like I am really becoming the best version of myself by enduring all of this stress.

In the grand scheme of it all, I have learned that sometimes the biggest obstacle for achieving success can be yourself and how you operate as a person. Taking the time to figure out what makes you tick and turning what seems like a weakness into a strength is the true trial of becoming a business owner or entrepreneur.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of my favorite parts of the city…..are usually outside of the city! That seems very counterproductive to the question but most of my time not working is spent enjoying the great outdoors and unique spots that only a landscape like Arizona can provide.

Taking the paddle board or kayaks out on Canyon Lake or Saguaro Lake is always a great way to enjoy Arizona’s bodies of water. Taking things a bit slower and floating down the Salt Lake River is also a great way to spend the day. Slowly moving being able to drink in all the beautiful sites and even having the chances to see the wild horses is simply breath taking. Coming from growing up Illinois, there are few places I would rather be than outdoors here in Arizona. Even during the summer when it feels like we are living in a brick oven, escaping up to Flagstaff, Sedona, or Prescott to explore the terrain in cooler temperatures is a highly sought after activity for me when I have the time.

If I am not drinking in the sun wandering the mountains, I really love to check out a museum, hit a sporting event, or catch a show. CB Live is a great place to bring family or friends when they come to visit as their comedy shows never disappoint. With all the teams that play their spring training games here, there is no shortage of tickets for you and a group of friends to go enjoy yourselves at. I have also been able to visit some great museums through my event company that are just filled to the brim with interesting history/knowledge! I recommend visiting the Heard Museum, the Botanical Gardens, and Phoenix Art Museum among the many other options that are available.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is a popular old saying that I have always kept close to my heart since I have heard it. It goes “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

This is something I have experienced myself and can speak to the validity of this statement. I have tried time and time again throughout my life to come up with an idea to give me more control of my schedule and generate enough revenue for me to not worry about my life in the financial terms.

All of my ideas that previously failed were because I completely took the reins by myself and allowed no outside help or feedback. I was essentially trying to build a business on the foundation of my ego. Time passed on, I grew older and accepted the lessons life was trying to teach me and learned the most I could from them.

Making the leap from being unemployed after Covid shutdowns in 2020 I relied on the emotional support of my friends and family to help me stay centered and focused.

I can speak specifically to my Father Frank and my Girlfriend Kelsey for being the light at the end of the tunnel constantly reinforcing the fact that if anyone can complete the plan that was drawn up, it was me. Their acknowledgement to my skill sets and business acumen were unwavering and propped me up when things began to get immensely stressful. I also have to give my Best Friend and Brother Patrick his flowers for always being my second brain. He is always thinking of how I can make things better and more efficient and giving me different perspectives on continuing business plans and investments that would enhance the reach and quality of my services. There is not a doubt in my mind or soul that he has my 6 and I always treat his feedback as coveted advice that is worth all the time he is willing to give.

For these 3 people I have an immeasurable amount of love and respect for, and will never forget the roles they played and continue to play in my personal and business success. They have truly shown me that when “you go together, you go far.”

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