Big Decisions, Bold Moves

People always say, “Find out what you love, find out what you’re good at, and find out what has the potential to make you money.” If you can combine those three ingredients, you’ve got a recipe for success.

Here I am, standing at a crossroads, trying to build The Customized Ride and The Chris Benton Show, realizing I have to make some tough decisions. I don’t feel like I can devote my time to both and take them to the high levels I envision.

I love interviewing people—it lights me up. I’m good at it, especially when mixed with social media. But here’s the hard truth: one path doesn’t make money, and the other does. Both have potential, but The Chris Benton Show would likely take years to become financially sustainable. It’s a difficult, uphill climb.

On the other hand, The Customized Ride has a solid foundation already. I can build on that momentum, even weaving in interviews within the automotive industry to fuel my passion. It’s not about abandoning what I love—it’s about evolving it.

With The Chris Benton Show, I have two of the three ingredients: the love and the skill. But the financial piece isn’t there, at least not for the foreseeable future. With The Customized Ride, I have all three: love, skill, and the potential to generate significant income. It’s already made 20 times more than The Chris Benton Show ever did.

So, I’ve decided to place The Chris Benton Show back on hiatus after completing the interviews we have scheduled this month. Honestly, I feel like God is telling me it’s time to let go. As much as I wanted that show to be “the thing,” it hasn’t grown in the way I needed it to.

Reflecting on the numbers, the story becomes clear:

The Chris Benton Show (2020-2023): Around 10,000 total followers, roughly 3 million views.
The Customized Ride (since October 2022): Over 400,000 followers, about 200 million views.

The numbers don’t lie. But it’s more than just metrics. The Chris Benton Show was my baby, but over the past two years, The Customized Ride has become my passion. And the best part? I get to build it alongside our amazing son, which adds a whole new layer of purpose.

That said, we still need to grow the brand financially. We’ve invested so much into The Customized Ride to get it to this point, and now it’s time to elevate it even further. This isn’t an easy decision, but I have to focus on what has the best potential to provide for our family.

Looking back, I realize I was trying to force The Chris Benton Show to work because I wanted it so badly. But this reboot hasn’t felt the same. Something shifted, and I had to be honest with myself.

In January, our family did a huge fast, seeking clarity from God. I’ll share more about that soon, but through that process, I felt God nudging me to close this chapter. The Chris Benton Show had its season, and it was incredible while it lasted. But now, it’s time to move forward with what’s right in front of me—something that’s not just surviving, but thriving.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned through this journey:

Passion Alone Isn’t Enough: You can love something deeply, but without the right strategy and sustainability, it may not fulfill its potential.
Growth Requires Letting Go: Sometimes, we have to release what we thought was our calling to embrace what actually is.
Obedience Over Preference: God often leads us down unexpected paths. Our job isn’t to force outcomes but to follow His guidance, even when it’s hard.
Clarity Comes Through Surrender: That January fast wasn’t just about spiritual discipline; it was about clearing the noise to hear God’s voice more clearly.
Family as a Foundation: Building something with my son isn’t just business—it’s legacy. That matters more than any view count or follower metric.

So here we are. Time to game plan, refocus, and take The Customized Ride to the next level. The door on The Chris Benton Show may be closing, but I’m stepping through a new one with clarity, purpose, and faith.