Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

Kevin Kertes, a former senior music executive turned founder of advanceMen Coaching, joins the show to discuss the transformative power of vulnerability, connection, and purpose for male entrepreneurs. He shares his journey from a high-stakes corporate career to building a coaching practice dedicated to helping men lead with more confidence and intention. This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur feeling isolated or questioning their path, as Kevin provides a powerful framework for aligning your business with your core "why," leading to greater fulfillment and sustainable success.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 The critical difference between mentorship, therapy, and coaching—and which one you need to break through your current plateau.💡 Why embracing vulnerability is a superpower for male leaders, fostering stronger teams and deeper client relationships.🔥 How to answer the question, "Who are you without telling me what you do for a living?" to uncover your true identity and purpose.🎯 The simple yet profound daily practices to shift your energy from apathetic to anabolic, attracting more opportunities and positive outcomes.💰 Why knowing your "why" is the ultimate foundation for a business that not only makes money but also provides deep, personal fulfillment.🤝 Actionable strategies for building genuine connections and a powerful support network to combat entrepreneurial isolation.📝 About Kevin KertesKevin Kertes is the founder of advanceMen Coaching, a practice designed to help men move forward with confidence, clarity, and purpose. With nearly 30 years of experience as a senior music executive at industry giants like Warner Brothers and Sony Music, Kevin brings a unique blend of corporate wisdom and certified coaching expertise to his work. His mission is to help men break out of isolation, build genuine confidence, and live with intention, transforming how they show up as leaders, partners, and community members.🎯 Kevin’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs"Make sure you know your why. If you don't know your why, nothing's going to work. It all comes back to why you're doing something."📢 Memorable Quotes“One of the first questions I ask in the men's group is tell me a little bit about who you are without telling me what you do for a living.” – Kevin Kertes“The energy you put out into the world, you get back. And if the energy you put out is genuine and it's really you, you'll get it back.” – Kevin Kertes“Being an entrepreneur is another word for being a salesman… But if you know it and it comes back to your why, then the family work, the running the kids to soccer practice… you manage it.” – Kevin Kertes🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit advanceMEN Coaching’s websiteConnect with Kevin on LinkedInFollow advanceMEN Coaching on LinkedIn

May Guevara, founder and CEO of Guevara Group and GalaxiTron, dives into the world of compliance. With a knack for quality control shaped by childhood experiences, she highlights how focusing on infrastructure outweighs chasing flashy ideas. May emphasizes the role of AI in streamlining compliance, transforming it from a burden to a strategic advantage. She shares insights on fostering a culture of excellence and using internal audits as tools for continuous improvement. Plus, she offers practical advice on prioritizing tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix.

Feeling overwhelmed by the AI revolution? In this episode, Luka Anic, co-founder of the AI transformation firm Fox + Spindle, demystifies the world of artificial intelligence for entrepreneurs. Luka shares his accidental journey into AI and explains how it became the secret weapon for launching his own business. He breaks down the difference between AI hype and practical reality, offering a clear roadmap for how you can start leveraging this technology today. This episode is your guide to moving past the fear and uncertainty, showing you how to use AI as a powerful co-founder, brainstorming partner, and accelerator for your business dreams, all while navigating the critical ethical considerations.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to leverage AI as a co-founder to fill skill gaps you have in your business—from coding your website to understanding legal requirements.Why "playing" with AI for personal tasks is the most effective first step before implementing it professionally.The crucial difference between deterministic tasks (where AI fails) and creative tasks (where AI excels), so you know exactly when to trust it.How to use AI as a team, leveraging the unique strengths of models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini to achieve the best results.A framework for using AI ethically, recognizing its inherent biases so you can build a responsible and fair business.How to use AI to overcome entrepreneurial roadblocks, turning your inner critic into a strategic advocate for your vision.Practical ways AI can accelerate your business launch, from crafting marketing strategies and cold email campaigns to ensuring legal compliance.📝 About Luka Anic Luka Anic is the Croatian-American co-founder of Fox + Spindle, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to AI transformation. His journey into AI began by accident while helping a former employer implement it internally, but it quickly ignited a passion that led him to co-found his own company with his best friend. Luka’s unique perspective combines strategy and storytelling, focusing on helping entrepreneurs and businesses wield AI with confidence, effectiveness, and a strong ethical foundation.🎯 Luka’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "It's never the right time. So if you think that you want to do it, just go ahead and do it."📢 Memorable Quotes“AI allows you to be someone you have never been before or even knew that you wanted to be. It can unlock skills that you don't have and in a way don't even need to build anymore.” – Luka Anic“Generative AI is fantastic when there is no correct answer. That's why it's so good at recommending books, why it's so good at writing stories.” – Luka Anic“If you're new to AI, please don't start using it at work right away. Have fun with it first.” – Luka Anic🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Fox + Spindle’s websiteConnect with Luka on LinkedInFollow Fox + Spindle on LinkedIn

In this episode, Brian sits down with Justine Lafond, a two-time founder who has mastered the art of building premium brands. Drawing from nearly 20 years in the luxury space, Justine shares how she translated her expertise from running a luxury interior design firm, Jaunty J Interiors, into launching Étoile Agency, a boutique media agency. This conversation is a masterclass in applying high-end principles to any business, focusing on creating an unmatched client experience, building unshakable trust, and mastering the power of perceived value. For any entrepreneur looking to elevate their brand and foster deep, lasting client connections, this episode is packed with tangible strategies to make your business feel first-class.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to define and build "perceived value" so you can command premium prices and earn immediate trust.Why running two parallel businesses can be your greatest asset, making you a more insightful and valuable entrepreneur.The power of authentic, relationship-based networking in a world obsessed with automation and transactional interactions.Actionable strategies for maintaining client relationships that feel personal and high-touch (even on a budget).How to use AI as a tool for efficiency without sacrificing the essential human element that builds loyalty.The "Pillar Method" for defining your brand's core identity and staying authentic through every stage of growth.Why a "buttoned-up" digital footprint is the first step to proving your business is legitimate and trustworthy.📝 About Justine Lafond Justine Lafond is a military spouse, mother, and the dynamic founder of two distinct businesses: Étoile Agency, a boutique national media agency, and Jaunty J Interiors, a full-service luxury interior design firm. With nearly two decades of experience in niche and luxury industries, she possesses a rare mastery of sales, marketing, and relationship-based networking. Justine’s unique perspective comes from her ability to apply the principles of luxury, trust, and authentic connection across different industries, making her an invaluable guide for entrepreneurs looking to build brands with lasting impact.🎯 Justine’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "If you feel a pull towards something that can make a difference in people's lives or businesses or the world, you should do it and not make excuses and just give it a shot."📢 Memorable Quotes“Luxury is how something makes you feel. But to a degree, it's also kind of perceived value of things.” – Justine Lafond“The big piece I think that's missing especially in the luxury space is the trust that you have to have... before they're going to commit to spending X amount of dollars.” – Justine Lafond"I think it's always going to be trendy to just be authentic. And that goes for home design and the digital marketing world.” – Justine Lafond🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Étoile Agency’s websiteVisit Jaunty J Interiors’ websiteConnect with Justine on LinkedInFollow Étoile Agency on LinkedInFollow Étoile Agency on Instagram

Ever felt like you’ve thrown money at paid ads with nothing to show for it? You’re not alone. In this episode, Kayla Bravo, the founder of Maverick Advertising, pulls back the curtain on why most ad campaigns fail before they even start. She reveals that success isn't about having the biggest budget or the cleverest ad copy; it's about building a rock-solid business foundation first. This episode is a masterclass for any entrepreneur who wants to stop gambling with their ad spend and start investing in a predictable, scalable growth strategy. Kayla’s approach, which treats clients like family and prioritizes education over jargon, will change the way you think about advertising forever.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 Why a strong business foundation (website, messaging, branding) is non-negotiable for advertising success.💰 How to set realistic expectations for your ad campaigns to avoid the "Nike results on a startup budget" trap.🎯 The masterful qualification question you must ask potential clients to understand their true intentions and avoid headaches.📈 How to design effective Calls to Action (CTAs) that guide website visitors and turn traffic into tangible leads.🧠 Why patience is the most underrated—and most crucial—element of a winning digital advertising strategy.🤝 The "dating process" for onboarding new clients to build deep, long-lasting partnerships based on communication and trust.⚙️ How to prepare your backend systems (like a CRM) to handle an influx of leads so you don't miss out on massive opportunities.📝 About Kayla BravoKayla Bravo is the owner and founder of Maverick Advertising, a digital advertising agency built on the core values of transparency, education, and strategy-driven results. After pivoting from a career in accounting to her true passion for marketing, Kayla launched Maverick to provide a different kind of agency experience. She views her clients not as accounts, but as extensions of her team, making their problems her problems and their successes her own. Her unique perspective combines a love for data with a deep commitment to building genuine relationships, helping businesses achieve real, sustainable growth.🎯 Kayla’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs"Don't let fear overtake you, take that risk."📢 Memorable Quotes“A lot of people want Nike results, but they don't have the Nike budget. And I'm very clear with that—the expectations are real.” – Kayla Bravo“Their success is our success. Their problems are our problems because we're trying to help them.” – Kayla Bravo“I had a client once say, 'You understand we're never gonna leave you at this point. We're married.'… And I think about it that way. It's like I'm getting to know my clients and understand what their needs are.” – Kayla Bravo🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Maverick Advertising’s websiteConnect with Kayla on LinkedInFollow Maverick Advertising on LinkedInFollow Maverick Advertising on InstagramFollow Maverick Advertising on Facebook

In his first Solo Sunday of 2026, Brian Lofrumento shares his biggest and most urgent prediction for the year: AI is no longer an early-adopter advantage; it’s rapidly becoming the bare minimum for business viability. Using a powerful analogy from the rise of the internet, Brian explains how we’ve reached a tipping point where not using AI won't just slow you down—it will actively penalize you and leave you behind. He breaks down the four key areas of your business that will be most affected and provides a clear-eyed perspective on why this shift isn't about being replaced, but about keeping pace in a world where momentum now matters more than ever.✨ Why This Matters for YouUnderstanding this shift is critical for your survival and growth:It’s about viability, not just advantage. Your competitors are already using AI, and customer expectations are shifting rapidly.AI is becoming "assumed infrastructure" like a website or email. Operating without it will make your business seem outdated and inefficient.It directly impacts your bottom line, from customer response times and content visibility to your own operational sanity as a founder.You haven't missed the boat yet, but the window is closing. Now is the time to build momentum, not wait to be the last one to adapt.📝 Key TakeawaysThe Website Parallel: In the early 2000s, websites were optional. Today, a business without one is invisible. AI is following the exact same trajectory.Advantage vs. Penalty: The conversation around AI has shifted. In 2026, you won’t be rewarded for using AI; you’ll be penalized for not using it.Customers Won't Wait: AI-enabled businesses offer instant support. If your response time is measured in days, customers will simply go elsewhere without telling you why.Content and Visibility: AI allows your competition to create 5-10x more content. Without it, you're fighting for visibility with one hand tied behind your back.Ease Your Mental Load: As a founder, you're already stretched thin. AI is a critical tool for automating operations and freeing up your mental energy for high-level strategy.It's Not Too Late (But Act Now): It’s no longer about being first. It's about not being last. Building momentum now is the key to staying in the game.🚀 Put It Into ActionThis week, conduct an honest AI audit of your business:Identify the single biggest manual bottleneck in your operations. Could an AI tool help automate or streamline it?Look at your customer response process. Where could AI provide faster, more efficient answers to common questions?Pick one area—show notes, social media posts, email newsletters—and experiment with using AI to speed up your content creation this week.Don't aim for perfection. The goal is to start moving and build momentum.🔗 Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to hear this urgent message about the future of business

Meet Dr. Peter Bonutti: a surgeon, inventor, professor, author, and powerhouse entrepreneur who operates a 40,000-square-foot medical device incubator from a town of 13,000 people. In this episode, Dr. Bonutti unpacks his incredible journey from a resident inspired by an inventive mentor to an innovator with over 500 patents to his name. He reveals his core philosophy: identifying problems from the patient's perspective and relentlessly developing solutions, which led to groundbreaking inventions like UVCeed, a mobile, medical-grade disinfecting device. For wantrepreneurs and entrepreneurs, this episode is a masterclass in how to find opportunities in any industry, the power of reinvesting in R&D, and why your job isn't just to participate in your field but to actively improve it.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 How to adopt a patient-first (or customer-first) mindset to uncover market-defining product ideas that incumbents overlook.💰 The powerful strategy of reinvesting 100% of early profits back into research and development to build a sustainable innovation engine.🧠 Why the simplest solution is often the best, and how to find the "least common denominator" to solve complex problems effectively.📱 How to leverage existing, ubiquitous technology (like a smartphone's camera and AI) to make your own products smarter, safer, and more accessible.📈 The art of educating your market: How to explain complex technology (like UVC disinfection) in a way that highlights clear, undeniable benefits over the competition.🤖 A balanced perspective on AI: How to use it as a game-changing tool for personalized solutions while being wary of the "garbage in, garbage out" data problem.📝 About Dr. Peter Bonutti Dr. Peter Bonutti is an orthopedic surgeon, inventor, author, professor, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience. He is the founder of Bonutti Research, a medical device incubator that has developed technologies used worldwide, resulting in over 500 patents and 700 licenses. Dr. Bonutti’s unique perspective comes from balancing his active surgical practice with a relentless drive to innovate, always focusing on solving problems from the patient's point of view. He proves that world-changing innovation doesn't have to come from a major tech hub, but from a deep commitment to improving the lives of others.🎯 Dr. Peter’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "We owe ourselves the responsibility to enhance the lives of those around us, and that can be done as an entrepreneur by looking at problems that we see, coming up with solutions, and iteratively changing those to improve the quality of life around us."📢 Memorable Quotes"I started to focus early on my career, listening to the patients, seeing what their problems were, and then tried to develop technologies, ideas that would address what patients were concerned about the most." – Dr. Peter Bonutti"My job is not just to practice medicine, but to improve the quality of medicine." – Dr. Peter Bonutti"Just because the status quo exists does not mean that it's optimal. We can always improve things around us." – Dr. Peter Bonutti🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit UVCeed’s websiteConnect with Peter on LinkedInFollow UVCeed on LinkedIn

To kick off 2026, Brian is joined by his good friend and fellow entrepreneur, Ian Westermann of Essential Tennis, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about the real journey of a long-term creator. They pull back the curtain on the emotional highs and lows of building a content-driven business, from the thrill of growth and scaling a team to the painful reality of market saturation and the need to pivot. This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur feeling the grind of organic content. You'll get a rare, honest look at the struggles of creator loneliness, the necessity of evolving your business model, and how rediscovering your passion can pave the way for your next big breakthrough.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessWhy the "organic content grind" that worked in the 2010s is a death spiral now, and how to start pivoting your strategy for 2026.How to combat the loneliness of entrepreneurship by shifting from a one-way content model to building a genuine two-way community.The emotional journey of scaling a business up and then back down, and how to find gratitude and excitement in being a solopreneur again.How to leverage your entire library of past content as an unbelievable training asset for AI, sparking fresh ideas you've never thought of.The critical importance of "play" – how geeking out on unrelated hobbies can unlock unexpected skills and lay the groundwork for your next business venture.A powerful mindset shift: viewing your business's growth not just for yourself, but as a vehicle to provide opportunities and support for your team.📝 About Ian Westermann Ian Westermann is the founder of Essential Tennis, the world's #1 online tennis instruction resource. Since 2008, he has built a content empire, publishing over 4,000 videos and helping millions of players improve their game. Ian is not just a world-class coach; he's a seasoned entrepreneur who has navigated the incredible evolution of digital media for over 16 years. His unique perspective comes from experiencing the full cycle of the content creator economy, from being a trailblazing pioneer to competing in a now-saturated market, offering invaluable, hard-won lessons for any business owner today.🎯 Ian’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "If you're not excited about the thing you're working on, you will never, ever, ever put in the hours or ever, ever follow through enough times to ever have a chance of being good enough at that thing to be able to charge any money for that product or service."📢 Memorable Quotes“Humans are just not wired to just yell into the void and feel whole. I don't think it's okay to want that two-way street.” – Ian Westermann“I’m just coming back around again to being excited about being a solo creator again… learning to be grateful just for that again, which I know there's people listening that are like giving me the middle finger right now if you don't already have your own business.” – Ian Westermann“Just being able to get outside your own head… especially when you don't have a team… It's unbelievably powerful.” – Ian Westermann on using AI as a strategic partner.🔗 Links & ResourcesWebsite: EssentialTennis.comYouTube: Essential TennisPodcast: The Essential Tennis Podcast

In a world full of transactional businesses, Justin Weinstein has built a law firm that thrives on deep, meaningful relationships. As the founding partner of Weinstein Legal Team, he’s scaled his practice across Florida by making legal representation more accessible, transparent, and human. This episode is a masterclass in building a powerful company culture that goes far beyond ping pong tables and free snacks. Justin reveals how he embedded his personal values of empathy and connection into his firm’s DNA, leading to incredible employee retention and client trust. For any entrepreneur who wants to build a business with soul and stand out in a noisy market, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for turning your core values into your greatest competitive advantage.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHumanize Your Brand: Discover how to build a business that people trust and connect with on a human level, even in a traditionally sterile industry.Culture as a Retention Tool: Learn how investing in your team's growth and creating a safe, nurturing environment leads to long-term employee loyalty.The Power of Proactive Education: Find out how educating your market—instead of just reacting to their needs—can build immense trust and position you as a go-to authority.Mastering the Art of Follow-Up: Understand why accountability and consistent follow-up are the unsung heroes of successful business growth and relationship building.Calculated Risk-Taking for Growth: Hear why getting comfortable with risk is essential for any entrepreneur looking to scale their vision and achieve professional breakthroughs.Leverage AI as a Business Partner: Get insights into how a founder uses AI tools like ChatGPT for strategic planning, marketing, and business operations, not just task execution.Delegate to Elevate: Learn the importance of identifying your weaknesses (like scheduling!) and hiring people who love doing the tasks you don't, freeing you up to focus on growth.📝 About Justin WeinsteinJustin Weinstein is the founding partner of Weinstein Legal Team, a statewide law practice in Florida he started in 2016. With a background in both business and law, Justin brings a unique entrepreneurial perspective to the legal field. He has successfully scaled his firm by focusing on a human-first approach, building a powerful culture centered on empathy, meaningful relationships, and community impact. Justin’s vision is to make the legal world more accessible and proactive, proving that you can build a thriving business by putting people first.🎯 Justin’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and EntrepreneursYour success as an entrepreneur is directly tied to the quality of the relationships you build and your commitment to continuous learning.📢 Memorable Quotes"Growth is directly related to fulfillment in whatever it is that we're doing. It's so important to step outside of the, 'What do I have to do today?' versus, 'Okay, let's make sure that we're growing some of the employees.'" – Justin Weinstein"People are people first. I'm not just a lawyer, I'm a person. Just like every single client we have is not just a client or someone who got injured, they're a person with a family and a career." – Justin Weinstein🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Weinstein Legal Team’s websiteConnect with Justin on LinkedInFollow Weinstein Legal Team on LinkedIn

Tired of health apps that just throw data at you without helping you change? Deniz Binay, a former Google product manager who helped launch iconic products like Google Assistant and Gemini, is here to fix that. In this episode, Deniz shares how he’s building Lemon, an AI health companion designed to help you take action rather than just drown in insights. He breaks down his journey from early entrepreneurial side hustles to leading teams at Google and finally launching a startup with a mission to make the world a healthier place. This episode is a masterclass in product development, leveraging AI, and understanding the core psychological needs of your customers to build something they’ll actually use and love.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessThe MVP Mindset: Learn how Deniz and his co-founder built a "crappy" prototype in just one week to gather immediate, high-value feedback without building a full-fledged app.Niche-Down Strategy: Discover the process of taking a massive vision ("help everyone be healthier") and strategically narrowing it down to a hyper-specific ideal customer (urban parents) to gain initial traction.Action Over Insight: Understand why customers often need help with execution, not more information, and how to build a business that bridges the gap between knowing and doing.Retention Before Scale: Hear Deniz’s powerful argument for why your first goal isn't massive distribution, but creating a product that 10, then 100, super-happy users absolutely love.Harnessing AI for Operations: Get a behind-the-scenes look at how an AI expert uses simple prompts to streamline everything from summarizing customer interviews to brainstorming product ideas.The Power of a Positive Mission: Learn why focusing on a mission that genuinely excites you is the ultimate fuel for long-term motivation and perseverance through entrepreneurial challenges.📝 About Deniz Binay Deniz Binay is the co-founder and CEO of Lemon, an AI-powered health companion. A two-time ex-Googler, Deniz has been at the forefront of AI innovation, playing pivotal roles in the launch of the Gemini mobile app and the founding team of Google Assistant. Originally from Switzerland, his passion for technology has always been tied to creating a positive impact, from building marketplaces that connect people to now building a solution that helps people live healthier, more active lives. His deep expertise as a product manager gives him a unique and pragmatic perspective on building technology that solves real human problems.🎯 Deniz’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "As cheesy as it sounds, just follow your dream."📢 Memorable Quotes"My number one need is help me actually take actions for my health. Everyone wants to be healthier, but many, many people have trouble to follow through." – Deniz Binay"Don't work like months and months without shipping anything... Always try to find what is the easiest thing you can do to collect the feedback that you want to have." – Deniz Binay"At the very starting phase, it's not so much of a game of scale. It's very much of a game of finding 10 super-happy users, finding 100 super-happy users." – Deniz Binay🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Lemon Health AI’s websiteConnect with Deniz on LinkedInFollow Lemon Health AI on LinkedIn