Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

In this episode, Brian sits down with Keith Smith, a 7-time founder who is now tackling a $13 trillion problem with his AI-first platform, GoodStream. Keith shares his incredible journey from being a self-proclaimed "unemployable" kid to deploying over $6 billion in private credit, and how living that pain firsthand led him to build a game-changing solution. This isn't just a story about tech; it's a masterclass in identifying market gaps, leveraging new technology to solve old problems, and understanding the critical importance of distribution in a noisy world. For any wantrepreneur or entrepreneur, Keith's insights into the current AI "super cycle" provide a powerful and urgent reason to take action on your business idea today.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to Build a Business from Lived Pain: Discover how Keith transformed years of frustration with unstructured data in the private credit world into the core idea for GoodStream.Why We're in a Once-in-a-Lifetime "Super Cycle": Keith explains why the next 24 months represent a massive opportunity for founders, as nearly every business is re-evaluating its software stack due to AI.The Power of "Vibe Coding" with AI: Learn how to use AI to rapidly iterate and prototype your product ideas with customers before you ever write a line of production code, saving you time and money.The Unspoken Rule of Success: Distribution is King: Even with the most incredible product, you need a strategy to get it in front of users. Keith breaks down why this is more important now than ever.Solving Old Problems with New Tech: Understand the framework for identifying manual, human-led processes in any industry and applying AI to create immense value and efficiency.Balancing Ambition and Family: Keith shares vulnerable insights on his journey as a single father raising two kids while building multiple companies, and how his family became his greatest source of entrepreneurial lessons.📝 About Keith Smith Keith Smith is the co-founder and CEO of GoodStream, an AI-first platform transforming how the $13 trillion private asset industry manages data. A lifelong entrepreneur on his seventh startup, Keith previously spent nine years in private credit, where he deployed over $6 billion and experienced the exact pain point his company now solves. His unique perspective comes from living on both sides of the table—as an operator and an investor—giving him a deep understanding of market needs and the power of leveraging new technology, like AI, to create elegant, powerful solutions.🎯 Keith’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "If you're thinking about solving a problem that you understand well, now is the time to jump in and do it... I do think we are in the middle of a super cycle that we will not see again, potentially in the next decade or our lifetimes."📢 Memorable Quotes"I do better toiling under my own vision than I do somebody else's vision." – Keith Smith"AI is not like anything else I think we've seen before. It is an alien intelligence that we are all sitting here... front row seats to watching this alien intelligence come to life." – Keith Smith"The lessons that I have learned about being an entrepreneur, the vast majority of them came from the experiences and the insights that I gained by starting a family and raising two little humans." – Keith Smith🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit GoodStream’s websiteConnect with Keith on LinkedInFollow GoodStream on LinkedIn

As we close out the year, it's time for one of the most anticipated Solo Sunday episodes: Brian's one word for 2026. For the eighth year in a row, Brian is ditching the long list of easily-forgotten New Year's resolutions for a far more powerful approach — choosing a single word to serve as a theme, a filter, and a guide for the entire year. In this episode, he walks through his words from the past seven years (like Better, Output, and Bigger) to show how each one built on the last, creating a powerful trajectory of growth. He then reveals his word for 2026, "Systems," and breaks down why building systems in your business and life is the key to creating freedom, consistency, and a business that runs without you as the bottleneck.✨ Why This Matters for You Choosing one word is more than a trendy exercise; it's a strategic tool for entrepreneurs:It provides clarity and focus, cutting through the noise of a dozen competing goals.It acts as a simple filter for decision-making. Does this opportunity align with your word?It creates a theme that guides your actions, ensuring you’re consistently moving in the right direction.It turns your year from a series of random events into an intentional journey of growth.It helps you build a business and life that are aligned with a single, powerful vision.📝 Key TakeawaysOne Word > Resolutions. The one-word concept provides a single point of focus that centers your character and creates a vision for your future, unlike resolutions which are often abandoned by February.A Lens for Action. Your chosen word becomes the filter through which you view opportunities, challenges, and decisions. When Brian’s word was "Bigger," he constantly asked, "How can we make this bigger?"Evolution of Focus. Brian’s journey from "Better" to "Output" to "Actions" and beyond shows how each year’s theme builds on the last, creating a compounding effect of personal and professional growth over time.2026 is About "Systems." Brian's word for 2026 is "Systems." The goal is to build repeatable processes that remove you as the bottleneck, ensure consistency, and turn your business into an "infinite game" that can run without your constant manual effort.Systems Create Freedom. By systematizing the routine, mundane, and day-to-day tasks, you free up the mental and emotional energy to be more spontaneous, creative, and present in both your life and business.🚀 Put It Into Action This week, take on the one-word challenge for yourself:Reflect on the year ahead. What do you want more of? What do you need to focus on to get to the next level?Brainstorm a list of potential words that capture that feeling or theme.Choose the ONE word that resonates most deeply and feels right for your next chapter.Share it! Brian would love to hear your word. Drop him an email at hello@imetbrian.com and let him know what your focus is for 2026.🔗 Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who is ready to set a powerful intention for the new year.📣 Special Thanks and Shout Out to a Brilliant Creator! A huge thank you to the folks at MyOneWord.org. Brian was introduced to this concept by them nearly a decade ago, and it has been a foundational part of his annual planning ever since. We highly recommend you visit their site to learn more about this transformative practice

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: EnablementThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: TelemetryThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: AutomationThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: RetentionThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: ExecutionThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: PipelineThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses. You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: OutreachThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

Meet Andrew Safnauer, a serial entrepreneur who proves that the pattern of success isn't about luck—it's about execution. From winning an Emmy and launching a seven-figure apparel brand to building a luxury vehicle wholesale organization from scratch, Andrew has mastered the art of turning ideas into reality. In this episode, he breaks down the single biggest obstacle holding most wantrepreneurs back: the fear of making decisions. This isn't just an inspiring story; it's a practical guide for anyone ready to stop planning and start building. You'll learn why your ideas are worthless without action and how to develop the "executionist" mindset needed to succeed in any industry.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 The Napkin-to-Product Playbook: Learn the step-by-step process of taking a simple idea and turning it into a tangible, sellable product people love.🧠 Action vs. Motion: Discover the critical difference between being busy and being productive, and how to focus on tasks that actually move the needle.🤝 The Mirror Method for Marketing: Uncover the secret to crafting a brand message that connects deeply with your audience by making them see themselves in your product.📈 How to Navigate Inflection Points: Understand the key stages of business growth and the different questions you need to ask to scale successfully.🛠️ AI as a Force Multiplier: Learn how to leverage AI as a powerful tool to enhance your work and save time, without letting it become a crutch for decision-making.💪 The Power of Reps and Resourcefulness: Why experience in one industry can become your superpower in another, and how to cultivate the resourcefulness to solve any problem.💥 Overcoming the Fear of Failure: Reframe failure as a lesson-learned opportunity that provides the crucial experience needed for your next big win.📝 About Andrew Safnauer Andrew Safnauer is a cross-industry entrepreneur and strategic advisor with a track record of turning bold ideas into thriving businesses. His diverse career includes winning an Emmy for voiceover work, leading creative teams for a major broadcast company, launching and exiting a seven-figure apparel brand, owning automotive dealerships, and developing apps. Andrew now leverages his deep experience in execution and problem-solving to help growth companies and leaders navigate complex challenges, cut through indecision, and accelerate their path to success through his consultancy, 9Five Partners.🎯 Andrew’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "The takeaway would be get off this podcast when you're done listening to it and write down one thing you've been avoiding and write down what it's costing you... Indecision is the problem."📢 Memorable Quotes “Ideas are a dime a dozen... it's getting it done. People have said to me... ‘well, I thought of ideas like that.’ And my thing was always like, well, you should have executed on them.” – Andrew Safnauer“You can't steer a parked car. You've got to make decisions and move forward.” – Andrew Safnauer“Creative really, in the end, is trying to turn the mirror back on the audience, right? They want to see themselves in your product.” – Andrew Safnauer🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit NineFive Partners’ websiteConnect with Andrew on LinkedInFollow NineFive Partners on LinkedIn