We Live to Build

Can you land enterprise clients like Marriott and Panasonic without a massive sales team? Dima Syrotkin, founder of Panda Training, reveals his strategy for hacking enterprise sales: partnering with consulting firms who already have the trust (and the golf buddies) to close the deal for you. In this interview, Dima and Sean discuss why firing middle managers is a mistake, the reality of "AI shrinking companies," and why getting SOC2 and ISO certifications was the best $20k he ever spent. Dima also shares his personal struggle with defensiveness as a CEO and how hiring an angel investor full-time forced him to confront his own ego. Check out the company: https://pandatron.ai👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Companies are Stagnating (Coordination Problems) 01:46 - Why "Firing All Managers" (Holacracy) Doesn't Work 04:13 - Will AI Shrink or Grow Companies? 06:11 - How to Hack Enterprise Sales with Channel Partners 09:30 - The Risk of Relying on Partners (Conflict of Interest) 11:28 - Why You Need a Direct Sales Channel to Survive 14:26 - The Power of Face-to-Face Sales in Enterprise 16:04 - Landing the First Big Client (0 to $1M ARR) 17:40 - The Nightmare of Enterprise Security (300-Page Questionnaires) 21:00 - How to Get ISO/SOC2 Certified for $20k 24:40 - Hiring Top Talent After an Exit 27:47 - The #1 Lesson: Stop Being Defensive📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is AI coming for your job, or just the boring parts you hate? Tim Cakir, an AI consultant who scaled his agency to nearly $1M ARR in the first year, reveals why he believes "boring work" is the enemy of productivity and how AI agents can eliminate it. In this interview, Tim shares the controversial story of how he helped a company replace 50 employees with an automation tool, why he believes leaders are manufacturing AI fear, and how he built a fully automated sales CRM using Claude and Make.com. He also debates Sean on the future of "Vibe Coding" and why the future of work might just be a black terminal screen. Check out the company: https://aioperator.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Leaders Are Creating AI Fear 03:32 - The "10-Year Clock" Until Work Becomes Optional 06:20 - Will AI Kill Junior Jobs? (The Skill Gap Crisis) 09:30 - How to Document Your Processes for AI 12:12 - "Vibe Coding" vs. Building Real Systems 16:40 - Automating the "Boring Work" (Sales CRM Example) 20:53 - Sean's Struggle to Automate His Podcast 24:30 - Why I Love Working in the Terminal (No UI) 28:50 - The Future of AI Agents & Automation 33:40 - Firing 50 People: The Hard Truth About Efficiency📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do ad platforms like Meta and Google claim credit for sales they didn't actually generate? Scott Desgrossilliers explains why relying on ad platform data is like letting the "fox watch the henhouse" and how it leads businesses to burn cash on ineffective campaigns. In this interview, Scott and Sean discuss the complexities of multi-touch attribution, why you need an unbiased "source of truth" for your data, and how to lower your Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) by feeding better signals back to ad algorithms. They also dive into the reality of buying a business vs. starting one, the importance of hiring for "grit," and why YouTube subscribers might be a vanity metric if you don't have an email list. Check out the company: https://wickedreports.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Ad Platforms Lie About Your Sales 02:15 - How Conversion Tracking Actually Works (The "Fox in the Henhouse") 04:32 - The Difference Between First-Click & Last-Click Attribution 06:04 - Sean's Struggle with YouTube Ads & Subscribers 08:38 - Why You Need a Middle-of-Funnel Strategy (Email Lists) 16:04 - Buying a Business vs. Starting From Scratch 24:43 - The #1 Trait to Hire For: Grit & Persistence 29:30 - Hiring Mistakes: The MIT Graduate vs. The Doer 33:17 - How to Filter Candidates Before You Interview Them 36:36 - Lowering CAC by 40% with Better Data Signals📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you save a startup when growth flatlines? Itai Sadan, co-founder of Duda, reveals the two critical pivots that saved his company: shifting from mobile-only to responsive design, and the controversial decision to ignore 50% of his customers (small businesses) to focus entirely on agencies. In this interview, Itai explains why AI is the new SEO, how to optimize your website for ChatGPT search, and why the combination of AI and human creativity is the future of web design. He also shares the hard truth about competing with giants like Wix and WordPress and why founders must sometimes make painful decisions to survive. Check out the company: https://duda.co👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Agencies Use Duda vs. WordPress/Wix 03:00 - The New SEO: Ranking on ChatGPT & AI Search 06:27 - Will AI Replace Web Designers? 09:30 - The Future: Voice AI Building Websites? 12:35 - The Hardest Part of Being a CEO (Constant Growth) 19:30 - Pivot #1: Mobile-Only to Responsive Design22:20 - Pivot #2: Ignoring 50% of Customers (SMBs) to Focus on Agencies 26:40 - Surviving 2 Years of Flat Growth 31:50 - There is No Single Playbook for Success📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do the ultra-wealthy ignore the traditional 60/40 portfolio? Tad Fallows, founder of a high-net-worth community, reveals that his members hold almost zero bonds and use portfolio lines of credit instead of keeping cash reserves. In this interview, he breaks down the actual asset allocation strategies used by those with $5M-$100M+ net worths, including why they prioritize private equity and real estate over public bonds. Tad also explains why whole life insurance is almost never a good investment , the difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts for estate planning , and sophisticated tax strategies for selling concentrated stock positions—like Exchange Funds and Direct Indexing—without triggering a massive tax bill. Check out the company: https://longangle.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Sudden Wealth: Why You Don't Need a Wealth Manager Yet 02:55 - High Net Worth Insurance (Umbrella & Carriers) 05:54 - Stop Buying Whole Life Insurance 08:33 - Estate Planning: Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts 11:25 - Are Offshore Trusts (Cook Islands) Worth the Risk? 14:46 - Asset Allocation: Why the Wealthy Don't Own Bonds 17:26 - The "Portfolio Line of Credit" Strategy (No Cash Drag) 20:23 - Private Equity vs. Public Markets 25:46 - How to Sell Concentrated Stock Without Taxes (Exchange Funds) 27:51 - Using Direct Indexing for Tax Loss Harvesting 29:16 - The 12-Month "Cooling Off" Rule for Windfalls📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why should most startups avoid hiring a PR agency until after their Series A? Jackson Wightman, founder of a tech PR firm, argues that early-stage companies often waste money on agencies before they are ready. In this interview, he breaks down the right time to invest in public relations and why the playing field has tilted against those who ignore AI. Jackson also reveals how AI has fundamentally changed the agency model—allowing him to grow 15-20% without hiring junior employees. He discusses the problem of "AI Slop" in media pitches, the terrifying reality of a "lost generation" of workers who can't get entry-level experience, and how Chinese manufacturers are aggressively taking over Amazon's "Buy Box" by bypassing traditional branding. Check out the company: https://properpropoganda.net👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - How AI Changed the PR Industry Forever 01:32 - Why Your Startup Shouldn't Hire a PR Agency Yet 02:52 - The Plague of "AI Slop" in Pitch Emails 05:31 - Using AI for Media Training & Research 08:38 - Why We Stopped Hiring Junior Employees 10:48 - Is the Career Ladder Broken? (The Junior Talent Crisis) 13:21 - The Future of Work: Scared to Have Kids? 17:45 - How Chinese Brands Are Dominating Amazon 21:58 - Trust & Brand Equity: Why Product Isn't Everything 26:17 - The Translation Fail That Hurt a Game Launch 28:58 - The #1 Rule for Agency Success: Run by Numbers📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the $400 billion currently being poured into AI infrastructure a visionary bet or a massive bubble waiting to burst? Vijay Rajendran explains why we are seeing the biggest investment in fixed capital since the railroads, and what could cause it all to come crashing down. In this interview, Vijay and Sean discuss the new velocity of fundraising, where startups hit $100M ARR in months, and the rise of "seed-strapping" (raising once, then profiting). They also debate why VCs are obsessed with "founder pedigree," the structural reasons why European startups struggle to scale compared to the US, and the geopolitical shocks (food and fuel prices) that could abruptly end the AI party. Check out the company: https://gai.ventures👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - How AI Changed Fundraising Forever 00:40 - The Anomaly: 0 to $100M Revenue in 12 Months 04:02 - What is "Seed-Strapping"? (Profitable & Funded) 09:02 - The Pedigree Trap: Why VCs Obsess Over Stanford/Ex-OpenAI 10:07 - The Alumni Ventures Model 14:43 - Silicon Valley vs. Lisbon: Why Europe Can't Scale 17:32 - The Bureaucracy Problem in the EU 23:34 - The $400B Bet: Will the AI Bubble Burst? 27:32 - The "Geopolitical Shock" That Could Crash the Market 29:59 - How to Win Investor Money Right Now (Momentum)📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/ai-product-testing▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the "Amazon Age," customers expect custom products yesterday. Eric Turney explains why businesses are now "forced to automate" or get left behind. In this interview, he reveals how Chinese manufacturers are using robotics to reduce factory lines from 50 workers to just 5 and why speed is now the most critical metric for survival. The conversation delves into the practical side of automation: using Monday.com to manage thousands of orders , implementing AI image editors to stay competitive , and the controversial rise of "Vibe Coding." Eric shares how he bypassed expensive developers to fix a critical website bug in 30 minutes using Claude AI , while Sean details how he built a functional SaaS tool using Cursor without writing the code himself. Check out the company: https://montereycompany.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - The State of Automation in E-Commerce 00:53 - How Robots Replaced 90% of Factory Workers 03:28 - Dialing in Manufacturing Processes in China 07:15 - Automating Order Management (Monday.com) 11:21 - The "Amazon Age": Why Speed is Everything 13:15 - Adopt AI or Get Left Behind 16:05 - Vibe Coding: Replacing Developers with AI 19:53 - Sean's Story: Building a SaaS App with Cursor 27:10 - Fixing Critical Bugs in 30 Minutes with Claude 32:38 - The Reality of Buying a Business (It's Hard) 34:36 - Why Culture is Your Best Retention Strategy📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did people turn down a $5,000 cash reward for referring a candidate? Dakota Younger discovered a strange psychological phenomenon while building his referral platform: offering money sometimes decreases motivation. In this interview, he breaks down the complex psychology of incentives, explaining why altruism often outperforms cash and how to structure a referral program that actually works. Dakota also explains why posting jobs is the least effective way to hire, the power of accessing passive talent through social capital, and the "Ice Cream Study" theory on why giving people too many choices leads to decision paralysis. Finally, he shares his most humbling lesson as a founder: admitting that he knows "absolutely nothing." Check out the company: https://goboon.co👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Most Hiring Tools Fail (Employer-Centric) 01:39 - The Power of Social Capital in Referrals 04:10 - Why "Passive Talent" is the Gold Standard 06:27 - Hiring Remote Developers (Sean's Experience) 11:26 - How to Incentivize Referrals (Points vs. Cash) 16:34 - Why People Declined My $5,000 Cash Reward 18:34 - The Psychology of Altruism vs. Money 23:20 - The "Ice Cream Study": Why Less Choice is More 28:34 - Cultural Differences in Motivation (Asia vs. West) 31:35 - The #1 Lesson: "I Know Absolutely Nothing"📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did David Windley disrupt the recruiting industry by moving from commissions to an hourly model? In this interview, he reveals how he scaled his firm to $50 million in revenue before selling it. He explains why the traditional 33% commission model is broken for clients and how he implemented a professional services approach instead. David unpacks the terrifying reality of a 75% revenue drop during COVID and how furloughing staff saved the company. He also shares why he spun out a software startup (Hoot Recruit) to build AI agents for sourcing, the truth about whether AI will replace human recruiters, and his #1 rule for leadership: character over competence.Check out the company: https://iqrecruit.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - The $50M Exit & The Hardest Part 00:41 - Surviving a 75% Revenue Drop During COVID 03:11 - Rebuilding to $50M Revenue Post-Pandemic 05:54 - Why I Sold the Business (The "Accidental Entrepreneur") 06:06 - Hourly vs. Commission: Disrupting the Recruiting Model 09:35 - Why the Industry Hates the Hourly Model 12:42 - How to Generate $50M on Hourly Rates 14:00 - Spinning Out "Hoot Recruit" Software  16:35 - Using AI Agents for Candidate Sourcing 19:26 - Will AI Replace Recruiters? (Human in the Loop) 25:30 - AI Bias and Why Humans Are Still Needed 27:26 - The #1 Leadership Rule: Character vs. Competence 29:08 - Why Culture Matters More Than Policies📈 WORK WITH ME▶️ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶️ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶️ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.