We Live to Build

Jeff Archibald is one of the lucky few who was able to sell his agency, and now he advises other agency owners. In this interview, he reveals what he would do differently if he had to start his agency all over again. We break down the critical mistakes most founders make, starting with the failure to set revenue goals and reverse-engineer a plan to meet them. Jeff explains why being too risk-averse and not reinvesting a portion of revenue into promotion hindered his agency's growth. He also shares the powerful 3-tier proposal method he adopted that transformed his pricing strategy by removing the fear of overpricing , and explains why you must proactively plan for your company's future instead of just reactively hiring when you get busy. This is a masterclass in building a sellable agency the right way. Check out the company: https://www.jeffarchibald.caBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Thing #1: Reverse-Engineer Your Revenue Goals02:28 - Why "Making Money" Isn't Enough to Survive08:17 - Thing #2: Reinvest in Promotion From Day One10:06 - Thing #3: Build Strategic Partnerships Intentionally15:10 - Thing #4: Master The 3-Tier Pricing Proposal21:40 - The Psychology of Price Anchoring24:01 - Thing #5: Proactively Plan For Growth (Stop Reactive Hiring)28:18 - The Hard Truth About Your Identity After an Exit29:53 - Recovering From Founder Burnout📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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.

Everyone is talking about an "AI-First" content strategy, but it's the wrong mentality, and it's killing your founder authority. In a world drowning in noise, you don't need to be everywhere; you need to be "undeniable where it counts." This interview with Ethan Monkhouse, founder of Naviro, breaks down the new rules for building authority as a founder. We explore why quality content is a hundredfold more important than quantity and how to use AI as a co-pilot for the heavy lifting, not as a replacement for human creativity. You'll learn the fatal flaw in most AI content tools and the framework for a content funnel that attracts your ideal customers without turning you into just another "supplier." Check out the company: https://naviro.aiBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Be Undeniable Where It Counts01:36 - Quality vs. Quantity in the Age of AI02:01 - Why The "AI-First" Mentality is Wrong02:30 - AI is The Co-Pilot, Not The Pilot04:09 - The Big Flaw in AI Content Tools05:48 - Building Your Content Funnel Framework08:36 - Why Your Content Must Be Evergreen12:24 - The #1 Mistake That Gets You Marked as a "Supplier"14:19 - Content Attracts, The Funnel Sells22:51 - Your LinkedIn Profile is a Landing Page, Not a Resume24:22 - The Most Important Lesson of My Life📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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.

For many ambitious founders, bootstrapping is a slow death. After building a profitable, high seven-figure SaaS company for 10 years, Sameer Narkar realized his self-funded model was no longer enough to win. In this interview, Sameer explains why the AI revolution is forcing successful bootstrapped companies into raising funds to move faster. He breaks down his decision to seek investment after a decade of profitability, why he believes thinking about an exit is a distraction from building a great product, and how he plans to use the new capital to "buy growth" by investing in experienced sales teams and partnerships rather than burning cash on ads. Check out the company: https://konnectinsights.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why I'm Abandoning My 8-Figure Bootstrap Business00:35 - The AI Arms Race Demands Speed 02:42 - Fundraising With No Plan to Exit? 04:28 - Is a "Lifestyle Business" a Bad Thing?08:20 - How $15M Changes a Profitable Company09:50 - The "Spend $110 for every $100 Earned" Growth Model 12:01 - Why We Invest in Partnerships, Not Google Ads15:20 - Why We're Hiring Expensive, Experienced Sales Vets 18:10 - Our Content Strategy: Case Studies & Industry Reports 23:05 - The Hardest Part of The Bootstrapping Journey 27:57 - The Most Important Lesson After 10 Years as a Founder 📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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.

Are you making the #1 mistake in AI pricing? Many founders are using their old SaaS pricing model, but for AI, that’s a huge error. As pricing expert Dan Balcauski explains, it’s like showing customers your “underpants”, and it’s killing your sales. In this guide to AI pricing, Dan breaks down why the game has changed. Unlike traditional SaaS, AI products have significant variable costs and unpredictable customer value, creating a new set of challenges for founders. We explore the psychology of value-based pricing, how to choose the right pricing metric, and the strategies companies like Google and OpenAI are using to price their AI tools. Check out the company: https://www.producttranquility.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Your SaaS Pricing Model is Obsolete02:05 - The Value vs. Cost Dilemma of AI03:20 - Foundation Models vs. AI Applications07:15 - Why AI Product Prices Are So Inconsistent11:15 - The Power of Long-Tail Distributions in Pricing17:05 - The Problem with Capped "Unlimited" Plans19:10 - Why AI Companies Are Hardware Constrained24:30 - The 2 Axes of a Smart AI Pricing Strategy28:00 - The #1 AI Pricing Mistake: Showing Your "Underpants"31:30 - The Psychology of Value-Based Pricing📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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 get a 70% reply rate on LinkedIn DMs? In this episode, I sit down with Gabe Lullo, CEO of the 8-figure sales development agency Alleyoop, who shares his exact method for filling his sales pipeline every single day. Gabe unpacks the hard truths about modern sales, explaining why most LinkedIn outreach is just noise and how hyper-personalized voice notes can get you a 7x higher response rate. He also breaks down his "calls and content" strategy, why prospecting for one hour daily is more effective than batching it once a week , and the critical difference between being a founder and being a CEO. Check out the company: https://alleyoop.ioBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - The #1 Rule for a Full Sales Pipeline 01:10 - Why Daily Prospecting Beats Weekly Batching 06:15 - Founder vs. CEO: Why You're Not Who You Think You Are 09:30 - My Secret to a 70% Reply Rate on LinkedIn DMs 11:00 - Why LinkedIn Voice Notes Get 7x More Replies 15:00 - The "Doctor" Method of Selling 23:30 - "Calls & Content": The LinkedIn Growth Strategy 25:15 - How to "Build in Public" When You Have Zero Customers29:10 - A 3-Step Plan for LinkedIn Prospecting31:25 - The One Thing I Wish I Started 13 Years Ago 📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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.

A shocking statistic reveals that 80% of leaders are dangerously behind on AI, and the window to catch up is closing fast. Most are trapped by day-to-day "urgent" tasks, ignoring the "important" work of AI adoption that will determine their company's future. In this episode, executive coach and founder of NewPo, Arielle Lechner, explains why so many leaders are failing to integrate AI and provides a clear roadmap to get started. We discuss how AI is transforming industries like executive coaching with tools like custom GPTs, how to automate workflows to save countless hours, and why you need to start thinking of AI as the most powerful assistant you've never hired. Check out the company: https://newpo.ioBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - The Shocking Stat: 80% of Leaders Are Ignoring AI02:25 - The "Urgent vs. Important" Trap Killing Your Business05:05 - Will a Custom GPT Replace Your Executive Coach?07:20 - How to Create a "Digital Twin" of Your Favorite Experts11:00 - The AI Workflow That Saves 20+ Hours of Work15:00 - A Coach's Secret to Delivering More Value with AI20:15 - Building Your Personal "Digital Twin" in ChatGPT28:30 - The "All or Nothing" Mindset33:05 - The #1 Thing Most People Know They Should Do (But Don't)📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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.

What if your "great" work ethic is secretly sabotaging your business? It's a tough question, but one every founder needs to confront. The toxic hustle culture sold by Silicon Valley isn't just unhealthy, it's often unprofitable. In this episode, Personal Growth Advisor Brad Farris joins me to dismantle the "grind" mindset. We explore why overworking kills the creativity needed for breakthroughs , and how things like sleep, exercise, and hobbies are actually critical tools for productivity and sustainable success. If you're an entrepreneur chasing growth without burning out, this conversation will shift your entire approach to work. Check out the company: https://anchoradvisors.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - The Hustle Culture Lie Pushed By VCs02:15 - Why Grinding Kills Your Creativity04:00 - The Biggest Threat to Your Business Is Your Own Health07:30 - How "Doom Scrolling" Destroys Your Sleep & Productivity11:25 - A Growth Advisor's 3-Step Calendar Audit15:10 - The "Who Not How" Principle to Stop Drowning in Work21:40 - Why Hobbies Like Archery & Golf Are Business Tools27:00 - Using Meditation to Find Quiet in the Chaos30:22 - The Most Important Lesson of My Life📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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 stop building a startup from scratch when you could just buy a profitable business instead? For many entrepreneurs, acquiring an established company is a faster and more direct path to success. In this interview, Neel Bhargava, Founding Partner of the private equity firm NB Group Investors, unpacks his playbook for entrepreneurial investing. He explains the real differences between private equity and the venture capital world , how he raises capital on a deal-by-deal basis , and the unique investment themes he's currently pursuing, from youth enrichment to end-of-life care. If you're a founder tired of the startup grind, this conversation will show you an alternative path to building your empire. Check out the company: https://nbgroup.usBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Is Private Equity the "Smart" Entrepreneurship?02:20 - Forget a Fund: The Deal-By-Deal Capital Model04:10 - The REAL Difference Between PE & Venture Capital06:30 - When The Investor Has To Become The Interim CFO08:48 - His Investment Thesis: Youth Enrichment & End-of-Life Care11:20 - How AI is Shaping Modern Investment Strategy15:00 - Why Building Relationships is 90% of The Job19:25 - The Hardest Part of Buying a Profitable Business📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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.

Ever wonder how someone bought an $8M/year company with only $5,000? Gary Shelton did just that, and in this interview, he reveals his exact model. Gary is "The Coaching King," having acquired, scaled, and sold 12 different businesses over the last 50 years, each hitting 8-figures per year. He explains why mindset is the #1 reason most entrepreneurs never hit $1M a year in revenue and shares the lessons he learned from his mentor who built the first black-owned billion-dollar company. If you want to learn how to acquire businesses with little of your own money, build systems that allow them to run without you, and develop the perseverance to succeed, this conversation is for you. Check out the company: https://goshelton.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - "Life is Quick, Man."01:34 - The REAL Reason Businesses Fail to Hit $1M/Year03:42 - The Money Lesson My Grandfather Taught Me at Age 406:35 - My First Million-Dollar Business Acquisition08:29 - The #1 Thing That Gives a Business REAL Value11:19 - How I Bought an $8M/Year Company With $5,00014:48 - "I'm Not Betting The Farm Unless The Crops Are On Fire"17:22 - The 2 Things to Look For When Buying a Business22:20 - The Hardest Part of Being an Entrepreneur30:45 - "I Don't Work. I Do What I Love."📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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.

Are you accidentally destroying your team with a "Hero Leader" mindset? Many leaders believe their job is to be the primary problem-solver, but this approach can secretly sabotage team performance and create a massive bottleneck. This is the "Hero Leader" Delusion. In this interview, executive coach Dr. Carla Fowler (MD, Ph.D.) breaks down the psychology of leadership and reveals how even well-intentioned leaders stifle growth. We explore the critical differences between strategic thinkers and action-takers, why leaders must stop "putting out fires," and how to truly empower your team to achieve breakthrough results. If you're an entrepreneur, CEO, or founder, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about building a high-performing team. Check out the company: https://thaxa.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - The "Hero Leader" Delusion That's Killing Your Business01:46 - The Psychology That Separates Good vs. Great Leaders03:29 - Are You a Strategic Thinker or an Action-Taker?06:38 - Why Your Team Communication Is Silently Failing08:03 - An Executive Coach's Role Isn't to Solve Your Problems14:22 - The "Spider-Man" Complex That Disempowers Your Team19:43 - Why You Are The Biggest Barrier To Your Team's Growth32:34 - The One Question Every Effective Leader Needs to Ask📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ 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.