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What if the entrepreneurial journey isn't about finding your best self, but confronting the worst parts of yourself? According to CEO Mark Stouse, being a founder is a primal sort of situation that will bring out things that shock the hell out of you. In this brutally honest interview, Mark exposes the "killing it" lie, where founders project confidence in public but are in the proverbial fetal position in private. He explains why entrepreneurship is a path of pain and suffering and why you must finish the race or risk being worse off than when you started. Check out the company: https://www.proofanalytics.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 - The Disproportionate Effect a Founder Has on Culture04:26 - The "Killing It" Lie: What CEOs Say vs. How They Really Feel09:04 - Entrepreneurship Is a Path of Pain & Suffering13:24 - Discovering Things That Shock The Hell Out Of You17:52 - Why You Must Finish The Race (Or Be Worse Off Than Before)22:09 - The Critical Importance of Market Timing26:04 - The Tranche Funding Model That Prevents Dilution30:48 - The Price You Pay For Playing Hardball With Investors35:12 - Founders Are Athletes, Corporate CEOs Are Chess Players43:33 - The Future of Work is Contract-Based, Not Full-Time48:31 - Never Lose Sight of What's Truly Important📈 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 is the real impact of AI in sales? According to Global Chief Revenue Officer Alan Versteeg, for most people, it will just help you suck quicker. In this brutally honest interview, Alan warns that AI without the right intention will lead to more laziness and canned messages, further damaging the sales profession. He reveals that the top-performing salespeople in the world are not defined by their process, but by their value system and selling with a noble purpose. You'll also learn his advanced technique of "empathetic objection prevention" and the ultimate lesson for scaling any business: focus on who, not how. Check out the company: https://www.growthmattersintl.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 Lifelong Lesson: Know What You Can't Control04:54 - AI Will Just Help You Suck Quicker09:30 - Treat Them Like a Client, Not a Prospect14:02 - The Founder's Dilemma: Scaling Your Conviction18:11 - A Sales Process is a Guardrail, Not a Production Line22:40 - Empathetic Objection Prevention: How to Build Trust26:49 - The Chef, The Recipe & The Ingredients: A Sales Analogy31:10 - Data is a Tool, Not The Truth35:17 - Values Trump Value: The Secret of Top Performers39:17 - The Ultimate Growth Secret: It's Who, Not How📈 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.

Have you ever found yourself dating like a sales funnel? For entrepreneur Don Finley, it meant trying to "close" a date in three messages on an app. In this surprisingly personal interview, Don and Sean explore the uncanny similarities between business and modern relationships. They break down the confusing rise of the "situationship" , the unique six-month "contract" Don has in his current relationship , and how unfounded jealousy can destroy what seems like a perfect partnership. Check out the company: https://www.findustries.coBook 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 - I Treated Dating Like a Sales Funnel05:26 - Trying to "Close" a Date in 3 Messages 10:12 - Why I Quit Using Dating Apps15:30 - The "Situationship" Lie: Why Modern Dating is Broken20:51 - Dating in Asia vs. The West: A Path to Commitment 26:25 - Our 6-Month "Relationship Contract" 31:33 - She Was Perfect, But Jealousy Destroyed Everything36:42 - How My Myers-Briggs "Shadow" Became My Partner41:58 - The Hardest Lesson I Learned From a Breakup47:23 - The Challenge of Finding Love While Traveling📈 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.

After 920 CEO calls in just 90 days, venture capitalist Jeremy Barr reveals how I read people in the first 60 seconds of any meeting. He explains how to analyze nonverbal cues like eye movement, body language, and microexpressions, which he says account for 95% of all communication. In this intense interview, Jeremy also shares his brutal philosophy on resilience—that you must have a mission you are "willing to die for"—and his controversial take that burnout is not a function of time and energy, but a lack of emotional engagement. Check out the company: https://accerelatedcoachingbyjeremybarr.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 - You Must Have Something You're Willing to Die For03:50 - Why "Trying Harder" Won't Give You Resilience07:31 - The "Seed Traits" I Look For in Every Founder11:05 - I Did 920 CEO Calls in 90 Days. Here's What I Learned.14:34 - How to Read Anyone in the First 60 Seconds18:23 - The Conversation Algorithm I Used to Make 300 Friends22:34 - Burnout Isn't About Time & Energy, It's About This26:31 - "Start with Human Desires, End with Human Impact"30:41 - Why I Reject "Power Law" Investing34:47 - The World Runs on 3 Insecurities (Master Them & Win)📈 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.

After doctors told him and his wife they could never have a family, Ari Tulla embarked on a 15-year journey to heal her. In this deeply personal interview, the CEO of Elo Health shares the story of his wife's thyroid tumor, the subsequent autoimmune issues, and the radical diet that ultimately saved them and allowed them to have two healthy kids. Ari also provides a masterclass on the realities of the startup world, explaining why most founders are just "buying customers" instead of achieving true product-market fit. Check out the company: https://www.elo.healthBook 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 Day My Wife Was Diagnosed With a Tumor02:12 - "You Will Never Have a Family": Our Devastating Verdict04:30 - Our 15-Year Battle to Heal Her Body08:01 - The Anti-Inflammatory Diet That Saved Us10:15 - Why The Modern Food System is Broken12:54 - Startups Aren't a Sunday Drive, They're a Formula One Race17:47 - The Product-Market Fit Illusion (A Techstars Secret)21:30 - This One Meal Will Impact Your Entire Day25:15 - How I Learned a New "Sense" in My Body30:15 - A Controversial Truth: It's All Just Hormones📈 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 does parenting an autistic son change you as a leader? For entrepreneur Ken Cox, it forced him to change everything about his own perceptions of being a father. In this deeply personal interview, Ken shares his family's journey, from noticing his son was different at just six months old , to the challenging and expensive diagnosis process. He opens up about the daily realities of raising a nonverbal son who has "zero acknowledgement of consequence" and how the experience has ultimately made him a more human, empathetic, and present CEO. Check out the company: https://www.hostirian.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 - Parenting the Son I Had, Not the Son I Wanted 03:09 - He Was Different From The Day He Was Born06:20 - The Father-Son Bonding That Never Happened09:30 - Our $6,000 Journey to an Autism Diagnosis 13:00 - A House Filled With Locks on Every Drawer & Door16:04 - Our Binary Language: How We Communicate19:28 - The "Tickle Button": How We Bond Physically22:42 - He Knows He Has Autism, and It Frustrates Him 29:37 - Giving Him a Safe Space to Be Free33:19 - A Life Without Filters: His Sensory Experience36:52 - My Son, The Escape Artist 40:25 - The Most Important Lesson He Taught Me📈 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's the biggest mistake in a business turnaround? According to top private equity investors, it's not firing people sooner. In this brutally honest interview, retail restructuring expert Michael Appel explains why making tough personnel changes quickly is the most critical factor for survival. You'll learn the first thing he analyzes in any struggling business (liquidity), the ultimate test for a company's viability: "If this company went outta business tomorrow, would anybody care?," and his insider's breakdown of the awful strategy shift that ended Bed Bath & Beyond. Check out the company: https://www.gentzlerhenrich.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 #1 Regret: Not Firing People Sooner03:42 - Liquidity is #1: The Only Thing That Buys You Time07:28 - "We Need Your Help": The Art of Vendor Negotiation11:08 - An Insider's Breakdown: The Real Reason Bed Bath & Beyond Shuttered18:16 - The Costco Method: How Great Companies Create Loyalty22:02 - The Management Team That Drove a Business Into the Ground25:44 - The Ultimate Test: Would Anyone Care If You Vanished?29:34 - My Prediction for the Next Major Retailer to Fail33:15 - How Malls Are Replacing Empty Spaces37:02 - The Simple Tech That Gives an Immediate Revenue Bump44:34 - The Most Important Lesson I've Learned📈 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 is the number one rule for any leader? According to veteran board chair Deborah Rosati, it's to be the last to talk. In this masterclass on leadership and governance, Deborah explains why speaking first as a leader can shut down conversation and bias the room. As the founder of Women Get on Board, she also gives her honest take on the differences between male and female leadership styles, highlighting women's more collaborative approach. You'll learn the truth about the massive information gap between a board and management, and why being on a board is the ultimate "team sport." Check out the company: https://www.deborahrosati.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 - Male vs. Female Leadership: A Board Chair's Honest Take03:03 - I Wanted to Be a Businessman, Just Like My Father06:05 - Why I Became an Advocate for Women in Tech09:22 - The "Power of Three": My All-Woman Board Experience12:45 - Why the Boardroom is the Ultimate Team Sport15:44 - Getting Honest Feedback Outside the Boardroom18:29 - The #1 Rule for Leaders: Be The Last to Talk21:28 - How a Great Chair Sets the Stage for Debate24:16 - Your Board Only Knows 10% of What You Know27:26 - "Noses In, Fingers Out": A Director's True Role30:22 - The Hidden Dangers of an Investor on Your Board33:23 - A CFO's Guide to Analyzing a Budget36:08 - The Most Important Thing I've Ever Learned📈 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 is the true cost of business bankruptcy? For Mark Musselman, it felt like losing 10 years of his life. For 18 months, his entire body was "bathed in cortisol and adrenaline every day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week" as he fought to save his multi-generational family business. In this brutally honest interview, Mark shares the story of losing his company, his wealth, and his entire identity. You'll learn how he reinvented himself and turned his greatest failure into his secret weapon in consulting, using powerful tools like strategic silence and a "committed, but unattached" mindset to win high-figure clients. Check out the company: https://www.mx5consulting.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 Day the Bank Called Our $11 Million Note 03:31 - I Lost 10 Years of My Life to Bankruptcy07:05 - Losing My Business, Losing My Identity10:28 - How My Greatest Failure Became My Superpower13:37 - Getting Past the Lies to Find the Truth16:56 - Why I Use My Bankruptcy Story to Win Clients20:09 - "Let Silence Do the Heavy Lifting"23:18 - The Art of Asking the Perfect Question26:45 - The "Committed, But Unattached" Mindset33:16 - Slowing Down to the Speed of the Relationship36:26 - The 5 Clients That Drive 95% of My 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.

This is an AI CEO's warning about deepfakes: the technology to clone voices and create disinformation is scary, and we will have to take everything with a grain of salt now. In this interview, Vikram Chalana, an expert with over 30 years in AI, shares his perspective on the future. You'll learn about the "gut-wrenching" reality of scaling a business, which includes having to part ways with early employees who can't grow with the company. He also explains the Gartner Hype Cycle, predicting the "trough of disillusionment" for AI is still to come. Check out the company: https://www.pictory.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 - My 30-Year Journey in AI 03:19 - The AI "Black Box" That Even Experts Can't Explain06:35 - A CEO's Warning: Deepfakes & Disinformation 09:49 - The Never-Ending Battle Against Misinformation13:02 - I Rode in a Self-Driving Car in San Francisco 16:11 - AI's "Trough of Disillusionment" Is Coming 19:08 - The Smartest Way to Invest in the AI Gold Rush22:05 - Why I Invest in "Mining the Miners" 25:00 - The "Gut-Wrenching" Reality of Scaling a Company 28:16 - From Arrogance to Humility: A Founder's Journey 34:54 - My Daily Routine for Finding Balance37:55 - The True Source of Happiness📈 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.