

We Live to Build
Sean Weisbrot
We Live to Build is the raw, no-fluff interview series for high-performance founders and CEOs who are scaling 5+ figure businesses and want to grow faster without burning out.Hosted by serial founder and angel investor Sean Weisbrot, each episode delivers tactical conversations with battle-tested operators, unpacking the mental models, systems, and automation strategies that drive sustainable success.If you're obsessed with scaling smart, optimizing for mental resilience, and building teams and products that don’t rely on your constant presence, these interviews were recorded for you.Expect honest talk about leadership, delegation, AI tools, cost reduction, psychology, and how to stop being the bottleneck in your business.We’re not here to inspire, we’re here to equip.Subscribe and upgrade how you build. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 3, 2023 • 49min
We're in 1999 for Web3 (Here's What Happens Next)
Remember the dial-up modem? According to Web3 veteran Steve McGarry, that's where we are right now. This video explains why We're in 1999 for Web3 (Here's What Happens Next). With roughly the same number of users as the internet had at the turn of the millennium, the stage is set for an massive increase ininnovation. But what does that future actually look like? Steve, founder of the 7-figure metaverse platform Sandstorm, breaks it down. Learn about the coming revolution in digital ownership, why the "Ready Player One" dream of moving assets between virtual worlds is a pipe dream for now, and why people are getting tired of being the product in Web2. Check out the company: https://sandstorm.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 - Why Today's Web3 is Like the Internet in 199907:03 - Why Brands Like Gucci Are Rushing Into the Metaverse10:34 - The Coming Revolution: Digital Ownership17:34 - The "Ready Player One" Myth: Why Interoperability is a Pipe Dream27:51 - Can This Problem Be Solved?31:18 - Are You Tired of Being The Product?38:29 - The Hybrid Future: Web2 Speed, Web3 Ownership45:38 - You Don't Have to Invest, You Just Have to Learn📈 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.

Dec 27, 2022 • 46min
The Perfectionism Trap: Why It's Really Just Shame in Disguise
Is your "high standard" actually holding your business back? This video unpacks The Perfectionism Trap: Why It's Really Just Shame in Disguise. Business coach Renee La Tour, who helps entrepreneurs build location-independent companies, reveals how perfectionism is often a symptom of a deeper fear of what others will think. This is a deep dive into the psychology of entrepreneurship. You'll learn why starting a business is the ultimate (and hardest) form of therapy, how to break the cycle of a "victim mentality," and the power of approaching team mistakes with curiosity instead of anger to foster a healthier, more productive culture. Check out the company: https://instagram.com/fancy_nomadBook 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 Digital Nomad Dream (And The Fear That Stops It)06:38 - How to Overcome Fear by Taking Small, Actionable Steps12:45 - Perfectionism: The #1 Sign of Hidden Shame in Entrepreneurs19:09 - Why Entrepreneurship is the Best (and Hardest) Therapy22:44 - A Story of Public Shame (And The Humility It Taught Me)28:50 - That "Icky" Feeling: Overcoming Shame Around Self-Promotion31:45 - How to Escape the "Victim Mentality" Trap38:14 - Curiosity Over Anger: A Better Way to Lead Your Team41:31 - The Power of "Giving Yourself Space" Before You React📈 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.

Dec 21, 2022 • 51min
I Lost My 7-Figure Fortune and My Wife to a Rare Disease
This isn't just a business story; it's a story of survival. I Lost My 7-Figure Fortune and My Wife to a Rare Disease. Matthew Spaur shares his deeply personal journey of building a seven-figure portfolio from his time at Microsoft, only to face a "perfect storm": a difficult startup newspaper, the 9/11 economic crash, and the devastating diagnosis of Porphyria, a rare disease that afflicted his family. This is a profound look at the human side of entrepreneurship. You'll learn about the immense, unspoken struggles of being a founder and a caregiver, the psychological weight of shame after failure, and the long, "slow and steady" path to rebuilding a life and career after hitting rock bottom.Check out the company: https://matthewspaur.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 - How I Built a 7-Figure Portfolio at Microsoft07:01 - The Joke: "How Do You Make a Small Fortune?"10:33 - A Founder's Hardest Lesson: Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should14:09 - The Newspaper Story That Literally Saved a Life20:55 - The Shame That Kept Me From Telling This Story27:54 - My Wife Passed Away. I Woke Up and Said, "I Have to Stop."31:29 - Porphyria: The Rare Disease That Took My Wife's Life38:26 - Caregiving: The Unspoken Struggle of Many Entrepreneurs41:41 - Why Caregiving is a Massive Entrepreneurial Opportunity📈 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.

Dec 14, 2022 • 14min
I Shut Down My $15M Business. It Was a Huge Mistake
It's the kind of mistake that changes your life forever. In this solo episode, host Sean Weisbrot shares the deeply personal story behind his biggest career regret: I Shut Down My $15M Business. It Was a Huge Mistake. This is a vulnerable look back at the decision to close a successful consulting company to start a tech venture, a move that led to severe burnout, anxiety, and panic attacks. If you've ever questioned your path as an entrepreneur, this episode is for you. Learn why Sean is now walking away from the "tech CEO" dream, the hard-won lessons from having to rebuild from scratch, and his plans for finding a happier, more sustainable path forward in 2023.Book 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 Moved to Portugal06:39 - Confession: I'm Walking Away From Being a Tech CEO09:54 - The $15M Business I Shut Down (My Biggest Mistake)11:15 - How That Mistake Led to Panic Attacks & Rebuilding From Scratch12:45 - My Plan for 2023: A Year of Change📈 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.

Dec 7, 2022 • 48min
A Non-Profit is Just a Business That Doesn't Turn a Profit
Think running a non-profit is easier than a for-profit? Think again. This video reveals why A Non-Profit is Just a Business That Doesn't Turn a Profit. Jon Kozesky, a consultant who has raised over $100 million for organizations worldwide, is on a mission to destroy the myth that non-profits are simple. This is an essential guide for anyone in the non-profit sector. You'll learn why you need the same skills as any startup founder—marketing, finance, and HR—to succeed. Discover the controversial argument for why donors should want to fund overhead and learn about the sustainable model of the "profitable non-profit" that can fund its own operations. Check out the company: https://jonthomasconsulting.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 - How I Raised $100 Million for Non-Profits03:12 - The Mindset Shift: Your Non-Profit IS a Small Business06:24 - The Case for Overhead: Why Donors Should Want to Fund It09:31 - Why I Burned Out Running a Non-Profit for $200/Month12:43 - How to Stand Out When There Are Millions of Non-Profits16:05 - The "Profitable Non-Profit": A Sustainable Model for Doing Good19:10 - A Simple CSR "Hack" for For-Profit Companies25:13 - The Mr. Beast Effect & The Fine Line of "Poverty Pr0n"34:31 - The Entrepreneurial Cycle: From Your First Dollar to Pro Bono46:12 - The Traveler's Philosophy: How to Do Good While Seeing the World📈 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.

Nov 29, 2022 • 47min
Why You Should Encourage Customers to "Abuse" Your Product
Is your pricing model secretly limiting your growth? This video reveals Why You Should Encourage Customers to "Abuse" Your Product. Tom Winter, a growth expert who helped scale a SaaS tool to paying customers in over 100 countries, shares his contrarian philosophy on pricing, value, and user engagement. This is a masterclass in modern growth for SaaS founders. You'll learn the actionable "hack" he uses with AI to translate content and drive SEO traffic globally, the "Cyborg Method" for co-writing articles with GPT-3, and how to identify and remove the "false barriers" that hurt momentum in most startups. Check out the company: https://seowind.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 - Why I Combine Marketing & Sales Into One Growth Team03:45 - How We Make SEO Scalable and Predictable with Data11:14 - Your First 3 Steps to Getting Started with SEO14:48 - The AI Tool I Use for SEO Traffic From 100+ Countries22:03 - Using "Leap of Faith" Metrics to Track Real Progress29:27 - Should Your SaaS Product Be Translated?32:59 - The "Cyborg Method" for Writing Content with AI36:56 - The "False Barrier" That Kills Founder Progress43:56 - The Pricing Philosophy: "Encourage Abuse, Don't Limit Usage"📈 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.

Nov 23, 2022 • 58min
How We Built a 7-Figure "OnlyFans" Agency (Without Adult Content)
It sounds like a contradiction, but it's a 7-figure business model. This video explains How We Built a 7-Figure "OnlyFans" Agency (Without Adult Content). Chris W, Co-founder of Scarlet International, reveals how his MarTech firm helps safe-for-work influencers in Asia monetize their content and build global brands on subscription platforms like OnlyFans and Patreon. This is a deep dive into the hidden side of the creator economy. You'll learn about the massive problem of revenue transparency in the Asian influencer market , how they use an in-house data platform to uncover an influencer's true audience, and the most important skill you need to survive the coming recession (hint: it's not speed). Check out the company: https://scarlet.vipBook 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 - Yes, We Run an OnlyFans Agency. No, It's Not What You Think.03:09 - How We Turned an Anime Fan into a Patreon Star06:18 - Why LGBTQ+ Influencers Are a "Hot Commodity" in Asia 09:39 - Protein Powders vs. Gambling Websites: USA vs. Asia Influencers 16:11 - The Shady "Agent" Tactic That Inspired My Business 23:17 - Why Honesty is Our #1 Competitive Advantage29:42 - Our "Linktree Destroyer" That Uncovers Hidden Trends 36:27 - How Google Analytics Knows Your Audience's Sexuality 39:42 - The Real Reason Women Follow Influencers 43:01 - Why We Can't Trust Influencer Data in Asia 52:42 - How We're Turning Internal Tools into New Companies 55:52 - The #1 Skill You Need to Survive 2023 (It's Not Speed)📈 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.

Nov 16, 2022 • 53min
Why Hitting $1 Million in Sales Felt Like Nothing
What happens when you achieve your biggest goal and feel... nothing? That's the surprising reality many founders face. This video explores Why Hitting $1 Million in Sales Felt Like Nothing with Anthony Mongeluzo, who started his IT consulting firm in college and grew it into a $28M, 200-person global company. This isn't just a business growth story; it's a 22-year deep dive into the psychology of a relentless entrepreneur. Learn about the "Grow or Die" mindset that keeps him running after two decades , how he evolved from an "awkward I.T. geek" into a marketer and leader , and the single most important change he made to scale the business: getting out of his own way. Check out the company: https://helpmepcs.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 - How a Competitor's $500 Mistake Launched My Business 03:10 - The Moment I Hit $1M in Sales (And Why It Felt Empty) 06:23 - The "Grow or Die" Mindset of a 22-Year Founder 09:32 - How to Prepare Your Business for a Recession 15:48 - The "Moving Basketball Net" Theory of Success 18:48 - My Biggest Regret After Two Decades in Business 28:07 - How I Evolved From "Awkward Geek" to Business Leader 34:17 - The #1 Change I Made to Scale My Company 37:14 - How Having Kids Forced Me to Be a Better CEO 52:27 - Defeat is Temporary, Quitting is Forever📈 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.

Nov 9, 2022 • 55min
We Wasted $150,000 on This Startup Mistake
It's the mistake that sinks countless startups. We Wasted $150,000 on This Startup Mistake. Before Bryan Clayton built Green Pal into a bootstrapped marketplace processing over $30 million a year, he and his co-founders made a critical error that almost ended the company before it began. In this interview, Bryan shares the unfiltered story of that failure and the hard-won lessons that followed. You'll learn the psychological toll of selling a $10M company to start over and beg for $27 sales, why bootstrapping forces you to focus on what truly matters, and how they fixed their customer retention by finding and destroying a critical bottleneck in their business. Check out the company: https://yourgreenpal.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 - I Sold a $10M Company. Then I Begged for a $27 Sale03:08 - Why a Tech Business is Like Gardening, Not Construction06:24 - The Myth of the "Hacker & Hustler" Founding Team09:30 - The $150,000 Mistake That Almost Ruined Our Company12:40 - Why Early-Stage Founders Need to Be "Mario"15:52 - Knowing When It's Time to Sell Your Business25:24 - How to Find and Destroy Business Bottlenecks28:22 - The "Reliability Score" That Fixed Our Customer Retention35:00 - A Founder's #1 Job Shifts From Hustling to This...45:00 - Why Raising Capital is a "Bad Bet" for Most Founders📈 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.

Nov 1, 2022 • 41min
My Employee Deleted 200,000 Emails. This Was My "Oh My Gosh" Moment
It's every CEO's worst nightmare. My Employee Deleted 200,000 Emails. This Was My "Oh My Gosh" Moment. What do you do when a project goes catastrophically wrong? In this interview, IT recruiting expert Travis Lindemoen, Managing Director of Nexus IT Group, shares the true story of a multi-million dollar disaster and the brutal lessons he learned in the 24 hours it took to fix it. This conversation is a masterclass in crisis management, tech hiring, and leadership. You'll learn the #1 mistake non-technical founders make when hiring their first QA engineer, how to handle a "toxic" manager who is driving away talent , and the hard-won lessons on becoming a leader who uses questions instead of anger to solve problems. Check out the company: https://nexusitgroup.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 Skill Missing in Most Tech Hires03:44 - What Founders MUST Know About "Microservices" 07:31 - Hiring a QA Engineer? Don't Make This Critical Mistake 14:27 - The Moment My Employee DELETED 200,000 Client Emails 17:52 - The 24-Hour Scramble to Fix a Disaster 21:14 - The Simple Process That Prevents Tech Nightmares 24:45 - This "Toxic" Manager Cost Us 12 Hires (A True Story) 31:40 - Hire Fast, Fire Faster: A CEO's Hardest Lessons35:15 - Confessions of a "Hothead" CEO 📈 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.


