We Live to Build

What is the real danger of AI? It's not that AI will become our overlords; it's that we will become so reliant on it that we lose control of ourselves. I sat down with William Welser IV, CEO of Lotic.ai, to discuss this critical issue. He argues that The Real Danger of AI: We're Losing Control of Ourselves comes from offloading our "cognitive responsibility" to sycophantic AIs that simply agree with us and stunt our growth. We explore why you must maintain cognitive responsibility, how to use AI as a tool for learning (not just getting answers), and the importance of modeling this behavior for your kids and your team. This is an essential conversation for anyone using AI to make decisions. Check out the company: https://lotic.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 - Introduction: AI is Easy, But It's Also Dangerous02:15 - The Problem with "Sycophantic" AI03:20 - How "Artificial Relational Intelligence" is Different06:00 - The "Last Mile" of Human Interaction AI Can't Cross08:00 - My Tattoo's Advice: "Consider You Might Be Wrong"09:20 - Offloading Our "Cognitive Responsibility" to AI12:20 - How to Use AI to Teach, Not Just Get Answers15:20 - The Real Danger: Are We Becoming Too Dumb?18:15 - AI is Just a Tool, Like The First Rock20:45 - How to Educate Your Team and Kids on AI Use25:15 - Why We Built a "Bottom-Up" AI Company29:15 - The #1 Lesson from 5 Years in AI: Ride the Commodity Wave📈 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.

Every business owner is asking how to build an AI moat, but most are going about it the wrong way. I sat down with Alberto Rizzoli, CEO of V7 Labs, who argues that hiring expensive AI consultants is a "recipe for disaster". He shares his framework for How to Build an AI Moat for Your Business (Without Consultants) by starting with small, internal experiments, finding your in-house "tinkerers," and hiring AI-enabled talent. We also discuss how AI agents are transforming workflows, the surprising AI adoption gap between the US and Europe, and why learning to manage AI is the #1 skill for future job security. This is an essential guide for any leader looking to future-proof their business. Check out the company: https://www.v7labs.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 - Introduction: Your AI Moat is Your Only Defense01:00 - Stop Hiring AI Consultants. Do This Instead.02:30 - 3 Simple Steps to Start Building with AI03:40 - The Power of Hiring "AI-Enabled" Talent05:00 - How a QA Tester Used AI to 10x Her Productivity06:00 - Will AI Create More Jobs Than It Destroys?08:00 - From Manual Analyst to "Chief of Staff of AIs"09:15 - How to Overcome "Analysis Paralysis" with AI Agents12:30 - When to Build an AI Agent (The Revenue Litmus Test)16:00 - How My Brother's Travel Plan Proved AI's Power21:20 - Why Your "Thumbs Up" Doesn't Really Train the AI25:40 - The Surprising AI Adoption Gap Between the US & Europe📈 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.

Cold outreach is broken, but what if you could train an AI agent to replicate your most effective, human-sounding emails? I sat down with Jim Weldon, CEO of Prospect Desk, whose team is building a "digital twin org chart" where human sales reps manage teams of specialized AI agents. He breaks down his exact process for How I Trained an AI Agent to Do My Cold Outreach, feeding it hundreds of his "founder prescribed" emails to avoid the generic, robotic messages that everyone hates. We also discuss how AI can automate 80% of an SDR's repetitive tasks and why we're still in the "stumble fumble" phase of AI adoption. This is an essential guide for any founder or sales leader looking to scale their prospecting without losing the human touch. Check out the company: https://prospectdesk.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 - Introduction: The End of Cold Outreach As We Know It00:45 - Why You Need to Automate 80% of Sales Tasks02:00 - The "Digital Twin Org Chart": Your SDR's New AI Team03:20 - The Future of AI Interaction is Voice, Not Slack05:20 - How an AI Manager Coordinates The Playbook07:25 - Can a Solopreneur Build Their Own AI Sales Team?09:50 - How Our AI Agents Work Across Different Channels14:05 - The #1 Challenge: Making AI an Expert Strategist17:00 - Why AI Voice Agents Still Struggle with Outbound Calls20:25 - My Process for Training an AI to Write "Founder Prescribed" Emails22:20 - The Surprising Power of a LinkedIn Voice Message28:20 - The "Stumble Fumble" Hype Cycle of AI30:20 - The Greatest Technological Change Ever📈 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.

Landing Fortune 500 clients seems impossible for a new business, but it's not. The secret isn't hustle; it's strategy, planning, and leveraging your unique story. I sat down with Alexandra Gonzalez, who left an 18-year corporate career at companies like Johnson & Johnson to build her own successful agency, Savvy Marketers. She reveals How I Landed Fortune 500 Clients After Leaving My Corporate Job, breaking down her exact playbook. We cover how to use certifications (woman-owned, minority-owned) to open doors , the power of personalized outreach on LinkedIn , and how to use AI to polish your message without losing your human edge. This is a masterclass for any service-based entrepreneur who wants to win enterprise-level deals. Check out the company: https://savvymarketers.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 - Introduction: Replacing Hustle with Intention01:05 - The Power of "What If" Thinking to Stay Agile03:30 - The #1 Thing Founders Miss: Strategic Planning07:50 - A Simple Business Playbook for Startups11:20 - My Journey from Corporate Marketer to Founder13:30 - The Playbook for Landing Fortune 500 Clients14:40 - Secret Weapon: Using Certifications to Open Doors16:20 - How to Network Effectively on LinkedIn20:00 - The Power of Your Personal Story in a Pitch23:45 - A CEO's Rules for Using AI Safely25:14 - Final Advice: The Power of Patience📈 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.

There's a massive flaw in the Shopify checkout process that costs merchants millions in customer service hours and lost revenue. I sat down with Hamish McKay, CEO of Order Editing, a startup that's solving the one problem Shopify hasn't: letting customers edit their own orders after purchase. He breaks down The Billion-Dollar Mistake Hiding in Every Shopify Checkout—the 1.5% of customers who make a mistake and why giving them self-service options is a huge opportunity. We also explore the hidden technical complexities of building for Shopify and dive into a deep, philosophical conversation about the future of work and creativity in the age of AI. This is an essential conversation for any e-commerce founder or operator. Check out the company: https://orderediting.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 - Introduction: The Problem with Post-Purchase Mistakes00:50 - The 1.5% Problem: A Massive Hidden Cost for Merchants 02:00 - Why Hasn't Shopify Solved This Obvious Flaw? 04:15 - The Acquisition Dilemma: Selling to Shopify05:40 - How Self-Service Editing Creates Customer Joy08:45 - The Hidden Technical Hell of Building for Shopify 14:40 - How AI is Now Building 70% of Our Software 21:20 - The Race to Become the "Master App" in E-Commerce37:45 - The Pleasure of Creation vs. The "Grayness" of AI 43:50 - A Dystopian View on The Future of AI and Humanity 51:15 - "Why The F*ck Am I Running an E-commerce Company?"📈 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.

Thinking about manufacturing overseas? It might not be as cheap as you think. There are hidden "soft costs" that can destroy your margins and your business. I sat down with Samuel Fish, founder of Shield Security Doors, who after a decade of challenges, made the bold decision to move his entire manufacturing operation from Eastern Europe back to the USA. He breaks down The 5 Hidden Costs of Manufacturing Overseas That No One Talks About, from freight volatility and legal disadvantages to the personal toll of time zone differences. This is an essential, real-world guide for any founder wrestling with their supply chain. Check out the company: https://www.shieldsecuritydoors.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 - Introduction: My Father's #1 Rule of Business02:50 - Why I Ignored His Advice for 5 Years07:20 - The "Hair on Fire" Moment That Forced the Change10:50 - My Overseas Supplier Was a Ticking Time Bomb12:15 - The Phone Call That Saved My Business14:15 - The Pride of Being "Made in the USA"24:50 - Hidden Cost #1: Lack of Control & IP Risk25:38 - Hidden Cost #2: Freight Volatility (10x Price Spike)26:45 - Hidden Cost #3: The Personal Toll of Time Zones27:45 - Hidden Cost #4: The Exhaustion & Expense of Travel28:00 - Hidden Cost #5: Disadvantage in Foreign Legal Systems28:55 - The Most Important Lesson: Say The Obvious📈 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.

Every day, unrecognized assumptions are sabotaging your leadership and preventing your team from making meaningful progress. Change is relational, not technical, and most leaders get it wrong. I sat down with Jeff Wetherhold, a master of Motivational Interviewing, to unpack this. He explains how to uncover The Hidden Assumptions That Are Sabotaging Your Leadership by using a simple technique: asking fewer questions and offering more reflections. We dive into why people are ambivalent about change , the psychological "binary bias" that traps us , and how embracing short-term discomfort leads to long-term growth. This is an essential conversation for any leader who wants to stop fighting resistance and start facilitating real change. Check out the company: https://www.miforhealth.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 - Introduction: Why Is Change So Hard?01:00 - Change is Relational, Not Technical 02:20 - The Power of Hearing Yourself Speak 04:15 - Uncovering Your Own Blind Spots07:15 - The Problem with Putting People in a Box 08:45 - Why Unrecognized Assumptions Are So Damaging 11:00 - How to Navigate Uncomfortable Conversations 12:45 - The #1 Tool: Use Reflections, Not Questions 16:20 - My Personal Story of a Damaging Assumption 18:45 - The "Binary Bias" That Traps Our Thinking 20:45 - The Most Important Thing I've Learned About 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.

Welcome to the Future Factory, a new model for manufacturing where software gives a single human unprecedented leverage. I sat down with Renan Devillieres, founder of the manufacturing venture studio OSS Ventures, to discuss this massive shift. He explains his vision for The Future Factory: Where 1 Engineer Runs 1,000 Robots, arguing that reshoring manufacturing to the US won't look like the factories of the past. We also explore why war is the primary driver of this change, the "incoherent" hypocrisy of Western consumers, and his "Rule of Threes" for hiring technical experts. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in the future of manufacturing, automation, and geopolitics. Check out the company: https://oss.venturesBook 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 - Introduction: Reshoring is a National Defense Issue01:05 - The Future Factory Will Look Vastly Different02:00 - Why One Engineer Will Have Massive Leverage04:15 - The Problem with Modern Products (And Why Most Suck)06:30 - The "Incoherent World": NIMBYism and Your iPhone09:20 - Why War is the Real Driver of Reshoring12:45 - The Entrepreneurial Energy Europe is Missing15:45 - The Two Biggest Challenges of Building for Manufacturing18:00 - How to Architect a System That Can Scale to Millions20:45 - The "Rule of Threes": How to Hire Experts Who Deliver23:30 - The Power and Pleasure of "Deal Making Done Right"📈 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.

In a world obsessed with AI, my guest Travis Jamison is getting rich on boring businesses. His investment thesis is simple: bet on the things that AI can't change. He explains Why I'm Investing in Plumbers, Not AI Startups, and how blue-collar companies like HVAC and dry cleaners can offer better, more stable returns than venture capital. We also dive into his agency's secret weapon: using a specific SEO strategy to train LLMs like ChatGPT to recommend his clients' products. This is a masterclass in contrarian investing and building real-world wealth in the age of AI. Check out the company: https://capitalpad.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 - Introduction: A Contrarian Investor's Thesis01:10 - Why I'm Investing in "Boring" Blue-Collar Businesses03:10 - Why Picking AI Winners is a Losing Game04:45 - A VC's Plan to Replace Plumbers with Robots (And Why It Will Fail)08:00 - How to Use SEO to Control What AI Says About You11:20 - The Simple "Trick" to Train LLMs17:40 - Why Small Businesses Have the Best Returns20:00 - Why I'm Done with Venture Capital24:45 - The Four "All-In" Moments That Defined My Career27:45 - The #1 Rule: Stay Within Your Circle of Competence📈 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.

Using 3D visualization in architecture isn't a luxury; it's a necessity that can save you a fortune. Most developers don't realize a small upfront investment can prevent six-figure errors during construction. I sat down with Brian Corcodilos, CEO of the AI-enabled architecture firm DesignBlendz, to discuss this. He breaks down How 3D Visualization Prevents $100,000 Construction Mistakes by using CGI technology to run "clash detections" before a single brick is laid. We also dive into the future of augmented reality, the secret behind IKEA's "perfect" catalogs, and his prediction that AI agents will become your executive assistant within 12 months. This is an essential guide for anyone in real estate, development, or architecture.Check out the company: https://designblendz.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 - Introduction: The Future of Architecture is Virtual01:25 - "Pay Now or Pay 100x More Later"03:00 - Beyond Blueprints: Quantifying a Building in 3D04:30 - Preventing $100k Mistakes with "Clash Detection"06:30 - The Secret Behind IKEA's "Perfect" Catalogs (It's CGI)09:15 - Building a Virtual "Google Street View" for Unbuilt Homes11:00 - The Future: Will We Live in Augmented Reality?15:00 - Why the Metaverse Failed (And Who Will Succeed)22:15 - Why NVIDIA's GPUs Control the Future of Design25:00 - The Reality of Stepping Away from The Trenches📈 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.