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Do you know How Angel Investors Think (And How to Get Them to "Yes")? It's not about having a perfect business; it's about helping them mitigate risk. In this interview, angel investor Mysty Rusk explains the "culture of yes" that drives investment decisions. Learn why your pitch deck isn't a sales pitch for your product , why investors will never sign your NDA upfront , and why the "90 pitches in 90 days" strategy is a "load of crap". This is a founder's guide to navigating the entire angel investing process, from pitch to term sheet. Check out the company: https://angelgen.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 - From Cattle Ranch to Angel Investor07:00 - The "Culture of Yes": How Investors Mitigate Risk09:04 - What Angel Investors Learn in Training14:18 - Your Pitch Isn't a Sales Pitch (It's an Investment Pitch)16:15 - Why Investors Will NEVER Sign Your NDA19:20 - A Founder's Guide to Surviving Due Diligence21:02 - The #1 Thing That Kills a Deal at the Last Minute21:55 - "90 Pitches in 90 Days" is a Load of Crap24:11 - The Investment That Saved My Daughter's 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.

What is The Secret to Working With Your Spouse (And Staying Married)? For many, it's the ultimate dream and the ultimate challenge. In this interview, Nellie Akalp, who has successfully built two companies with her husband over 24 years, reveals the key: establishing "linear roles." Learn the strategy their couples therapist gave them for dividing responsibilities, why setting strict boundaries is non-negotiable, and how they went from a $100 idea to a multi-million dollar exit... and then started all over again. Check out the company: https://corpnet.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 - From Playing Video Games to a Million-Dollar Idea05:09 - The Early Challenge: Unequal Roles & Toxic Feelings07:25 - When Work Kills the Romance11:17 - Why Our Couples Therapist Saved Our Business13:16 - The #1 Secret: Establishing "Linear Roles"15:00 - The Power of Boundaries & Saying "No"16:45 - The Story of Our First Multi-Million Dollar Exit19:35 - Why We Decided to Do It All Over Again21:17 - The Key to a 24-Year Business Partnership📈 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 Growth Hacking? It's about finding what works and doubling down. Here's How to Get Your First 10 Customers by being "functionally lazy." In this interview, growth hacking expert Chris Out shares his #1 strategy: reverse-engineer the journey of your most recent customers. Learn how to find your most profitable channels and build a marketing machine based on what people already pay for. Check out the company: https://chrisout.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 Marketing Mistake That Cost Me 200K03:50 - What is Growth Hacking?04:26 - How to Get Your First 10 Customers07:00 - Steal Your Competitors' Best Ideas09:30 - How to Find What Your Competitor's Customers HATE11:38 - The Ultimate Validation: Pre-Selling Your Product17:20 - When to Start Building a Marketing Department21:25 - How to Measure Marketing ROI27:07 - Why Sales Solves All Problems📈 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 to Find a Great Mentor (By Thinking Like One). To attract a high-quality mentor, you first need to understand what they're looking for: a mentee who is hungry, teachable, and will actually implement the advice they're given. In this special episode, fellow founder and mentor Eropa Stein and I discuss both sides of the mentorship relationship. Learn the life-changing lessons from our first mentors, the insightful question you should always ask a potential mentor, and the test we use to see if a founder is truly teachable. Check out the company: https://hyrestaff.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 Life-Changing Power of a Great Mentor02:31 - A "Real" Mentor Doesn't Charge You Money07:53 - The #1 Lesson: Stop Selling Your Time, Sell Your VALUE12:26 - What Mentors Look For in a Mentee (Are You Hungry?)14:07 - The Awkward Truth for Female Founders17:04 - The Test to See if a Founder is "Teachable"18:18 - The Best Question to Ask a Potential Mentor19:27 - The Mentor's Process: Setting a Schedule for Success📈 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.

When you are Selling a Business, there's one thing you must do. Here's How a "Personal Goodwill Audit" Saved Me Hundreds of Thousands in Taxes. In this interview, Jay Myers, who sold his $25 million/year company, reveals the power of a "Personal Goodwill Audit." Learn how this process quantifies the value you personally bring to the business, allowing that portion of the sale to be taxed at a significantly lower rate. In this interview, Jay Myers, who sold his $25 million/year company, reveals the power of a "Personal Goodwill Audit." Learn how this process quantifies the value you personally bring to the business, allowing that portion of the sale to be taxed at a significantly lower rate. This is a must-watch for any founder planning an exit. Check out the company: https://jaymyersceo.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 Call I Ignored For Years06:14 - What No One Tells You About Selling Your Business (The Grieving Process)07:31 - A Founder's Checklist for Making Your Company "Sellable"11:38 - How to Get on the Inc. 5000 List13:52 - Important advice before selling your company20:10 - How I Kept the $25M Sale a Secret From My Team25:30 - The #1 Thing They Ask for in Due Diligence27:00 - The Audit That Saved Me Hundreds of Thousands in Taxes29:56 - You Don't Sell Your Past. You Sell Your FUTURE.📈 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.

Do you know How to Divorce-Proof Your Startup? A co-founder's divorce can destroy your company, and a lawsuit between founders after a business fails can be "worse than any divorce you've ever seen". In this interview, Silicon Valley lawyer Cassady Toles reveals his best-case scenario for protecting your company: write the founders' spouses into the operating agreement and have them sign for a specific percentage from day one. Learn why this is crucial in community property states like California , and get other critical legal advice on co-founder agreements, NDAs, and why you shouldn't incorporate in Delaware yet. Check out the company: https://flatratelaw.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 Legal Mistake That Can Haunt You for 10 Years02:11 - A Lawyer's Warning: Don't Incorporate in Delaware (Yet) 05:58 - The #1 Thing Your Co-Founder Agreement is Missing 09:04 - How to Divorce-Proof Your Startup10:14 - Shareholder Agreements: Limiting Investor Control 16:48 - The Real Reason VCs Won't Sign Your NDA 20:19 - Employment agreements22:22 - Employee Share Option Plan26:08 - How to Hire a Startup Lawyer (And Avoid Getting Ripped Off) 📈 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.

Most people think success solves everything, but do you know Why Success Makes Founders Lonelier? As her business grew, today's guest felt like she was on an "island, floating away out at sea". In this candid conversation, CEO Janet Semenova discusses the unique isolation entrepreneurs face, a feeling that can get worse with success. We explore the difference between personal and professional loneliness, the impact of remote work, and a simple daily practice that serves as an "antidote to loneliness". Our guest is Janet Semenova, the co-founder and CEO of Boutique Travel Agents and Centered CEOs. Check out the company: https://centeredceos.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 Unspoken Truth About Founder Loneliness05:41 - What is Isolation? (The Lack of Human Connection)10:16 - Personal vs. Professional Loneliness15:01 - The Paradox: "The Bigger Our Business Got... The Further Out at Sea I Felt" 18:55 - How Remote Work Changes Everything21:28 - The Benefit of Remote Work: Finding Your "Flow State"26:18 - Are We Facing a Mental Health Pandemic?39:05 - The Antidote to Loneliness: A Daily Gratitude Practice42:00 - How to Build Your "Gratitude Sanctuary"📈 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.

Most founders make one critical mistake in their pitch: they sell their product. The secret is to Stop Selling Your Solution. Sell The PAIN. In this interview, executive coach Hope Timberlake, reveals the best storytelling formula for winning over investors: focus on the pain, fear, and potential loss of not having your solution. Learn how to distill your entire vision into a 90-second story , tailor your brand message for any audience , and train your team to communicate your vision flawlessly. Our guest is Hope Timberlake, the founder of Forte Consulting, which helps executives hone their branding and leadership skills. Check out the company: https://hopetimberlake.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 - Your Brand is Just a Beautiful Piece of Paper, Unless...03:26 - The First Step to Building a Brand Identity07:41 - One Message, Three Audiences (Investors, Customers, Team)10:33 - How to Test Your Messaging for Clarity14:50 - How to Train Your Team to "Parrot" Your Message26:07 - The 90-Second Pitch Deck Story29:30 - The #1 Storytelling Mistake Founders Make31:00 - The Formula: Focus on Fear & Pain, Not Your Solution38:00 - Final Advice for 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.

Do you know When to Hire Your First HR Manager (And Who to Hire First)? Hiring an HR manager is a critical step, but doing it too early is a common mistake. In this interview, Michael Podolsky, founder and CEO of Wiser Brand, who grew his bootstrapped company to over 120 employees, reveals that he hired his first HR manager at 20 employees. More importantly, he explains why your first hire should never be HR, but rather a technical person whose heart is with your project. Learn his intense 3-week process for finding perfect foundational hires and his unique strategies for employee retention. Check out the company: https://wiserbrand.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 Founder's Hiring Roadmap04:38 - The 3-Week Gauntlet for Perfect First Hires06:00 - The #1 Trait Your First Employee MUST Have08:12 - Why You Shouldn't Hire an HR Manager First13:34 - The Right Time to Hire an HR Manager (At 20 Employees)17:41 - How an HR Manager Changes Your Company19:10 - Delegating Hiring to Department Heads21:41 - The Secret to Employee Retention23:06 - The Power of a Pause in Negotiations📈 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.

Do you know Why Your Teams App Store Launch Fails Without This Simple TRICK? Many developers face a month-long verification process, confusing bureaucracy, and unexpected rejections from Microsoft. In this interview, veteran Teams developer Hilton Giesenow reveals the simple "trick" to bypass these issues: using Microsoft's sideloading option to test your MVP with beta customers before you ever submit to the store. You'll learn the pros (like 0% commission) and cons of the Teams ecosystem, and find out why your biggest competitor might actually be Microsoft itself. Our guest is Hilton Giesenow, the founder and CEO of ChitChattr, which develops a family of products on Microsoft Teams. Check out the company: https://chitchattr.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 High Stakes of the Teams App Store07:14 - The Good: 0% Commission on Sales11:09 - The Bad: A Month-Long Submission Process15:24 - Why Microsoft Might Reject Your Perfect App23:22 - The Simple TRICK to Bypass the App Store26:13 - Warning: Your Biggest Competitor is Microsoft29:14 - Final Verdict: Is Building on Teams Worth It?📈 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.