We Live to Build

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 sign...

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 spe...

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 lone...

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 , tai...

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...

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 su...

What is The Secret to Launching a Startup Without a CTO? For a non-technical founder, the answer is No-Code, a powerful software trend that allows anyone from a business background to build software without writing any code. This conversation is a masterclass for the non-technical founder. You'll learn the pros and cons of No-Code, which platforms to start with (like Bubble or Glide) , and how No-...

How can the French government pay you to start your business? France offers massive startup subsidies, including giving back 50% of your R&D costs and providing up to €1 million or more in funding before you ever speak to a VC. In this interview, expat entrepreneur Gabriel Cian reveals why France may be the best country in the world to launch a tech startup, from its deep pool of cost-efficien...

Is for-profit healthcare a scam, or a necessary part of innovation? This video offers an insider's take on the complex healthcare system in America, exploring the pros and cons of the current model and what the future of healthcare might look like. We dive deep into healthcare technology, data ownership, and whether a nonprofit system is truly the answer. If you're an entrepreneur, patient, or jus...

Do you know exactly who your first hire should be? In this interview, former Head of HR Pia Beck reveals a simple but powerful strategy for making your first hire: audit how you spend your time, identify the most time-consuming tasks that you don't need to be doing, and hire someone to solve that specific problem. This conversation is a masterclass in building a team from the ground up. You'll lea...

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory 👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com 📈 WORK WITH ME ▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory ▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuil...

This is the "6 T's", the secret framework 500 Startups uses for funding startups. In this interview, 500 Startups' Head of APAC Business Development, Ee Ling Lim, pulls back the curtain on exactly how one of the world's most active VCs evaluates companies. The 6 T's are: Trend, Traction, Total Addressable Market, Technology, Team, and Terms. This conversation is a must-watch for any founder prepar...

This is the real story of how my literary agent demanded 20000 followers on each social platform before she'd sell my book. In this interview, 30-year personal branding expert Stacey Cohen reveals the non-negotiable value of having a strong personal brand and social proof in today's market. This conversation is a masterclass in building a brand that opens doors. You'll learn the crucial "360-degre...

Dimitry Farberov is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Financial Analyst at the Miracle Mile Advisors LLC, which is a registered investment advisor. Check out the company: https://miraclemileadvisors.com Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory 👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanwei...

Did you know that some of your customers are costing you money? In this interview, customer data expert Allison Hartsoe reveals the concept of "lead customers", a segment of your audience that can actively drain your profits, and you don't even know it. This conversation is a masterclass in understanding your customer base through data. You'll learn how to calculate Customer Lifetime Value (CLV),...

This is a founder's fundraising strategy on how to get a warm intro to any investor. In this interview, Froged CEO Emily Lomban, who just closed a €500k seed round, explains why warm intros are a "fast track" to getting an investor's attention. She breaks down the hierarchy of introductions, from the best (another investor who has had a successful exit with them) to the worst (a cold email). This...

Thinking about building a business in the EU? It's harder than you think. In this interview, EU-based founder Mike Dragan explains why the European Union is not one unified market. He reveals that "people still tend to buy local" and cultural barriers between countries like France and Germany make expansion incredibly difficult for new startups. This conversation is a must-watch for any founder co...

This is the story of how I was bullied and fired by my female boss after 14 years of loyal service at a government law firm. In this raw and vulnerable interview, founder Susan Blanchet shares how a supportive work environment turned toxic after a new boss arrived, leading to months of bullying and an unjust firing without cause. This conversation is a must-watch for any professional who has faced...

Everyone says "word of mouth" is the best marketing. But why "word of mouth" doesn't work for my niche business is a question elopement photographer Sam Starns had to answer. In this interview, she explains why referrals have a very low booking rate for her specialized business and how she built a 500% year-over-year growth engine using SEO and content instead. This conversation is a must-watch fo...

This is an SEO expert's warning: don't build your website on their land. In this interview, 15-year web design veteran Kevin Geary explains why using proprietary platforms like Wix or Squarespace is one of the biggest mistakes a serious business can make. He reveals why you don't actually own your website on these platforms and how it can cripple your ability to scale in the future. This conversat...

This is the story of why I'm scared to post this video. As a founder, I'm afraid of being judged for my past, but talking about mental health is too important to stay silent. In this episode, I share my story with addiction and speak with expert Karl Shallowhorn about why so many entrepreneurs are prone to substance abuse. This is a crucial conversation for any founder who uses alcohol or other su...

Dr. Graeser is the Founder/CEO of KISS Platform, which not only provides services as a patent agency, but also provides a suite of AI-based tools that assist in competitive intelligence. Are you making the one startup mistake that destroys your international patents? According to US Patent Agent Dr. D'vorah Graeser, many founders don't realize that publishing their idea before filing for a patent...

Is it really possible to send $1000000 for a $3 fee? With the power of Bitcoin, it is. In this interview, blockchain expert Justin Renken explains how cryptocurrencies can drastically lower transaction fees for businesses, especially for international payments like remittances. Because the network has no borders and the fees are not percentage-based, it's possible to send huge sums of money for a...

This is the story of a brutal business failure: the day I fired 33 employees in a single meeting. In this brutally honest interview, serial entrepreneur Adam Robinson shares the painful lesson he learned about the vanity metric of headcount and the dangers of scaling too quickly. This conversation is a must-watch for any founder who feels the pressure to grow fast. You'll learn Adam's new philosop...

How can hiding under my mom's bed as a child teach you your biggest business flaw as a founder? In this deeply vulnerable interview, entrepreneur Jason Todd shares how his childhood tendency to retreat from conflict shaped his leadership style for years. This conversation is a masterclass in founder psychology. You'll learn why you must expect and embrace "heated disagreements" to find the best so...