We Live to Build

Why Your Sales Leads "Disappear" (And Why It's Your Fault) . In this episode, executive coach Jeffrey Klubeck gives a masterclass on a common frustration for entrepreneurs: leads that express interest and then ghost. He explains that you can't be frustrated by someone "disappearing" if they never truly "appeared" in the first place , and argues that the fault often lies in not having a proper pre-...

My Corporate Job Paid Me to Be a Functioning Alcoholic. In this interview, agency founder Skip Wilson shares his raw story of working in the corporate world, where entertaining clients was a primary responsibility. He explains how, as a quiet and stoic person, he spent a decade "on the verge of tipsy" because drinking was an occupational necessity to be more social and talkative. Skip also details...

The Future of Manufacturing Is a 'Lights Out' Factory. In this interview, Director of Industrial AI Bryan Debois describes the "panacea" for modern manufacturing: a "lights out" factory where raw materials enter and finished goods leave with very little human interaction, powered entirely by AI and autonomy. Bryan also discusses the current crisis facing US manufacturing, including a half-million-...

How One Unchecked Spam Folder Almost Cost Me $150,000. In this interview, Forte Consulting co-founder Hope Timberlake shares the "effing scary" wake-up call she received after an unfiled 401k form, lost in her spam folder, triggered a potential IRS penalty of $500 per day. She explains how this one administrative oversight could have cost her nearly $150,000 and the valuable lessons it taught her...

I Turned Down a Job That Would Have Made Me $50 Million. In this interview, serial entrepreneur Rom Lakritz shares the story of turning down a co-CEO role at an early-stage startup that is now pre-IPO—a decision that cost him a potential $50 million payday. He discusses the psychology behind making such a high-stakes choice and why he doesn't regret it. Rom, who has sold a company, taken another p...

Your Comfort Zone Is a Coffin. In this interview, serial entrepreneur Jason Todd shares his core philosophy that "fear guards the gateway to your growth". He argues that if you're not doing something that scares you, you're not trying hard enough, and that staying comfortable is a recipe for stagnation. Jason, who built and sold a $100 million e-commerce company, also reveals his most expensive, r...

Your Anxiety Is Pointing You in the Right Direction. In this interview, multi-seven-figure entrepreneur Ray Blakney shares his powerful philosophy that stress and anxiety are the best guideposts for growth. He argues that the things that make you scared are the exact things you need to do, and that successful people aren't without fear—they just walk through it anyway. Ray also shares the raw stor...

Your LinkedIn Sales Pitch Makes Me Angry. In this interview, startup agency founder Loretta Markevics gives her unfiltered opinion on the thousands of automated, "cutesy" sales messages flooding executive inboxes. She explains why deceptive lead generation tactics make her "angry," why she's "very, very pro directness," and why your cold outreach is probably a waste of her time. Loretta also share...

My Opioid Addiction Led to a $60 Million/Year Company. In this incredibly raw interview, Jeff Sekinger shares his harrowing six-year battle with opioid addiction that began with a Percocet prescription for a high school football injury. He details hitting rock bottom—racking up over $80,000 in debt, isolating himself from family and friends, and feeling completely hopeless. The turning point came...

Why Your One-Person Marketing Team Is Set Up to Fail. In this interview, Kaitlyn Merola, Founder and CEO of Mōve Marketing, breaks down one of the most common mistakes startups make: hiring a single "marketing generalist" and expecting them to be an expert in everything. She explains why this is an unfair strategy that sets both the employee and the company up for failure. Kaitlyn also shares her...

The "Anchor Pricing" Trick That Manipulates Your Clients' Choice. In this interview, Jarrod Lopiccolo, an architect-turned-CEO, breaks down the powerful psychological strategy of anchor pricing. He explains how presenting three options—a high "anchor" price, a low price, and a middle price—manipulates customers into almost always choosing the middle option, and how you can apply this to your own b...

Why a Four-Year College Degree Is a Waste of Money. In this interview, Donald Booth, Founder & CEO of the American Institute of Non-Destructive Testing, makes the case for why skilled trades are a smarter path than a traditional four-year degree. He explains why Gen Z is becoming the "tool belt generation" and points out that only 40% of college graduates are even working in their field of stu...

The Franchise Model That Opened 950 Stores in 13 Years. In this interview, Chief Development Officer Lyle Myers breaks down the exact franchise model his partners used to scale their previous brand, The Joint Chiropractic, to 950 locations in just 13 years. He reveals their "regional developer" strategy, which empowers partners to build and support their own territories in exchange for a share of...

How a Bad CEO Hire at Boeing Led to 300 Deaths. In this interview, Tom Verboven, a senior director who assesses executive talent for Fortune 500 companies, uses the tragic case of Boeing to illustrate the life-or-death stakes of leadership selection. He explains how hiring a CEO who didn't embrace the company's "safety first" culture resulted in catastrophic quality issues, hundreds of deaths, and...

How to Ethically Manipulate Your Users. In this interview, Bryan Farris, President of Goldfish Code, breaks down the framework of "motivation-driven design" rooted in behavioral psychology. We explore the fine line between positive engagement and psychological manipulation, discussing "white hat" techniques (like creating a bigger purpose for your community ) versus "black hat" techniques (like us...

How I Lost My Purpose After My Company Died. In this solo 200th episode, I'm sharing the story of what happened after my startup of four and a half years was suddenly ripped away from me. I discuss the struggle with depression and the loss of purpose I felt when the company that this podcast was built to support was forced to shut down. I'll also detail the podcast's journey from a failed lead mag...

My Most Expensive Mistake Was a $6 Million Indecision. In this interview, Dr. Karwanna Irving, CEO of She's Got Goals, reveals how her failure to act on an opportunity cost her an estimated $6 million in potential revenue. For seven years, she struggled as an entrepreneur making $20,000-$30,000 a year, unaware of the "biggest kept secret" in business: government contracting. Dr. Karwanna shares he...

Google Wiped Out 76% of My Traffic Overnight. In this interview, Vladimir Gendelman, Founder and CEO of the $5M/year brand Company Folders, tells the story of how his only marketing channel was destroyed in a single day. He shares how hiring a cheap SEO company led to a devastating manual penalty from Google for "unnatural links," and the difficult decision he made to not lay off any staff, even a...

How a Public Company Sabotaged My 8-Figure Business Sale. In this interview, serial entrepreneur Cecil Robles shares the painful story of how he lost out on a fortune when selling his first eight-figure business. He details how the acquiring public company structured an "earnout" deal that made it impossible for him to hit his targets , essentially forcing him to walk away from millions and lockin...

I Made 7 Figures Selling an Unhealthy Addiction. In this interview, business and leadership coach KC Rossi explains why she walked away from her 7-figure-plus manufacturing company. She reveals her internal conflict over "promoting sugar" and how a feeling of misalignment led her to sell the successful business and pivot her entire career. KC also shares her controversial perspective on why years...

Why I Turned Down a $13.2 Million Contract. In this interview, Glen Bhimani, the Owner and CEO of BPS Security, shares the incredible story of walking away from an eight-figure deal because the client's values didn't align with his own. He explains why the client only wanted to use his company as an "insurance shield" and why integrity was more important than the massive paycheck. Glen also reveal...

My $850,000 Mistake Nearly Killed My Business. In this interview, 8-figure supplement brand CEO Cody Bramlett reveals the single credit card processing error that froze his assets and nearly destroyed his company. He breaks down the painful lessons learned and the "bulletproof" systems he was forced to build in order to survive and scale. Beyond the mistake, Cody details his journey from a do-it-a...

There is a deep paradox that many founders never realize: Why Your Search for Freedom Is Actually Enslaving You. In this provocative interview, 250-person CEO Julian Torres Gomez explains that the relentless pursuit of entrepreneurial "freedom" without discipline is a trap that leads to anxiety and burnout. He reveals how to escape this cycle by embracing the creative process, letting go of expect...

According to 8-figure agency co-founder Sam Sherman, if you are not following the Profit First method, then you're robbing your business without even realizing it. In this brutally honest interview, Sam explains why treating your companys revenue like a personal bank account is the fastest way to kill growth. You will also learn the other way founders rob their business: by refusing to let go of t...

What are the hidden fees in franchising that can destroy your profits? In this essential interview, Tom Rutledge, co-owner of the hospitality group RDMS Group, reveals the contractual traps that many new franchisees fall into. He explains how you can be locked into expensive, closed-circuit purchasing contracts and how your marketing dollars can be spent on campaigns that will never benefit your l...