We Live to Build

Are you obsessed with self-improvement? Mental performance coach and former Wall Street hedge fund manager Evan Marks argues that constantly trying to "fix" yourself actually takes you further away from who you really are. In this episode, Evan explains why he completely rejects "positive psychology" in favor of "opportunistic reality". He trains high-achievers to treat their negative emotions as data and be ready for chaos like a "jaguar in the brush". Check out the company: https://m1performancegroup.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - The Fear of Regret 00:26 - The Hardest Part of Being an Entrepreneur 01:21 - Reinventing Yourself at 46 03:06 - The Fear of Failure vs. Regret 04:39 - Wall Street Stress & Uncertainty 05:46 - Why Positive Psychology is Fluff 10:50 - Why Self-Improvement is Ruining You 12:10 - How to Build Trust and Be Vulnerable 13:35 - Gen Z, Masculinity, & Coaching the Elite 15:20 - Does Trauma Create High Achievers? 20:18 - The Pain of Denial & Ignorance 22:30 - The "Leaf vs. Root" Metaphor 23:51 - Losing Purpose After a Big Exit-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship▶ Get my free ebook (sign up for the newsletter): https://welivetobuild.com---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com

What does it actually mean when a venture capitalist says they "don't have conviction" in your startup? Vaughn Crowe, an investor at MVP Capital , explains why VCs struggle to give founders honest feedback and what that dreaded rejection phrase really translates to. In this interview, Vaughn reveals how he sniffs out scammers versus real entrepreneurs by evaluating their true desire to build a big business. We discuss why having a massive advisory board at the pre-seed stage can be a major red flag , and whether founders should take a salary from their funding or bootstrap completely. Plus, he explains why leading your first VC meeting with a pitch deck is a fatal flaw and what you should do instead. Check out the company: https://nvpcapital.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - How VCs Spot Fake Founders & Scammers03:37 - Should You Hide Competing Term Sheets from VCs? 09:30 - Why Advisory Boards are a Red Flag for Early Startups 17:54 - Should Founders Take a Salary? 21:50 - Do Founders Still Need VCs in the Age of AI? 24:26 - Why VCs Won't Give You Honest Feedback30:00 - The Real Meaning of "I Don't Have Conviction" 34:30 - Never Open a VC Meeting With a Pitch Deck📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765

Are you getting thousands of views on your YouTube Shorts but struggling to turn them into loyal subscribers or paying clients? Ben Pines, who helped scale Elementor from $0 to $100M ARR, explains exactly why your social media strategy is falling flat and how to fix it. In this live "workshop" style episode, Ben and Sean deconstruct Sean’s own content strategy. They discuss why AI has completely killed generic SEO content, why short-form video often leads to "empty views," and the secret to transitioning from a generic content creator to a highly paid trusted advisor. Ben reveals how to use the "Ezra Klein Method" to turn your content into a deep, problem-solving engine that naturally attracts your ideal audience. Check out the company: https://benpines.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why You're Getting Views but No Subscribers01:45 - Deconstructing a Failing Content Strategy03:40 - The Golden Rule of Content: What Pays the Rent?08:35 - Why "Curiosity" is Killing Your Podcast12:40 - How to Tie Your Content Directly to Your Business18:00 - Why AI Has Ruined Generic SEO Content19:25 - The "Ezra Klein" Method for Building True Authority22:50 - Stop Pretending You Know Everything26:30 - Flip the Script: Solve Client Problems Live38:30 - The Truth About YouTube Shorts & Distribution43:30 - Elementor’s $100M Lesson: You Need a Bigger Story📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765

What will human civilization look like in 150 years? Abdo John Hajj, partner at Type One Ventures, believes we are at the beginning of a deep tech supercycle that will transition humanity into a "Type 1 Civilization"—one that harnesses the full energy of its host star and becomes truly interplanetary. In this interview, Abdo explains why space is not just about rockets, but about building the infrastructure for abundance. We discuss why Tesla's Optimus robots will likely colonize Mars before humans do , the critical need for a "circular economy" in space (mining water for fuel) , and the geopolitical reality of who will enforce the law on the lunar surface. Check out the company: https://type1ventures.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Space is the Next Deep Tech Supercycle 02:20 - The "Space HoldCo" Strategy: Investing in Infrastructure 06:30 - Elon Musk: The Ultimate "Venture Operator" 08:35 - The Reality: Why Space Startups Need Government Contracts 12:35 - Star Trek vs. Star Wars: The Future of Civilization 14:15 - Geopolitics: Who Enforces Law on the Moon? 16:45 - Sending Tesla Bots to Build Martian Colonies 21:00 - The Next-Gen Space Station: Axiom Space 22:20 - Mining the Moon for Water & Fuel 27:00 - The Power of Vision & Systems Thinking📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai

Why do most startups waste thousands of dollars on advisors who deliver zero results? Ron Levin, a partner at Alumni Ventures, explains why you should never pay a retainer to an advisor and how to structure equity-based deals that actually align incentives. In this interview, Ron shares his transition from co-founding TravelPerk (a unicorn startup) to becoming a venture capitalist. He reveals why he prefers investing over operating, the "Cold Outreach" myth that stops founders from reaching VCs, and the new trend of startups hitting $1M ARR before even raising a seed round. He also breaks down his "Super Angel" scout program and why the best founders are often the ones who failed their first time. Check out the company: https://alumniventures.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Founder vs. Investor: Which is Better? 02:20 - How to Find the "One in a Million" Startup 05:08 - Why Venture Capital Still Works (Despite the Failures) 07:54 - The "First Check" Myth: Who Really Invests First? 08:35 - Why VCs Brag About Seeing thousands of Decks 10:04 - The "Cold Outreach" Truth: How to Get a Meeting 14:40 - Stop Hiring Advisors on Retainer (Do This Instead) 17:00 - How to Use Advisors to Open Doors (The TravelPerk Story) 19:50 - My Worst Investment Mistake ($50k to Zero) 21:28 - The New Standard: $1M ARR for Seed Rounds? 25:40 - Alumni Ventures Investment Strategy (Co-Investing) 27:28 - The #1 Career Lesson: Do What You Actually Like📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai

Is AI about to replace your stock broker? Christine Healey, a pre-IPO investment expert, explains why Claude AI missed a critical detail in a deal that could have cost her client millions—and why human brokers are still essential in the private market. In this interview, Christine and Sean discuss the "wild west" of pre-IPO investing, how to avoid scams when buying shares of companies like SpaceX and Stripe, and the secret tax strategies (like the Peter Thiel Roth IRA hack) that can save you millions. They also debate whether employees selling shares before an IPO is a red flag or just smart financial planning. Check out the company: https://healeypreipo.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why AI Can't Replace Investment Brokers (Yet) 01:30 - The Human Touch in Private Equity Deals 02:20 - Direct Shares vs. SPVs: Which is Better? 04:40 - Pre-IPO Scams: How to Not Get Ripped Off 08:15 - Why Employees Sell Shares Before an IPO 10:45 - How to Invest in SpaceX & OpenAI 13:20 - What Does "Pre-IPO" Actually Mean? 16:00 - Early Stage vs. Late Stage Venture Risk 18:00 - Taking Fees as Equity (The "Carry" Strategy) 19:25 - The Taboo of Secondary Sales 21:00 - The "WeWork" Lesson: Why Cash Flow Matters 24:00 - The Peter Thiel Tax Hack (Roth IRA Investing) 26:50 - The #1 Lesson: Details Make the Deal📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765

Is AI about to replace lawyers, or is it a "disaster" waiting to happen? Omeed Tabiei, a startup lawyer, breaks down the viral story of Fred Wilson replacing a $50k legal bill with AI and why it has the legal industry panicking. However, he also shares cautionary tales of founders who used AI templates (like Rocket Lawyer) and ended up with messy, expensive legal battles. In this interview, Omeed and Sean discuss the critical legal mistakes that destroy startups: from choosing an LLC instead of a Delaware C-Corp, to 50/50 co-founder equity splits without vesting. He also reveals a unique strategy one client used to raise $600k in 30 days directly from their customers on social media. Check out the company: https://optimistlegal.com👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Fred Wilson vs. The $50k Legal Bill (AI Replacement?) 02:18 - Why AI Legal Advice is Often Wrong (And Dangerous) 05:07 - When Do You Actually Need a Lawyer? (Pre-Seed vs. Series A) 09:30 - The Founder Who Ruined His Exit with a Rocket Lawyer Template 11:35 - The Y Combinator Founders Who Stole Code & Got "Flamed" 13:20 - The #1 Co-Founder Mistake: 50/50 Splits & No Vesting 16:25 - Why VCs Will NEVER Invest in an LLC (Delaware C-Corp Only) 20:50 - How One Founder Raised $600k in 30 Days on Social Media 25:40 - Debt vs. Equity: When to Stop Selling Your Company 27:10 - The #1 Career Lesson: Be a Voracious Learner📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai

Is the new open-source AI agent "OpenClaw" a revolutionary tool for startups, or a dangerous liability that could destroy your computer and spend thousands of your dollars? Sze Wong returns to the podcast to debate Sean on the massive risks and rewards of giving autonomous AI agents full control over your machine. In this heated discussion, Sze explains why the future of startups isn't building SaaS products, but rather selling "AI Agent Teams" as a service—like a digital staffing firm. Meanwhile, Sean shares terrifying stories of AI models trying to blackmail engineers and why he refuses to give agents access to his personal data. They also cover why Sze prefers Anthropic's Claude over OpenAI , the psychology of naming your AI "Felix" , and how Sze used AI to build a Calendly clone over a single weekend. Check out the company: https://zenithstudio.io👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - The Controversial Thesis: Why OpenClaw Will Win00:25 - The Dangers of Autonomous AI Agents03:25 - How to Safely Test AI Agents (Use a VPS)04:40 - The AI That Tried to Blackmail an Engineer08:40 - Claude Code vs. OpenAI: Which is Better?15:00 - The Psychology of Naming Your AI (Meet "Felix")20:15 - Why SaaS is Dead (The "AI Staffing Firm" Future)24:00 - Building a Calendly Clone in One Weekend with AI28:30 - The Reality of "Vibe Coding" to Production📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765

Are you unknowingly breaking the law by paying a commission to someone helping you raise capital? Wendy Culbertson, a securities lawyer, warns that many startup founders are violating SEC rules by paying "finders" who are not registered broker-dealers. In this interview, she explains the severe consequences of these illegal payouts, including civil and criminal liability. Wendy breaks down the complex world of SEC regulations, explaining the critical differences between Regulation D (506b vs 506c), Regulation A (Mini-IPO), and Crowdfunding (Reg CF). She also reveals the "safe harbor" strategies for hiring internal investor relations staff without triggering regulatory action and why founders should think twice before handling filings themselves. Check out the company: https://👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Many Founders Are Breaking Securities Law 01:50 - The Danger of Paying "Finder's Fees" 04:12 - What is a Broker-Dealer? (SEC Definition) 07:05 - Safe Harbor: Hiring Employees to Raise Capital 09:20 - Can You Pay Fundraisers with Equity? 10:20 - Reg D vs. Reg A vs. Crowdfunding Explained 15:00 - Why Reg D and Reg CF Are Named That Way 18:50 - When Do You Need to File with the SEC? 20:00 - "Blue Sky Laws": State-Level Compliance Nightmares 23:30 - Should Founders File Their Own SEC Forms? 24:35 - The Risks of Unregistered Broker-Dealers (Criminal Action)📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai