We Live to Build

What does it actually take to back yourself when no one else believes in you? In this episode of We Live to Build, Sean sits down with Stacie Shifflett, a self-taught entrepreneur and subject matter expert in federal government procurement and acquisition, who shares the raw story of orchestrating a 50 million dollar software company acquisition with zero prior experience at that scale. You'll hear how Stacie walked into a boardroom, discovered her name had been left off the org chart despite a signed employment contract, and chose to stand her ground rather than go along to get along. She also opens up about one of the hardest decisions entrepreneurs face, knowing when to say no, take your money, and walk away even when others frame it as a missed opportunity. If you've ever been underestimated or felt pressure to shrink yourself in a room where you clearly earned your seat, Stacie's story will resonate deeply.────────────────────────────────--─────────────────────📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)──────────────────────────────────────────────────────Get my brand new eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network──────────────────────📋 WORK WITH ME──────────────────────▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship──────────────────────🔗 CONNECT WITH SEAN──────────────────────▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com──────────🕐 CHAPTERS──────────00:00 - Stacy Led a $50M Acquisition From Scratch01:00 - The CEO Who Didn't Know What to Do With Her03:28 - Leaving Money on the Table Was the Right Call05:22 - The One Time Stacy Actually Threw a Punch09:59 - Stacy Woke Up and Decided to Buy a Company15:40 - Self-Taught, No Degree, Still Outperformed Everyone26:02 - Peace of Mind Is Our Greatest Personal Asset29:22 - Know Yourself Before You Can Go Anywhere

What happens to marketing, consumer culture, and the businesses built around them when AI eliminates 90% of white collar jobs? In this episode, Sean sits down with Zachary Rischitelli to explore how networking, relationship-building, and human connection are becoming the most durable competitive advantages in an increasingly automated world. Zachary shares how his business has sustained client relationships for over sixteen years through genuine personal investment, not transactional card-swapping, and why showing up in person still moves the needle even as LinkedIn floods everyone's inbox. You'll also hear his simple but powerful networking reframe: be interested rather than interesting, a mindset shift that cuts through small talk and builds real trust fast. If you're thinking about how to future-proof your business and your relationships before the landscape shifts beneath you, this conversation will give you a lot to chew on.──────────────────────────────────────────────────────📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)──────────────────────────────────────────────────────Get my brand new eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network──────────────────────📋 WORK WITH ME──────────────────────▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship──────────────────────🔗 CONNECT WITH SEAN──────────────────────▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com──────────🕐 CHAPTERS──────────00:00 - The Networking Hack Nobody Talks About00:22 - Building a 17-Year Business Through Relationships03:46 - "Be Interested, Not Interesting" in Practice06:22 - Reading Body Language at Networking Events08:39 - Moving Past Small Talk With Strangers11:31 - What Makes Networking Events Exhausting19:07 - Pitching a Marketing Agency in the AI Era21:15 - Who Are We Marketing to When AI Wins?28:17 - The Acquisition That Only Goes Forward36:53 - Work-Life Balance Is a Founder's Hardest Problem

What does it really take to break through a revenue plateau and build a business that outlasts your mistakes? In this episode, Ephraim Ebstein, an MSP entrepreneur who scaled past seven figures, shares the hard lessons he learned the long way. You will hear how developing financial literacy with the help of retired CEO mentors was the turning point that unstuck his business when it was trapped between seven and nine million dollars. Ephraim also breaks down why networking is never optional, showing you how a single spearfishing connection led to the job that taught him the entire industry and eventually the clients that made his company possible. And if you have ever wondered whether burning a bridge could cost you more than you think, his story of a former boss who later became his employee will make you rethink every professional relationship you have ever let go cold.──────────────────────────────────────────────────────📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)──────────────────────────────────────────────────────Get my brand new eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network──────────────────────📋 WORK WITH ME──────────────────────▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship──────────────────────🔗 CONNECT WITH SEAN──────────────────────▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com──────────🕐 CHAPTERS──────────00:00 - Networking: Love It or Hate It?00:22 - Flying to Events to Find the Right Rooms01:08 - The One Connection That Started Everything03:49 - Retired CEOs Roasted Ephraim on Financials06:21 - Pay to Be in the Right Places11:26 - Two Takeaways, Two Relationships Per Event13:17 - Intentional Networking Beats Hoping for Luck16:00 - Never Burn Bridges Because The World Is Small21:07 - Diversifying Investments to Weather Any Storm40:00 - The Principle Behind All of Ephraim's Success

Entrepreneur Scott Meier evaluated over 100 businesses before deciding to acquire three unique brands under one roof: Budsies, Petsies, and Stuffed Animal Pros. But instead of applying a ruthless corporate "roll-up" strategy, Scott chose to become a steward of an artisan-driven brand. In this episode, we dive into the world of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) and the booming "kid-alt" nostalgia market. Scott breaks down the complex logistics of global plush manufacturing, how his company uses its profits to support kids in hospitals and disaster zones, and how he personally uses AI tools like Claude to automate annoying tasks so his team has more time to be human. Finally, Scott shares his ultimate leadership lesson: why the best thing you can do to build trust and solve complex problems is simply to "say less." Check out the company: https://budsies.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Evaluating 100 Companies to Buy02:50 - The Budsies & Petsies Ecosystem05:50 - The "Kidault" Market & Nostalgia08:35 - Making Artisan Products at Scale12:15 - Avoiding the Corporate "Roll-Up" Model16:20 - Pencils of Promise & The Power of Charity20:00 - Why Facebook Ads Are Creepy23:45 - Using AI to Give Us Time to Be Human26:10 - The #1 Leadership Lesson: Say Less

Do you do great work but struggle to consistently get referrals? In this episode, Bill Cates breaks down the exact psychology of borrowed trust and why simply doing a good job doesn't automatically make you referable. We discuss the Triangle of Trust, how to actively train your network to recognize your ideal clients, and why using 1-minute case studies is the ultimate follow-up strategy to stay top of mind. We also dive into why vague intentions produce vague results, the danger of name-dropping irrelevant big clients to win business, and why the old advice of only hire people you'd have a beer with is actually destroying your team's potential. Plus, Bill shares a legendary Vince Lombardi quote that will completely change how you manage your energy and mindset as an entrepreneur. Check out the company: https://billcates.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - The Power of Borrowed Trust 01:45 - How Sean Built a 100% Referral Business 04:47 - Should You Pay Commissions for Referrals? 08:02 - How to Actually Become Referable 11:47 - The 1-Minute Case Study Strategy 13:18 - Sean's AI Content Engine Strategy 16:25 - Why Radical Relevance is Everything 22:50 - Vague Intentions Produce Vague Results 26:46 - The Mistake of Hiring People Like You30:06 - Fatigue Makes Cowards of Us All

If you've ever felt drained, exhausted, or frustrated by traditional networking events, you aren't alone. In this episode, Davide Cannarozzi explains why showing up to a random event without a clear strategy is a massive waste of your time and energy. Instead of treating networking as a casual interaction, Davide reveals why the most elite networkers treat relationship-building like being a diplomat or a spy—using intense planning, research, and flashcards to connect with the right people.We break down the critical differences between "random," "utilitarian," "intentional," and "serendipity" networking, and why you must build networking as an infrastructure for your life rather than a one-off chore. We also dive into the dangers of building a business without a clear vision or a mentor, and how that exact lack of self-awareness led to a grueling half-a-million-dollar loss in my own tech startup journey. Finally, we explore how to manage Dunbar's number in a world where technology connects us to thousands, and why you must "prune" your network just like the brain prunes unused synapses. Check out the company: https://rif.ventures----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Why Networking Feels So Exhausting 04:40 - Why Sean Ignored Networking at a Recent Event 06:36 - The 4 Types of Networking Explained 09:14 - Sean’s $500,000 Startup Mistake 13:36 - The Critical Importance of Mentorship 15:08 - Using a Podcast for Intentional Networking 16:14 - Davide’s MBA Cleantech Hustle 26:50 - Technology, Dunbar’s Number, and Brain Synapses 30:46 - Why You Should Treat Networking Like a Spy

Have you ever been to an event where the person you're talking to is just looking past you for their next "lead"?. In this episode, Charles Lee breaks down why treating human connection like a transactional sales funnel will ultimately hold you back. We explore how genuine business flows naturally from authentic relationships, why you need to stop asking boring questions like "what do you do?", and how to cultivate deep curiosity about others. Charles shares a story of how a free, rainy-day speaking gig led to a 15-year relationship with one of his biggest clients , and we discuss the psychology of eye contact, body language, and the dreaded "resting thinking face". Finally, we tackle the ultimate question every driven entrepreneur must ask themselves: when it's all said and done, how much is enough?. Check out the company: https://ideation.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Business Flows From Relationships 01:18 - How One Free Panel Led to a 15-Year Client 03:42 - The Power of Genuine Curiosity 06:48 - Why Remembering Names and Details Matters 09:23 - Eye Contact and the "Resting Thinking Face" 11:13 - Public Speaking and Facilitation 13:02 - Expressing Gratitude to Your Network 14:55 - Why Sean Stopped Going to Networking Events 17:37 - Making a Lifelong Mentor in China 19:34 - What Matters Most & "How Much is Enough?"

Are your AI inference costs starting to eat into your startup's budget? In this episode, I sit down with Rob May to discuss the impending shift in the AI industry: moving from massive, expensive frontier models to optimized, task-specific workflows. Rob explains why using a massive model for a simple task is like paying an astrophysicist to balance your checkbook, and how routing requests to smaller models can significantly cut down on your token spend. We also dive into the realities of startup hiring, including why executives must network for talent months in advance and how "experienced" corporate hires can completely derail your early-stage systems. Finally, Rob shares his ultimate advice for founders: why cozying up to massive markets is the best way to de-risk your business. Check out the company: https://neuromatic.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Get my brand new eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Why Founders Must Network Before Hiring03:45 - The $30,000 Corporate Hiring Mistake06:20 - Selling to IT Professionals vs. Sales Teams08:15 - The Alex Hormozi Free Content Strategy10:50 - How to Reduce High AI Inference Costs13:30 - Tasks vs. Models: The Future of AI16:45 - Moving AI Workflows to Microservices21:10 - The "Big Market" Secret to Entrepreneurship