Money Stories Keith Roberts: Never Build a Business Until You Understand This - Money Stories Ep. 46
Most entrepreneurs are good at making money. Far fewer are good at keeping it, or knowing what it's actually for. Keith Roberts spent 24 years building Zen Man, a creative agency that grew into a machine that nearly broke him. He traded his time for money, weathered lawsuits, hid foreclosure notices from his employees, and hit rock bottom before finding his way out.
In this conversation, Keith shares the full arc from starving artist to agency founder to author and speaker, and the lessons that only come from building something real and nearly losing it all.
We unpack:
- Why being great at making money can actually create a poor relationship with it
- The difference between building a business and building a life
- How Keith used ancient Eastern wisdom to navigate the chaos of modern entrepreneurship
- Why the hustle mindset eventually stops working, and what comes next
- How to hold big goals without attaching your self-worth to the outcome
- What wealth actually means when you strip away the comparison and the scorecard
This is a deeply honest conversation about the cost of success, the power of intention, and what it looks like to finally build something that serves your life instead of consuming it.
About Keith Roberts:
Keith Roberts is a transformational leadership speaker and founder of Zen Man, where he spent 24 years creating digital solutions for major brands like Frontier Airlines, Remax, and The Lumineers. Author of The Zen of Business, he blends ancient wisdom with modern leadership strategies, delivering powerful, story-driven keynotes that help leaders navigate change with intention, clarity, and purpose.
Connect with Keith:
Website: https://keithrobertsiii.com/about-keith-roberts
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zenman42/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zenman/
Book: The Zen of Business: Ancient Wisdom to Help Modern Leaders Lead with Intention, Clarity, and Purpose