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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 a collapse in share price. Tom also reveals why hiring a new CEO is statistically a "50/50 gamble," like flipping a coin. We discuss the hidden forces of "bias" and "noise"—like whether an interviewer is hungry, hot, or if their favorite sports team lost—that unconsciously impact critical hiring decisions. Finally, we explore the dangers of using AI in hiring and why, without proper oversight, it will likely reinforce biases to only select "white male, 45 plus" candidates. Check out the company: https://thetalententerprise.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - My Accidental Career Assessing Leaders03:31 - Why Most Companies Use the Wrong "Success Profile"07:11 - How Do You Assess Creativity and Innovation?10:41 - Why Hiring a New CEO is a 50/50 Gamble14:44 - The Boeing Example: A Bad Hire, 300 Deaths18:30 - "Noise": How Hunger, Heat & Sports Bias Your Decisions22:16 - The Unseen Dangers of AI in Hiring29:49 - Why AI Will Only Hire White Men33:33 - My Job Will Be Replaced By an Algorithm40:53 - The Most Important Trait in Any Leader📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 using the fear of loss, which the host argues is central to Slack's business model ). Bryan also explains why every product design is just a "hypothesis" until proven with data , how traveling to 137 countries has shaped his business strategy , and why he believes humans are ultimately motivated by being part of something bigger than themselves. Check out the company: https://goldfishcode.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Is Empathy a Tool for Manipulation?07:20 - Why Your Product Design Is Just a Hypothesis11:02 - The Framework for "Ethical Manipulation"14:56 - "Black Hat" vs. "White Hat" Motivation18:50 - The Slack Example: Motivating with Fear22:40 - The Waze Example: Motivating with Purpose30:01 - How Traveling to 137 Countries Made Me a Better Strategist40:48 - Autonomy vs. Fear of Loss: What's Your Core Motivation?📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 magnet into a monetized, professional media company, why I've decided to stop relying on slow organic growth, and how I plan to reinvest 100% of the show's revenue back into paid ads. Finally, I'll give a raw, personal update on my life in Portugal and what I've learned after 200 episodes. Check out the company: https://welivetobuild.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - A Look Back at 200 Episodes01:47 - How My Startup Was Ripped Away From Me03:38 - Losing My Purpose and Starting Over05:26 - The Pivot: From Failed Lead Magnet to a Real Business08:38 - My New Growth Strategy: Why I'm Done With Organic10:22 - Reinvesting 100% of Revenue into Paid Ads12:08 - An Honest Update on My Life in Portugal17:14 - The Surprising Downside of Living in Europe18:57 - What's Next For The Podcast (And For Me)📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 her incredible journey from struggling business owner to landing her first $70,000 contract for only 28 days of work. She also details the single most important sales psychology lesson she learned from a $55,000 coach, which led to a multiple six-figure day. Check out the company: https://shesgotgoals.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - The "Biggest Kept Secret" for Entrepreneurs 04:46 - From a Struggling Fashion Brand to Government Contracts 09:41 - The Miseducation of the Entrepreneur 14:41 - From $20k a Year to a $70k Contract in 28 Days 25:23 - My Most Expensive Mistake: A $6 Million Indecision 30:45 - How Hiring a Team Multiplies Your Bottom Line 35:38 - The $55,000 Coach & The Sales Secret That Changed Everything 45:59 - Why I Almost Shut Down My Other Profitable Business 51:21 - Why Business is a "Spiritual Walk" 56:33 - Having a Baby at 46 & Living Without Limits📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 as his business was collapsing. Vladimir also details how he faced a similar crisis during COVID, losing 70% of his revenue in one month and again refusing to fire anyone. Instead, he invested in a sales coach to turn things around. This is a masterclass in resilience and long-term thinking for any entrepreneur. Check out the company: https://companyfolders.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - How the Soviet Union Inspired My Business08:14 - The SEO Mistake That Led to Disaster 13:04 - Google Wiped Out 76% of My Traffic 17:35 - Why I Refused to Fire Anyone 22:07 - Crisis #2: Losing 70% of Revenue in 30 Days 27:00 - Why I Hired a Coach When My Business Was Failing 31:03 - "We're Not Rich Enough to Buy Cheap Things" 39:27 - The Power of a Long-Term Vision 48:39 - My Business Is My Identity (And It's Probably Not Healthy) 📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 locking him into a multi-year non-compete. Cecil also reveals how he found a clever loophole in his non-compete to launch a new, wildly successful venture and explains his current business model of building an equity portfolio with the goal of owning a piece of 100 companies in the next five years.Check out the company: https://raisecapital.ioBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - My Goal: Own a Piece of 100 Companies09:02 - Why a Business Partnership is Like a Marriage13:28 - The Hardest Part of Entrepreneurship: Learning to Fail18:14 - How a Public Company Sabotaged My 8-Figure Sale27:42 - My Comeback: Finding the Loophole in My Non-Compete36:48 - How to Anticipate Problems Before They Happen41:49 - My #1 Leadership Rule: Delegate, But Don't Detach46:45 - My Journey from a 6-Figure a Year to 9-Figure Net Worth Goal51:45 - The Biggest Change in 20 Years: Checking My Ego📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of traditional talk therapy can fail to produce results, the simple boundaries she implemented to cure her own burnout, and how she helps female entrepreneurs overcome the core limiting belief of "not enoughness" to build businesses they love. Check out her company: kcrossi.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - From 7-Figure Burnout to 6-Figure Balance05:01 - Why I Sold My "Unhealthy Addiction" Business10:01 - The "Not Enough" Belief That's Killing Your Business14:52 - Is Traditional Talk Therapy a Waste of Time?19:35 - From Consultant to Coach: Why I "Fired" My Clients24:24 - The Simple Boundary That Cured My Burnout29:33 - My Most Expensive $10,000 Mistake34:37 - Why Psychedelics Can Disconnect You From Your Soul39:18 - The 3 Pillars of an Unshakeable Entrepreneur📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 reveals how he started his company after being passed over for a promotion , how spending his last few hundred dollars on a business coach saved his company from the brink of collapse , and the brilliant psychological tactic he used to destroy Net-30 payment terms and get clients to pay him weekly, fueling his company's growth. Check out the company: bpssecuritysa.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - I Quit My Job and Started a Company03:58 - My Last $200 Saved My Business07:53 - The Hardest Decision I Ever Made11:56 - Why I Turned Down a $13.2 Million Contract19:42 - Our Marketing: Exposing a Corrupt Industry27:47 - How I Destroyed Net-30 and Got Paid Weekly32:08 - From "Mom-and-Pop" to Corporate: A Rebranding Story36:04 - The One Fear That Keeps Me Up at Night44:18 - "Take a Bullet For You": The Power of a Loyal Team📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-all entrepreneur to a true CEO, his counter-intuitive strategy for hiring a COO before a salesperson, and how he uses affiliate marketing to drive millions in revenue. This is a masterclass in resilience for any business owner. Check out the company: https://sciencenaturalsupplements.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - From Duct-Taped Shoes to an 8-Figure Brand05:09 - The Scaling Engine: 100% Affiliate Marketing10:05 - Building a Supply Chain That Can't Fail15:28 - The "Scammy" Storytelling That Sells Millions20:43 - The $850,000 Mistake25:49 - The Aftermath: Shifting from Entrepreneur to CEO31:16 - How to Avoid My Mistakes41:41 - Battling Imposter Syndrome During a Crisis47:08 - Hire Top-Down: The Key to a Bulletproof Team57:12 - The One Thing I Still Struggle to Delegate📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 expectations, and understanding that your anxiety might just be trapped creative energy. This is a masterclass in finding true freedom by surrendering to the process. Check out the company: https://getontop.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Your Search for Freedom is a Trap04:32 - The Expectation of Perfection is Killing You09:08 - How to Enter a State of Creative Flow on Demand13:23 - Why a Fixed Mindset Will Lead to Burnout17:34 - Discipline Is Freedom: The Great Paradox21:32 - I Dont Care If You Have a Family, Show Up On Time25:38 - How I Overcame My Crippling Panic Attacks29:59 - Your Anxiety Is Just Trapped Creative Energy34:20 - I Create Music For Myself, Not For Your Approval38:37 - You Must Embrace The Suck to Create Anything Beautiful43:05 - The Ancient Secret of Acting Without Interfering46:54 - Life is a Game. Are You Playing it Right? 📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.