We Live to Build

This is an AI CEO's warning about deepfakes: the technology to clone voices and create disinformation is scary, and we will have to take everything with a grain of salt now. In this interview, Vikram Chalana, an expert with over 30 years in AI, shares his perspective on the future. You'll learn about the "gut-wrenching" reality of scaling a business, which includes having to part ways with early employees who can't grow with the company. He also explains the Gartner Hype Cycle, predicting the "trough of disillusionment" for AI is still to come. Check out the company: https://www.pictory.ai

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

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🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - My 30-Year Journey in AI

03:19 - The AI "Black Box" That Even Experts Can't Explain

06:35 - A CEO's Warning: Deepfakes & Disinformation

09:49 - The Never-Ending Battle Against Misinformation

13:02 - I Rode in a Self-Driving Car in San Francisco

16:11 - AI's "Trough of Disillusionment" Is Coming

19:08 - The Smartest Way to Invest in the AI Gold Rush

22:05 - Why I Invest in "Mining the Miners"

25:00 - The "Gut-Wrenching" Reality of Scaling a Company

28:16 - From Arrogance to Humility: A Founder's Journey

34:54 - My Daily Routine for Finding Balance

37:55 - The True Source of Happiness

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The data is in, and it's terrifying. But why do CEOs die young? According to executive recruiting expert Darwin Shurig, C-level executives have a life expectancy five years less than the rest of us. In this high-stakes interview, Darwin reveals the crushing stress that leads to this reality, including the fact that seven Fortune 250 executives die of unexpected heart attacks every year. You'll learn why 70% of businesses fail within 10 years (hint: it's your talent), the massive financial cost of a single mishire, and how to avoid hiring a "talented cancer" that can destroy your company's culture. Check out the company: https://www.shurigsolutions.com

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

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Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

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Inquiries: [email protected]

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - Why 70% of Businesses Are Doomed to Fail

04:03 - The "Purple Squirrel" Fallacy That Kills Your Culture

07:48 - The Real Reason Your Best Employees Leave

11:41 - How to Spot a "Talented Cancer" Before You Hire Them

15:31 - The Day I Had to Fire Myself From My Father's Company

19:35 - The Hiring Mistake That Can Cost You Millions

23:27 - My $80,000 Hiring Nightmare (A Costly Lesson)

27:15 - The Crushing Stress of a C-Suite Executive

31:10 - The Data: Why CEOs Have a 5-Year Shorter Lifespan

35:19 - From 6 to 7 Figures: The Required Mindset Shift

42:59 - Know Your "Why": The One Thing That Will Keep You Alive

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What's it like to have your body give up on you? For entrepreneur Austin Netzley, his first panic attack was so severe he told his friend, "Hey, you got to call 911. I think I'm dying." In this incredibly raw and vulnerable conversation, recorded while the host is also experiencing a panic attack, Austin shares his story of hitting rock bottom. You'll learn the three hidden stressors that cause founder burnout (financial, time, and people) , the powerful Warren Buffett "one car for life" rule for self-care, and practical tools like ice baths and breathwork that can help you regain control. Check out the company: https://www.2x.co

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

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Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

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Inquiries: [email protected]

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - "Call 911, I Think I'm Dying"

02:46 - Working 80+ Hours a Week & Literally Killing Myself

05:19 - The Paramedic's Sad Look That Changed Everything

08:09 - The Real Reason You Can't Breathe

13:34 - An 8-Minute Routine to Manage Daily Anxiety

18:54 - How Ice Baths Help You Beat Your "Lizard Brain"

24:12 - Warren Buffett's "One Car For Life" Rule

29:34 - The 3 Hidden Stressors Killing Entrepreneurs

32:01 - You're Going To Die. So What Truly Matters?

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▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

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▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai

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What's the hardest decision a founder can make? For Freddie Laker, it was firing his best friends. In this painfully honest interview, the founder of the $48M+/year Chameleon Collective shares the story of how business and friendship collided. You'll also learn the counter-intuitive motivation for his success, he started his company out of pure anger with corporate America. Freddie breaks down his radical "no bosses, no employees" business model, where the team can earn up to 80% of the company through a merit-based system, and shares the million-dollar mistake that taught him his most valuable lesson. Check out the company: https://www.chameleoncollective.com

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

Inquiries: [email protected]

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - The Hardest Decision I've Ever Made

06:19 - Fueled By Anger: Why I Built a "Non-Company"

12:33 - No Bosses, No Employees: Our Radical Ownership Model

18:29 - My Biggest Fear Isn't Failure, It's Being Trapped

24:45 - A Founder's Worst Nightmare: Firing My Best Friends

31:11 - How I Play Chess With Every Business Decision

37:20 - My Father's Best Advice: "I've F'd Up Things You Haven't Even Thought Of"

43:21 - My $1,000,000 Startup Mistake

55:19 - This $100,000 Coffee Mug is My Secret to Winning Negotiations

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▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

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How does a company's stock plummet from $200 to just $3 a share? This is the multi-million dollar IPO lesson learned firsthand by Sherry Shannon-Vanstone, a former NSA cryptographer who was part of the team that created the security algorithm for BlackBerry. In this interview, Sherry shares the hard-won lessons from two IPOs and two acquisitions. You'll learn the #1 trap founders face after being acquired, her strategy for "choosing your battles" as a woman in a male-dominated industry , and the sad story of the employee who didn't take any money off the table and lost it all. Check out the company: https://profoundimpact.com

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

Inquiries: [email protected]

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - The Professor Who Said I Was "Wasting a Man's Spot"

05:44 - "Get Out of the Kitchen": Choosing Your Battles in a Toxic Office

11:25 - The Day My Boss Had to Fight For Me in Japan

17:17 - The Truth About the BlackBerry Founders

23:01 - The #1 Trap Founders Face After an Acquisition

28:41 - The IPO That Crashed With the Market

34:40 - How Our Stock Went From $200 to $3 a Share

40:10 - Responsibility Without Authority: A Founder's Warning

45:17 - The $3.22 Trillion Plan to Fund Women

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▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

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What if a panic attack is just a symptom? This interview reveals the one question you can ask to discover the true cause of your anxiety. Diva Diaz, a global speaker for Access Consciousness, explains how the things we judge as "wrong" with ourselves are often our greatest skills in disguise. She shares her personal story of being an "insufferable perfectionist" who was torturing herself and provides actionable tools to escape the loop of self-criticism. This is a must-watch for any neurodivergent entrepreneur or anyone seeking freedom from self-judgment. Check out the company: https://accessconscious.com

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

Inquiries: [email protected]

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - What I Thought Was Wrong With Me (Was My Greatest Skill)

06:02 - The Peace That Comes From Radical Self-Awareness

12:00 - The Self-Judgment Loop That Keeps You Trapped

17:35 - "Interesting Point of View": A Tool to Break the Cycle

22:54 - How We Unconsciously Create Our Own Failures

28:42 - The One Question That Unlocks Your Anxiety's True Cause

39:55 - Why Neurodivergent People Are So Creative

45:18 - Stop "Doing" and Start "Being"

50:37 - The Most Important Thing Is To Not Judge Yourself

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▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

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What are a top CEO's two modes of operation? According to Jeffrey Hayzlett, "I'm either seducing you or killing you". In this brutally honest interview, the Chairman of the C-Suite Network, former Fortune 100 CMO, and director on 14 corporate boards reveals the mindset that has driven over $25 billion in transactions. You'll hear the inside story of his high-stakes, front-page fight with a rogue chairman that cost him his entire investment. He also explains why "failing sucks" and he'd rather "win fast". Check out the company: https://jeffreyhayzlett.com

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

Inquiries: [email protected]

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - A CEO's Two Modes of Operation

05:43 - The Time I Tried to Corner a Market That Didn't Exist

11:23 - The Unsung Mentors Who Shaped My Career

16:36 - Why We Can't Let Lockdowns Happen Again

22:19 - The Daily System I Use to Run 14 Companies

27:50 - What a Real Executive Assistant Is Supposed to Do

33:22 - My Front-Page Fight With a Rogue Chairman

38:57 - Getting Sued & Losing Everything for Doing the Right Thing

44:37 - The Most Important Thing I Can Teach My Granddaughters

50:01 - The Lesson That Guides My Entire Life

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▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

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It's not a conspiracy. A recent deep learning model can identify your laptop keystrokes with 95% accuracy using only a nearby smartphone's microphone. That's just one of the terrifying proofs discussed in this conversation with Ken Cox, president of Hostirian and a privacy expert. Ken shares his deepest fear as a parent: that his children are sharing data with systems and companies, and they have no idea of the long-term ramifications. The conversation reveals how publicly traded companies have a legal obligation to do the most profitable thing with your data, which may not be keeping it safe. You'll also learn how new technology can use WiFi-enabled lightbulbs to create a real-time image of your room from a distance , and why people willingly give up their privacy for convenience.

Check out the company: https://hostirian.com

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

Inquiries: [email protected]

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - The Data Your Kids Are Giving Away Forever

06:11 - PROOF: AI Can Steal Your Passwords By Listening

11:36 - Spying On You Through Your Lightbulbs Is Real

17:03 - The Psychological Warfare That Changed Society

23:01 - How Your Identity Is Secretly Programmed

28:59 - The "Divide and Conquer" Social Media Strategy

34:56 - The DNA Test That Cost Me My Privacy

40:50 - Is "Living Off-Grid" The Only Escape?

46:12 - A Parent's Impossible Choice

51:48 - The One Thing You Can't Do Alone

📈 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.ai

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What if our reality is about to fracture? This is the terrifying warning from Cary Sparrow, a CEO on the front lines of the data and AI revolution. In this raw and unfiltered interview, Cary explains why he believes generative AI is on a path to destroy our concept of truth and why most corporations will become uncompetitive within a year because they are failing to adapt. This is a masterclass in the psychology of leadership and resilience, where you'll also learn the brutal mindset shift required to survive the startup world, why "being right" is a dangerous luxury, and the one interview question he uses to reveal everything about a candidate. Check out the company: https://www.greenwich.hr/wagescape

Book a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

Inquiries: [email protected]

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - The Brutal Feedback That Saves a Company

04:41 - The Dangerous Luxury of Being "Right"

09:17 - The One Trait This CEO Hires For

13:45 - The Interview Question That Reveals Everything

18:28 - AI Will Make Your Company Obsolete

23:22 - Why Corporate America Is Failing at AI

27:58 - The "Force Multiplier" That Will Change Work Forever

32:45 - A CEO's Warning: The "Fracturing of Truth"

37:16 - How to Win in a World of Misinformation

42:03 - The Terrifying Future We're Already In

📈 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.ai

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How does a man of God reconcile his faith with a career building technology for the military? This is that story. I Was a Priest. Now I Build Tools for War. Tom Pierce, a former US Army officer and pastor, shares his incredible journey into the world of defense contracting, where he builds high-tech logistics and data systems for the Department of Defense. This is a deep dive into the complex ethics of war, service, and technology. You'll learn the profound lessons his time in the military and ministry taught him about leadership, the "bully on the bus" metaphor that shapes his worldview, and the heartbreaking story of how broken software and bureaucracy failed his own family in a moment of medical crisis. Check out the company: https://www.i2s.us

00:00 - My Life's Work: Expecting Good From People

04:06 - From the Army to the Computer Field (A Happy Accident)

08:23 - From Soldiers to Coders: The Army's First Analysis Team

12:31 - The "Bully on the Bus": A Pastor's Take on Just War

25:00 - A True Story of How Broken Software Leads to Loss

33:03 - The Sacrifice of Intelligence: Why We Value Convenience Over Skill

37:05 - Why Your Data is an Unfiltered, Polluted Lake

45:22 - The Most Important Lesson I've Learned

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▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate

▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai

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