Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

As we close out the year, it's time for one of the most anticipated Solo Sunday episodes: Brian's one word for 2026. For the eighth year in a row, Brian is ditching the long list of easily-forgotten New Year's resolutions for a far more powerful approach — choosing a single word to serve as a theme, a filter, and a guide for the entire year. In this episode, he walks through his words from the past seven years (like Better, Output, and Bigger) to show how each one built on the last, creating a powerful trajectory of growth. He then reveals his word for 2026, "Systems," and breaks down why building systems in your business and life is the key to creating freedom, consistency, and a business that runs without you as the bottleneck.✨ Why This Matters for You Choosing one word is more than a trendy exercise; it's a strategic tool for entrepreneurs:It provides clarity and focus, cutting through the noise of a dozen competing goals.It acts as a simple filter for decision-making. Does this opportunity align with your word?It creates a theme that guides your actions, ensuring you’re consistently moving in the right direction.It turns your year from a series of random events into an intentional journey of growth.It helps you build a business and life that are aligned with a single, powerful vision.📝 Key TakeawaysOne Word > Resolutions. The one-word concept provides a single point of focus that centers your character and creates a vision for your future, unlike resolutions which are often abandoned by February.A Lens for Action. Your chosen word becomes the filter through which you view opportunities, challenges, and decisions. When Brian’s word was "Bigger," he constantly asked, "How can we make this bigger?"Evolution of Focus. Brian’s journey from "Better" to "Output" to "Actions" and beyond shows how each year’s theme builds on the last, creating a compounding effect of personal and professional growth over time.2026 is About "Systems." Brian's word for 2026 is "Systems." The goal is to build repeatable processes that remove you as the bottleneck, ensure consistency, and turn your business into an "infinite game" that can run without your constant manual effort.Systems Create Freedom. By systematizing the routine, mundane, and day-to-day tasks, you free up the mental and emotional energy to be more spontaneous, creative, and present in both your life and business.🚀 Put It Into Action This week, take on the one-word challenge for yourself:Reflect on the year ahead. What do you want more of? What do you need to focus on to get to the next level?Brainstorm a list of potential words that capture that feeling or theme.Choose the ONE word that resonates most deeply and feels right for your next chapter.Share it! Brian would love to hear your word. Drop him an email at [email protected] and let him know what your focus is for 2026.🔗 Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who is ready to set a powerful intention for the new year.📣 Special Thanks and Shout Out to a Brilliant Creator! A huge thank you to the folks at MyOneWord.org. Brian was introduced to this concept by them nearly a decade ago, and it has been a foundational part of his annual planning ever since. We highly recommend you visit their site to learn more about this transformative practice

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: EnablementThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: TelemetryThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: AutomationThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.

This is Operate Week – a special Christmas-week series on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast celebrating the release of my second book, OPERATE: Escape the Finisher’s Trap and Build a Business That Runs Without You.For the next seven episodes, I’m gifting you something I’ve never done before on this show: one full pillar per day from the OPERATE framework, straight from the audiobook.No fluff. No teasers. Just the core operating system I’ve refined over 17+ years of entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever felt:Like your business only moves when you moveLike growth creates more chaos instead of freedomLike you’re the bottleneck — even though you’re “successful”This week is for you.🚨 The Finisher’s Trap (Why OPERATE Exists)Most founders are stuck in what I call The Finisher’s Trap – being the fixer, the closer, the quality control, and the safety net for everything.It feels responsible. It feels productive. But it’s actually a ceiling.OPERATE is about escaping that trap and stepping into the role you were always meant to play: The Architect — the one who designs systems that scale without burning you out.📘 About the Book: OPERATEOPERATE isn’t about hustling harder or hiring endlessly.It’s about installing a 7-Pillar Operating System that turns a founder-dependent business into a scalable, self-running machine.Hustle builds momentum. Systems build businesses.You can get the full book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at OperateBook.com.🎧 Today’s Episode: RetentionThis episode is one full chapter from OPERATE, focused entirely on today’s pillar. Listen all the way through — these pillars compound when applied together.📕 Want the Full OPERATE Experience?These seven chapters are the pillars, but they’re only part of the full story.OPERATE includes:The Finisher → Architect identity shiftReal-world examples from my journeyThe connective tissue that ties the system togetherGet the full book on Amazon or visit OperateBook.com.Thanks for being part of Operate Week — and for letting me give you the most meaningful gift I can: a better way to build.