Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

In a world overflowing with AI-generated content, how do you turn the noise into revenue? Carol Zhu, CEO of DecodeNetwork.AI, has the answer. Drawing from her high-level experience at tech giants like AWS AI, TikTok, and Credit Karma, Carol breaks down the massive, untapped opportunity in the AI creator economy. She reveals how her company is building the "monetization layer" for AI, connecting digital art to physical commerce through print-on-demand, brand partnerships, and content licensing. This episode is a masterclass for any entrepreneur looking to find a real business model within the hype, showing you how to extract signal from noise and build a valuable company in the fastest-moving industry on the planet.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to identify and fill the critical monetization gaps in the exploding AI market.The strategy for turning AI-generated content into tangible, sellable products like home decor and apparel.Why AI is creating a new class of entrepreneurs by decoupling creative expression from technical skill.How to find the "signal in the noise" and build a business that curates high-quality AI content.The playbook for using print-on-demand and brand partnerships to scale your AI-driven business.The key differences between targeting the mass market versus enterprise clients with a new AI venture.📝 About Carol Zhu Carol Zhu is the CEO and co-founder of DecodeNetwork.AI, the monetization layer for AI creativity. With a rich background as a product lead at AWS AI and a founding project manager at TikTok Shop, Carol has deep expertise in scaling consumer products and navigating the complexities of the artificial intelligence stack. Her unique vantage point, shaped by roles at iconic companies like Credit Karma, gives her incredible insight into building viable, revenue-generating businesses on the cutting edge of technology.🎯 Carol’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "Believe in your correct contrarian and push it forward."📢 Memorable Quotes “What AI has changed... is that it decoupled self expression, or artistic expression or creative expression from the skills itself.” – Carol Zhu“The supply of creativity gets largely unlocked.” – Carol Zhu“What's the real problem now is to extract signals out of noises... out of the 15 billion images, there must be some top really good ones.” – Carol Zhu🔗 Links & Resources Visit DecodeNetwork.AI’s websiteConnect with Carol on LinkedInFollow Carol on Instagram

Ever had someone give you "helpful" advice that left you feeling small, annoyed, or full of self-doubt? You’re not alone. On this Solo Sunday, Brian dives deep into one of the ugliest human behaviors that every entrepreneur faces: unsolicited advice. He unpacks why this seemingly innocent act can be more damaging than outright criticism, planting seeds of doubt that can derail your progress. Drawing from over a decade of experience, Brian explains the psychology behind why it feels so gross, why the most brilliant people you'll ever meet rarely give it, and how it’s often a sign of the other person’s insecurity, not your incompetence. This is the episode that will arm you with the mindset and the tools to protect your vision and keep moving forward.✨ Why This Matters for YouUnderstanding the dynamic of unsolicited advice is a superpower for entrepreneurs:It protects your confidence from being eroded by people who don't have the full picture.It helps you distinguish between genuine support and someone else's ego trip.It gives you a framework to filter out the noise and stay focused on your unique path.You’ll walk away with a simple, powerful script to handle unwanted advice with grace and finality.📝 Key TakeawaysContext is Everything. Advice without full context isn't wisdom, it's just noise. The advice-giver never has the complete picture of your business, finances, or personal life.Competence Questions, Incompetence Declares. The smartest and most successful people ask questions because they understand complexity. Less experienced people tend to give declarative, overconfident advice (the Dunning-Kruger effect in action).Intention vs. Impact. Even if someone "means well," the impact of unsolicited advice often lands as judgment, implicitly saying, "I know better than you."Advice Can Be a Boundary Violation. When advice isn't asked for, it’s not helpfulness; it's a violation of your autonomy and decision-making process.Support > Advise. The most valuable people in your corner aren't the ones telling you what to do. They are the ones who support and encourage you on the journey you've chosen."Nobody Bigger Than You..." Brian shares a powerful quote from The Magic of Thinking Big: "Nobody bigger than you will ever try to knock you down." People who use unsolicited advice to make you question yourself are revealing their own position, not yours.🚀 Put It Into ActionThis week, use this episode to build your defense against unwanted noise:Think back to the last time you received unsolicited advice. How did it actually make you feel? Acknowledge that feeling.Instead of internalizing the "advice," ask yourself: "What context is this person missing?" This reframes the situation and protects your mindset.Prepare for the next time it happens. Mentally rehearse Brian’s simple response: “I really appreciate that, but there’s a lot of context that you probably don’t know going on behind the scenes.”🔗 Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs this powerful reminder to trust their own path

Kevin Kertes, a former senior music executive turned founder of advanceMen Coaching, joins the show to discuss the transformative power of vulnerability, connection, and purpose for male entrepreneurs. He shares his journey from a high-stakes corporate career to building a coaching practice dedicated to helping men lead with more confidence and intention. This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur feeling isolated or questioning their path, as Kevin provides a powerful framework for aligning your business with your core "why," leading to greater fulfillment and sustainable success.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 The critical difference between mentorship, therapy, and coaching—and which one you need to break through your current plateau.💡 Why embracing vulnerability is a superpower for male leaders, fostering stronger teams and deeper client relationships.🔥 How to answer the question, "Who are you without telling me what you do for a living?" to uncover your true identity and purpose.🎯 The simple yet profound daily practices to shift your energy from apathetic to anabolic, attracting more opportunities and positive outcomes.💰 Why knowing your "why" is the ultimate foundation for a business that not only makes money but also provides deep, personal fulfillment.🤝 Actionable strategies for building genuine connections and a powerful support network to combat entrepreneurial isolation.📝 About Kevin KertesKevin Kertes is the founder of advanceMen Coaching, a practice designed to help men move forward with confidence, clarity, and purpose. With nearly 30 years of experience as a senior music executive at industry giants like Warner Brothers and Sony Music, Kevin brings a unique blend of corporate wisdom and certified coaching expertise to his work. His mission is to help men break out of isolation, build genuine confidence, and live with intention, transforming how they show up as leaders, partners, and community members.🎯 Kevin’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs"Make sure you know your why. If you don't know your why, nothing's going to work. It all comes back to why you're doing something."📢 Memorable Quotes“One of the first questions I ask in the men's group is tell me a little bit about who you are without telling me what you do for a living.” – Kevin Kertes“The energy you put out into the world, you get back. And if the energy you put out is genuine and it's really you, you'll get it back.” – Kevin Kertes“Being an entrepreneur is another word for being a salesman… But if you know it and it comes back to your why, then the family work, the running the kids to soccer practice… you manage it.” – Kevin Kertes🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit advanceMEN Coaching’s websiteConnect with Kevin on LinkedInFollow advanceMEN Coaching on LinkedIn

In this powerhouse episode, Brian sits down with May Guevara, the founder of Guevara Group and GalaxiTron, who is revolutionizing one of business's most dreaded tasks: compliance. May explains how a childhood spent spotting clothing defects for her mom wired her brain for quality control and led to a career ensuring excellence in high-stakes industries like aerospace and defense. This episode is a masterclass in building a business the right way from the ground up. You’ll learn why focusing on infrastructure over shiny ideas is the key to long-term success, how to cultivate a true culture of excellence, and how groundbreaking AI can transform compliance from a manual burden into a strategic advantage, freeing you up to focus on what truly matters.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to transform a personal knack (like spotting defects) into a scalable, high-value business concept.Why building infrastructure—systems, habits, and processes—is more critical to success than chasing the next big idea.The leadership secret to creating a culture of excellence: “Walk the walk” and demonstrate the standards you expect from your team.How to leverage AI to automate mundane tasks, enhance human efficiency, and turn compliance into a competitive advantage.The mindset shift from dreading audits and measurement to using them as powerful tools for continuous improvement.A practical framework (the Eisenhower Matrix) to ruthlessly prioritize your tasks and eliminate time-wasters.Why consistency and structure, not motivation, are the true drivers of entrepreneurial momentum.📝 About May Guevara May Guevara is the founder and CEO of Guevara Group and GalaxiTron, operating at the intersection of compliance, quality systems, and advanced AI. With deep expertise across aerospace, space, defense, and other highly regulated industries where failure is not an option, May helps organizations achieve audit readiness and operational resilience. Known for her integrity-driven leadership and a track record of zero audit findings, she is now pioneering the use of AI to transform compliance from a manual obligation into an intelligent, continuously monitored system. Her unique perspective makes the often-intimidating world of quality control accessible and actionable for any entrepreneur.🎯 May’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs “Stop chasing ideas and start building infrastructure.”📢 Memorable Quotes“I don't just chase shortcuts because they will always come back and bite you in the behind. I care deeply about quality, integrity, structure, and doing things the right way from day one.” – May Guevara“Quality is a mindset. It's a culture. It starts with the right mindset first and then translate[s] it into workmanship and what you do every day. Where you need to start is you got to care first.” – May Guevara“AI is not necessarily out there to take away jobs... I built it with a vision that this tool will help human workforce work more efficiently, take away their burden, take away their manual workload.” – May Guevara🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit GalaxiTron’s websiteVisit Guevara Group’s websiteConnect with May on LinkedInFollow GalaxiTron Inc. on LinkedInFollow Guevara Group LLC on LinkedIn

Feeling overwhelmed by the AI revolution? In this episode, Luka Anic, co-founder of the AI transformation firm Fox + Spindle, demystifies the world of artificial intelligence for entrepreneurs. Luka shares his accidental journey into AI and explains how it became the secret weapon for launching his own business. He breaks down the difference between AI hype and practical reality, offering a clear roadmap for how you can start leveraging this technology today. This episode is your guide to moving past the fear and uncertainty, showing you how to use AI as a powerful co-founder, brainstorming partner, and accelerator for your business dreams, all while navigating the critical ethical considerations.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to leverage AI as a co-founder to fill skill gaps you have in your business—from coding your website to understanding legal requirements.Why "playing" with AI for personal tasks is the most effective first step before implementing it professionally.The crucial difference between deterministic tasks (where AI fails) and creative tasks (where AI excels), so you know exactly when to trust it.How to use AI as a team, leveraging the unique strengths of models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini to achieve the best results.A framework for using AI ethically, recognizing its inherent biases so you can build a responsible and fair business.How to use AI to overcome entrepreneurial roadblocks, turning your inner critic into a strategic advocate for your vision.Practical ways AI can accelerate your business launch, from crafting marketing strategies and cold email campaigns to ensuring legal compliance.📝 About Luka Anic Luka Anic is the Croatian-American co-founder of Fox + Spindle, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to AI transformation. His journey into AI began by accident while helping a former employer implement it internally, but it quickly ignited a passion that led him to co-found his own company with his best friend. Luka’s unique perspective combines strategy and storytelling, focusing on helping entrepreneurs and businesses wield AI with confidence, effectiveness, and a strong ethical foundation.🎯 Luka’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "It's never the right time. So if you think that you want to do it, just go ahead and do it."📢 Memorable Quotes“AI allows you to be someone you have never been before or even knew that you wanted to be. It can unlock skills that you don't have and in a way don't even need to build anymore.” – Luka Anic“Generative AI is fantastic when there is no correct answer. That's why it's so good at recommending books, why it's so good at writing stories.” – Luka Anic“If you're new to AI, please don't start using it at work right away. Have fun with it first.” – Luka Anic🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Fox + Spindle’s websiteConnect with Luka on LinkedInFollow Fox + Spindle on LinkedIn