Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

In this episode, Brian sits down with Maxim Kheyfets, a brilliant founder with a rare blend of deep engineering expertise and a profound understanding of the human element in business. Maxim shares his journey from scaling major startups like Clear and Bread Finance to launching his own venture, AnyIntelli. He breaks down why process, not just technology, is the key to scalable growth in today's AI-driven world. This episode is a masterclass for any entrepreneur who wants to build resilient systems, foster effective teams, and adopt the long-term "infinite game" mindset required for sustainable success. Tune in to learn how to think like an engineer to build a business that lasts.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
🚀 Why focusing on process first allows you to scale your team, technology, and operations effectively when growth hits.
🤖 A refreshing perspective on AI: Why it’s an opportunity that enhances human expertise rather than a threat that replaces it.
⚙️ The "Execution as Code" methodology: How to build a practice around your business that makes onboarding and decision-making more efficient.
🧠 How to apply systems-thinking from engineering to create a more resilient and predictable business organization.
📈 The surprising limiting factor that holds most businesses back (Hint: It’s not access to technology or capital).
⏳ Why treating your business as an "infinite game" instead of a sprint is the key to avoiding burnout and achieving long-term vision.
💡 How to find massive opportunities by solving problems in established markets, inspired by the unlikely origin story of IKEA.
📝 About Maxim Kheyfets
Maxim Kheyfets is the founder of AnyIntelli, a practice focused on SaaS software automation and building elastic environments for digital ventures. With a distinguished career as a DevOps, software, and data engineer, Maxim played a pivotal role in scaling startups like Clear and Bread Finance into public companies. His expertise lies in building high-performance, secure, and scalable systems, but his unique perspective is his deep appreciation for the human dynamics and processes that make technology truly effective.
🎯 Maxim’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Business is not even a marathon... It's an infinite game."
📢 Memorable Quotes
“In order to change and fulfill 1% which is left, you still need to understand well 100%, especially in those environments where you move money, where you are responsible for security, where you're responsible for the health of the patient.” – Maxim Kheyfets
“None of those companies can move forward without a group of 1, 2, 3 people who sit together, figure out how we all operate… and what is the next step to move forward.” – Maxim Kheyfets
“The largest limiting factor is knowing that problem exists, especially for software engineers.” – Maxim Kheyfets
💡 Actionable Takeaways
✅ Adopt an "infinite game" mindset to guide your daily decisions, focusing on sustainability over short-term sprints.
✅ Document your core business processes now, even if you’re a solo founder. This creates a foundation for your future team to improve upon, not invent from scratch.
✅ Instead of fearing AI, ask your team: "How can we use this tool to understand our core work better and solve bigger problems?"
✅ Identify your biggest challenge (like sales) and approach it like an engineering problem: break it down, learn the system, and build a process to solve it.
🔗 Links & Resources
Visit AnyIntelli’s website
Connect with Maxim on LinkedIn
Follow AnyIntelli on LinkedIn

Ever dreamed of buying a business but felt completely out of your depth? This episode is your masterclass in demystifying the world of business acquisition. Carter Micklem, a former private equity VP, pulls back the curtain on the due diligence process, sharing the exact strategies institutional investors use to vet a company—and how you can apply them to your first (or next) purchase. He breaks down the difference between buying a business and starting a franchise, the critical data points to analyze, and why understanding the seller’s day-to-day role is the most overlooked factor in any deal. This isn't just theory; Carter used this exact playbook to leave his high-powered finance job and acquire his own successful lawn equipment dealership, which ultimately inspired him to launch The Diligence Pros. Tune in to gain the confidence and competence to make the biggest investment of your life the right way.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
How to think like an institutional investor by starting with your criteria first, not the specific business.
The key difference between buying a business (instant cash flow) and buying a franchise (a starter pack with strings attached).
A breakdown of "operating due diligence" and why analyzing customer data, product margins, and employee roles is more important than just reviewing tax returns.
Creative deal structuring secrets, like seller notes and earnouts, that can lower your upfront cash investment.
Why the seller’s day-to-day involvement is the single biggest risk factor in a small business acquisition and how to properly assess it.
How to remove emotion from the buying process to make objective, data-driven decisions that protect your investment.
The step-by-step process for taking calculated risks, from starting a small side hustle to acquiring a multi-location business.
📝 About Carter Micklem
Carter Micklem is the founder of The Diligence Pros, a firm dedicated to helping entrepreneurs conduct institutional-grade due diligence when buying a business. He began his career in private equity, rising to Vice President where he led the investment and underwriting for numerous private companies. Feeling the entrepreneurial itch himself, Carter left the corporate world to acquire his own small business—a lawn equipment dealership in North Carolina. This firsthand experience of applying his high-level finance skills to a main-street business purchase gave him the unique perspective and inspiration to help other entrepreneurs navigate the acquisition process with confidence.
🎯 Carter’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
“Take the calculated risk. Do your research… but, you know, take the risk. I think getting out of the corporate world is night and day. Once you kind of make it to the other side, you can't imagine yourself going back.”
📢 Memorable Quotes
“Ultimately you're buying a business. Even if you're going to be the operator and it's your career, it's still the biggest investment you're ever going to make.” – Carter Micklem
“We're not here to look for smoking guns, skeletons in the closet, or a rocket ship that the seller doesn't know about... It's more of a mosaic, you know, a lot of little pieces. Ultimately, you zoom out and you see the whole picture.” – Carter Micklem
“You can't just trust because the bank approved you that you can afford that capital structure, or that that's a good idea to sign up for that.” – Carter Micklem
💡 Actionable Takeaways
If you're looking to buy a business, start networking with local business brokers in your target area instead of just browsing online marketplaces like BizBuySell.
When evaluating a business, go beyond the financials. Ask for operational data like customer lists, sales by product, and vendor agreements to analyze trends.
Before signing an LOI, spend significant time understanding the current owner’s daily tasks. Assess how much of the business's success is tied directly to them.
To de-risk your entrepreneurial journey, start a small-scale side business that requires a minimal investment to build your confidence and business acumen.
🔗 Links & Resources
Visit The Diligence Pros’ website
Connect with Carter on LinkedIn
Follow The Diligence Pros on LinkedIn

Ever felt like the thankless tasks you do for others go completely unnoticed? Lisa Virginia Anderson, a former senior director at Planned Parenthood and reality TV producer, turned that exact feeling into a disruptive tech company. In this episode, she shares the origin story of InvisiBILL, a subversive wellness app that uses AI to assign a real dollar value to the invisible and relational labor that keeps our lives running. This isn't just about getting credit; it's a masterclass in creating a new market category from a personal pain point. For any entrepreneur who's been told their idea is too “out there,” Lisa’s journey proves that the most disruptive solutions often start with a moment of frustration and the courage to build something the world has never seen before.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
How to transform a moment of personal frustration (the infamous “cat pee” incident) into a scalable and disruptive business concept.
The strategic power of leaning into a controversial word like “petty” to create an unforgettable brand that cuts through the noise.
Why assigning a quantifiable dollar value to an intangible concept can unlock an entirely new market and conversation.
How to use AI not just for efficiency, but to create a “story correction engine” that reframes value for your users.
The ultimate validation: Why building and shipping your product is the most effective way to silence doubters and attract your true audience.
How your product can evolve beyond your initial target demographic and find surprising use cases you never imagined.
📝 About Lisa Virginia Anderson 
Lisa Virginia Anderson is the solo founder of InvisiBILL, a groundbreaking wellness app that quantifies invisible relational labor. With a dynamic background that spans from producing hit shows like Project Runway at Lifetime Television to serving as the Senior Director of Strategic Operations at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, Lisa brings a unique blend of creative storytelling and social justice to the tech world. She is a true disruptor, driven by the belief that we need to fundamentally change the way society values the work that happens beyond the balance sheet.
🎯 Lisa’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Understanding which feedback to listen to and which feedback is important and which feedback to disregard is… one of the biggest skills that you can learn."
📢 Memorable Quotes 
“I privately call InvisiBILL a ‘story correction engine’ because what I really wanted to do is create a world where we assign value when you do things for other people, things that are beyond yourself.” – Lisa Virginia Anderson
“You have to be out of your f***ing mind. I can't send my husband an invoice for cleaning up cat pee. That's crazy.” – Lisa Virginia Anderson on the initial reaction to her idea
“Don't be deterred to build something and put it into the world because once you really build it and put it into the world… it's real and people start interacting with it. It's a real product and it's fantastic.” – Lisa Virginia Anderson
💡 Actionable Takeaways
Mine Your Frustrations: For the next week, keep a list of small, recurring annoyances or tasks you feel are undervalued in your life or work. Is there a potential business solution hidden in that list?
Embrace Your "Petty": Identify a word or concept in your industry that has negative connotations. Brainstorm ways you could flip it on its head and use it as a powerful, attention-grabbing part of your brand.
Build the "Crazy" Thing: Stop waiting for permission. Use no-code tools or hire a freelancer to create the simplest possible version of your idea and get it into the hands of a few potential users this month.
Practice Selective Listening: The next time you receive unsolicited advice about your business, consciously ask yourself: "Is this feedback from someone who understands my target user, or is it just their personal opinion?"
🔗 Links & Resources
Visit InvisiBILL’s website
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Follow InvisiBILL LLC on LinkedIn

Nikita Bridan, co-founder and CEO of Oilstainlab, joins the show to share how he and his twin brother went from designing concept cars for major OEMs to building their own—the ones the big corporations were too scared to make. They call it building "the bad ideas," and it led them to create the Half-11: a stunningly raw, retro-futuristic supercar with a swappable EV or gas powertrain. This episode is a masterclass in visionary thinking, brand building, and outright industry disruption. For any entrepreneur who has ever been told their idea is too crazy, Nikita’s journey proves that the most "impossible" ideas are often the ones that create the most impact and attract a cult-like following.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
The “Bad Idea” Framework: How to find massive opportunities by building the products and services your competitors are too scared to touch.
Marketing for “Maniacs”: Learn how to attract your perfect customer and build a loyal tribe by unapologetically repelling everyone else.
The Cult Brand Strategy: How to build an inclusive community and a viral following around a high-ticket, exclusive product.
Category-Defining Innovation: Why you shouldn’t think in terms of “either/or.” Learn Nikita’s “and” thinking approach to merge opposite concepts (like analog feel and EV tech) to create something entirely new.
Disrupting Distribution: How to bypass traditional industry gatekeepers (like dealerships) to create a direct, experience-driven connection with your customers.
The Power of a Co-Founder: Why having an “enabler” who challenges your thinking is a startup superpower.
📝 About Nikita Bridan 
Nikita Bridan is the co-founder and CEO of Oilstainlab, a boundary-pushing custom vehicle manufacturer based in Los Angeles. With over 15 years of experience as a car design strategist for world-renowned brands like GM, Toyota, and Lyft, Nikita grew frustrated with the corporate resistance to true innovation. He and his twin brother, Ilya, founded Oil Stain Lab as a playground to build the "bad ideas" and create vehicles that stir the soul. Their mission is to disrupt the automotive world with designs that are raw, visceral, and unapologetically extreme.
🎯 Nikita’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs 
“Just do it. And whatever you do, make sure it's different enough that it matters… Even if you hit the wrong note, hit it hard.”
📢 Memorable Quotes
"We build the bad ideas. Our whole premise is to build the things that no one else will for whatever reason, whether it's financial or regulatory or just, you know, people won't buy it." – Nikita Bridan
"Anytime you're building a business, you're in many ways, you're building a cult. You're asking people to believe in something that may not exist." – Nikita Bridan
"Like someone tells you 'no, that's impossible,' you just— that motivates you even more." – Nikita Bridan
💡 Actionable Takeaways
✅ Identify your "bad idea." What's a contrarian or unconventional approach you can take in your industry that incumbents are ignoring?
✅ Define your "maniac." Who is the super-fan you're building your product for, and how can you tailor your messaging to speak directly to them?
✅ Find your "enabler." Seek out a co-founder, mentor, or advisor who isn’t afraid to challenge your ideas and push you to be better.
✅ Separate your brand from your product. Think about how you can create content, merchandise, or a community that allows everyone to participate in your mission, even if they can't afford your core offering.
✅ Question the standard sales model in your industry. Is there a more direct, experience-driven way to connect with and sell to your customers?
🔗 Links & Resources 
Visit Oilstainlab’s website
Connect with Nikita on LinkedIn
Follow Oilstainlab on LinkedIn
Follow Oilstainlab on Instagram

Feeling overwhelmed, directionless, or just plain stuck? In this episode, corporate-leader-turned-founder Sheri Roder of Get Unstuck HQ breaks down the exact reasons why so many entrepreneurs hit a wall. Drawing on decades of experience in high-stakes corporate environments, Sheri reveals her powerful framework for identifying the type of "stuck" you're in—whether you're spinning with too many ideas or stretched too thin to make progress. This episode is a masterclass in self-awareness and strategic action, designed for any wantrepreneur or entrepreneur who knows they're capable of more but can't seem to find the path forward. Sheri provides the tools to clear the noise, ask the right questions, and finally make the leap toward a business and life that brings you both success and genuine happiness.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
🚀 The "Stuck Spectrum": Discover the 5 ways entrepreneurs get stuck (Spinning, Split, Shrinking, Stretched, and Stalled) and diagnose your own bottleneck.
🧠 How to leverage constraints as a creative superpower to focus your energy and generate better ideas, faster.
✅ A simple but powerful questioning technique to dismantle fear and reframe risk, turning the "unknown" into your biggest opportunity.
💡 The critical difference between being good at something and being happy doing it—and how to build your business at the intersection of both.
📈 How to move from big-picture paralysis to tangible progress by focusing on small, strategic steps that build momentum and confidence.
🔍 The art of "pattern noticing" and how you can turn your unique way of seeing the world into a foundational business asset.
🛠️ How to take your first steps into a new venture—even while still at your 9-to-5—by testing your ideas and gathering real-world data.
📝 About Sheri Roder
Sheri Roder is the founder and lead instigator of Get Unstuck HQ, a coaching and advising practice she launched after a distinguished career in corporate and agency leadership, including senior roles at Diageo, JWT, and Horizon Media. She combines her deep understanding of human behavior with years of strategic experience to help leaders and entrepreneurs see their situations differently and think bigger than their current constraints. An award-winning strategist, Sheri is known for her unique ability to ask incisive questions that unlock new possibilities and clear the path for massive action.
🎯 Sheri’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Stop. Plan a time where you just stop what you're doing, what you're thinking about, and just be for a while... It's a great way to clear all that noise out of your head."
📢 Memorable Quotes
"To be really creative, you do need some parameters. It was this big eye-opener and it has stuck with me ever since." – Sheri Roder
"I learned this definition of fear, which I use today, and it's 'false expectations appearing real.' It helps you again, just exactly what you were saying. It's like, well, is it fear keeping me? And are these true or false expectations?" – Sheri Roder
"I only wanted to just narrow that to the things that I was really good at and also that make you happy, because not everything that you're good at is really what you want to spend time on." – Sheri Roder
🔗 Links & Resources
Visit Get Unstuck HQ’s website
Connect with Sheri on LinkedIn
Follow Get Unstuck HQ on LinkedIn