Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

Brian Lofrumento
  • 4.9 (152)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Semiweekly

Brian Lofrumento reveals everything you need to go from wantrepreneur – or someone who WANTS to own their own business – to a money-making, action-taking entrepreneur. Discover exactly how to start a business and build a raving audience of fans and customers who want to buy your stuff, and learn exactly how to best serve your customers and clients by building a customer-centric line of products and services. Brian has built multiple six-figure businesses, including a six-figure SEO agency at the age of 24, and now helps thousands of entrepreneurs from around the world grow, automate, and scale their businesses by implementing high-converting marketing strategies and systems into their businesses. Visit the show online and get a free copy of the book, Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur, at TheWantrepreneurShow.com.Our show is made possible by the financial, time, and knowledge contributions of our amazing guests. Together with the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur host and team, our guests believe in the power of entrepreneurs lifting up other entrepreneurs, and their contributions make it possible for us to reach wantrepreneurs and entrepreneurs all over the world.

  1. 16h ago

    1474: Discipline is NOT what we pretend it is... THIS is the question to ask!

    Ever end a long day of "hustling" only to realize you’re no closer to your actual goals? This solo episode is a raw, no-nonsense gut check for every entrepreneur who feels busy but not productive. Brian unpacks the true meaning of discipline, challenging the popular belief that just showing up and grinding is enough. He introduces a single, powerful question that will force you to confront whether you’re spending your time on tasks that truly matter or just hiding behind a facade of busy work. This isn't about a complex strategy; it's a profound mindset shift that could be the single biggest unlock for your business this year. ✨ Why This Matters for You Adopting this mindset is the key to trading busyness for real results: It provides a simple, powerful filter to cut through the noise and prioritize what will actually generate revenue.It helps you escape the trap of "infrastructure" tasks that feel productive but don't attract customers.It forces you to be brutally honest about whether you’re taking meaningful action or just avoiding the hard, scary work of sales and marketing.It’s a universal tool you can apply not just to your business, but to your health, relationships, and life to ensure you’re moving in the right direction.📝 Key Takeaways Discipline Isn't Consistency. Discipline isn’t just about showing up every day; it’s about consistently working on the things that actually move the needle.Focus on Customer Flow. For most businesses, the tasks that matter fall into three categories: Outreach (getting leads), Pipeline (nurturing leads), and Execution (serving clients).Beware the Infrastructure Trap. Building systems and optimizing your backend is important, but it should never come at the expense of revenue-generating activities, especially in the early stages.Stop Hiding, Start Offering. Are you creating content and “networking” as a way to avoid making direct offers? The fastest way to grow is to actively sell your products and services.The Ultimate Test. Before starting any task, ask yourself: “If this is the only thing I spent my time on, would my business (or life) be in a better place?”🚀 Put It Into Action This week, Brian invites you to conduct an honest audit of your own workflow: Look at your to-do list for today. Which single task, if completed, would make the biggest impact on your revenue or customer acquisition? Do that first.Before you start any new project, pause and ask yourself the filter question: "Is this what really matters right now?"Identify one "safe" or "busy work" task you consistently do and replace that time with a direct, needle-moving action, like sending five personalized outreach emails or making a sales call.🔗 Stay Connected Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianWant to have a virtual coffee and discuss this topic? Send an email to hello@imetbrian.comShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to hear this tough-love message.

    10 min

  2. 1d ago

    1473: Your Brain's Secret Weapon (Or Its Worst Enemy)... from 1920!

    Ever have one of those days where you feel stuck, overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list, and can’t seem to get out of your own way? It’s not a lack of passion or work ethic; it’s likely your brain is running too many "programs" at once. In this solo episode, Brian unpacks a fascinating psychological concept from the 1920s called the Zeigarnik Effect. He explains how unfinished tasks and "open loops" — from unanswered emails to half-finished projects — are secretly hogging all your mental energy. Brian shares why this effect can either be the very thing that sabotages your progress or, if harnessed correctly, become your greatest superpower for creativity and problem-solving. ✨ Why This Matters for You Understanding the Zeigarnik Effect is a game-changer for any entrepreneur: It explains why you feel mentally drained and scattered, even when you haven't done much "work."It reveals the true enemy of productivity: not a lack of time, but a lack of mental space.It gives you a powerful strategy to overcome procrastination on big, intimidating projects.It teaches you how to intentionally use your brain's background processing power to solve complex problems (even when you're in the shower!).It provides a clear framework for managing your focus and energy by being disciplined about the "loops" you open and close.📝 Key Takeaways Open Loops Hog Mental RAM. Unfinished tasks, like open tabs on a computer, stay active in your mind and drain your cognitive resources, leading to overwhelm and burnout.Your Brain Hates Unfinished Business. Your mind is designed to fixate on incomplete tasks, which is why solutions often pop into your head when you step away from your desk.Starting Is the Ultimate Hack. To get your brain working on a big goal, you don’t need a full plan. You just need to start. Opening the loop is enough to trigger your mind to start looking for solutions.Completion Creates Clarity. Finishing a task, no matter how small, closes a mental loop and frees up valuable brainpower and focus for what's next.Be a "Loop Manager." Successful entrepreneurs are incredibly disciplined about which tasks they start. They don't take pride in juggling a million things; they protect their focus by choosing their open loops wisely.🚀 Put It Into Action This week, conduct a "Mental Loop Audit": Grab a piece of paper and write down every single open loop that’s taking up space in your head—big or small. Unanswered emails, unfinished proposals, project ideas, tough conversations you need to have. Get it all out.Look at your list and pick one small, nagging task you can complete in under 15 minutes. Do it *right now* and feel the mental space it frees up.Now, look at a big, important project you've been avoiding. Instead of trying to finish it, just take one tiny action to *start* it. Send one email, write one paragraph, or sketch one idea. Open the loop and let your brain get to work.🔗 Stay Connected Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who feels overwhelmed by their to-do list

    13 min

  3. 2d ago

    1472: Your ego wants this... DON'T give in!

    "My business is different." "My industry is just more complicated." Have you ever said—or even just thought—these words? If so, this Solo Sunday episode is a must-listen. Brian pulls back the curtain on one of the most dangerous traps for entrepreneurs: our ego's craving for complexity. He explains why we instinctively overcomplicate our marketing, sales, and operations, and how this tendency to impress others (and ourselves) actually sabotages our growth. Sharing personal stories from his own journey—including his early days of drawing intricate funnels on whiteboards that never worked—Brian reveals why the simplest solutions are almost always the most powerful. This episode is your trigger to stop hiding behind complexity and start embracing the simple actions that truly move the needle. ✨ Why This Matters for You  Embracing simplicity over complexity isn't just a nice idea—it's a core business strategy: It frees you from analysis paralysis. When the path is simple, you're more likely to take action.It saves you time and money. You'll stop investing in complicated tools and strategies that don't deliver results.It protects you from your own ego. Recognizing that the need for complexity is a defense mechanism helps you get out of your own way.It leads to faster growth. Simple, consistent actions compound over time, while complex plans often lead to burnout and inaction.📝 Key Takeaways Your Ego Craves Complexity. It's a defense mechanism that makes you feel safe, important, and smart, but it's a massive barrier to real progress."My Business is Different" is a Red Flag. Brian argues this is often an excuse to avoid the proven, simple principles that actually work.Impress vs. Help. As Einstein said, "If you want to impress somebody, make it complicated. If you want to help somebody, make it simple." This applies to your customers and to yourself.Simplicity Drives Results. Brian shares that in his 18-year journey, it has always been the simplest strategies that have yielded the biggest results, not the complex ones.Boring Work Wins. The consistent, simple, "same thing, different shirt" work is what builds a successful business, even if it doesn't get social applause.Find the Simple Path. The antidote to complexity is to constantly pause and ask, "What would this look like if it were simple?"🚀 Put It Into Action  This week, become aware of your own tendency to overcomplicate things. Use this episode as a trigger: Where are you telling yourself a part of your business is "too complicated"?When you catch yourself doing this, ask: "What simple truth am I trying to avoid by making this complex?"Identify one area where you've been stuck. What is the absolute simplest next step you could take to move forward, even if it feels "too easy"? Do that one thing today.🔗 Stay Connected Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to escape the complexity trap

    14 min

  4. 3d ago

    1471: You are TOO SMART to grow a business (a sad truth)

    Ever feel like you know exactly what you should be doing, but you're stuck in a cycle of endless research, planning, and what-ifs? You might be too smart for your own good. In this kickoff to a special Mindset & Motivation Week, Brian goes back to the show’s roots to unpack a counterintuitive and powerful concept: sometimes, being a little bit “dumber” is the key to entrepreneurial success. Brian shares a story about a creator who credits his success to being “dumb” and contrasts this with the “smart” entrepreneur who analyzes everything to death. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who uses learning as a way to procrastinate and a powerful reminder that real progress only comes from one thing: action. ✨ Why This Matters for You Adopting a “bias for action” mindset can fundamentally change your business trajectory: It’s the ultimate cure for analysis paralysis, giving you permission to move forward without having all the answers.It reframes failure as feedback, turning every imperfect action into a valuable lesson.It helps you understand why others who seem “less smart” might be getting better results — they’re in the arena while you’re on the sidelines.It closes the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.It proves that momentum is built through movement, not more thinking.📝 Key Takeaways Action Creates Answers. Smart people believe answers are discoverable through research. Successful entrepreneurs know answers are created through action.Learning Can Be Procrastination. Consuming more content, courses, and books feels productive, but it’s often a clever way to avoid the hard work of implementation.Imperfect Action Beats Perfect Inaction. The person who makes 49 bad cold calls and gets one breakthrough is lightyears ahead of the person still researching the perfect script.Clarity Comes From Doing. You won't find the perfect marketing channel, offer, or sales pitch by thinking about it. You find it by testing, trying, and learning in the real world.You Already Know Enough. You've likely already been exposed to the million-dollar strategies and tactics. The only thing missing is the mindset to execute them relentlessly.🚀 Put It Into Action This week, challenge yourself to be a little “dumber” in your business: Identify one area where you’re stuck in “analysis mode.” What’s the smallest, most immediate action you can take to move forward, even if you don’t know the next step?Catch yourself when you say, “I need to learn more about X before I start.” Instead, ask, “What’s one thing I can do right now with what I already know?”Pick up the phone, send the email, post the content. Take one action that feels scary or imperfect and see what you learn from the result.🔗 Stay Connected Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode of Mindset & Motivation WeekConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs permission to stop overthinking and start doingGot a question about strategy or tactics? Email Brian directly at hello@imetbrian.com

    13 min

  5. 4d ago

    1470: REDEFINING SALES. (and putting my friend on blast)

    Ever wonder what separates good entrepreneurs from the truly great ones? In this Solo Sunday episode, Brian pulls back the curtain on a game-changing sales philosophy by putting one of his closest friends, Jarome McKenzie, on blast. Brian shares the story of how Jarome turned a prospect who was ghosting him into a new client, not with a clever sales script, but with genuine, unconditional care. This episode isn't just about a single tactic; it's a deep dive into the superpower of solving problems beyond your own scope, building real relationships, and operating with a "service first" mindset that makes you unforgettable. If you feel like your sales efforts are transactional and want to learn how to create authentic connections that lead to business, you can't afford to miss this. ✨ Why This Matters for You Adopting this "genuinely care" mindset is a game-changer for your business: It transforms sales from a high-pressure, awkward process into a natural, human conversation.It provides a powerful way to stand out in a crowded market where everyone else is just pitching their services.You stop chasing sales and start building a network of people who trust you and want to see you win.It turns "ghosting" from a rejection into an opportunity to show empathy and strengthen a relationship.It builds a brand reputation centered on generosity and real value, leading to more referrals and long-term loyalty.📝 Key Takeaways Sales as Service is a Superpower. The most effective entrepreneurs don't sell; they serve. They are so focused on the prospect's success that closing the deal becomes a natural byproduct, not the primary goal.Solve Problems Beyond Your Scope. Don't limit your help to your area of expertise. When you identify a prospect's pain points in any area of their life and actively help solve them (like making an investor intro), you become an invaluable ally.Genuine Care is the Ultimate Differentiator. In a world where everyone has a script, authentic curiosity and a desire to see others win is shockingly rare. People want to be cared for, not sold to.Small, Thoughtful Gestures Matter. Sending an Uber Eats gift card during a prospect’s busy personal time isn’t a sales tactic; it’s a human one. It shows you see them as a person, not a number in your pipeline.Don't Confuse Silence with "No." Prospects ghost for countless reasons, many of which are personal. Instead of assuming a lack of interest, lead with empathy and offer support without expecting anything in return.🚀 Put It Into Action This week, challenge yourself to operate like Jarome: On your next sales call, make it a goal to uncover a pain point the person has that has nothing to do with what you sell.Think of one person in your network or pipeline who has gone quiet. Instead of a "just checking in" email, find a genuine way to help them. Make an introduction, send a useful resource, or offer a word of encouragement based on what you know about them.Ask yourself: "How can I help this person win, whether they ever become my client or not?" and then take one small action based on your answer.🔗 Stay Connected Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to rethink their sales process📣 Special Thanks and Shout Out to a Brilliant Entrepreneur! A massive shout out to Brian's good friend, Jarome McKenzie, the CEO and founder of Arrowhead Strategy Group, for being the inspiration for this entire episode. Jarome is a brilliant entrepreneur who truly embodies the principles of service and genuine connection. He previously joined the show on episodes #1112 and #1386. We're also incredibly excited to announce that Jarome has just launched his own podcast! If you want more of his raw, unfiltered, and incredibly valuable insights, go subscribe to No Trade Secrets on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    14 min

  6. 6d ago

    1469: I'm NOT holding this training back from you! Full + uncensored... NOW is the best time to grow your business!

    Ever feel like you’re the most expensive employee in your own business? If you take pride in being the one who “gets it done,” this episode will challenge that core belief. In this special episode, Brian pulls back the curtain and shares the exact content he teaches his high-level clients, centered around a career-defining lesson he learned during a snowy Christmas Eve drive. He reveals why the very "finisher" mentality that got you started is now the biggest bottleneck to your growth. You’ll discover the three secrets to shifting from a "finisher" to a "designer," how automation can actually make your business more human, and why your operations are secretly your most powerful marketing tool. This is the blueprint for escaping the hustle and building a business that can truly scale without you. ✨ Why This Matters for You This mindset shift is the key to unlocking true entrepreneurial freedom: It stops you from being a bottleneck and transforms you into an architect of your business.It helps you escape the trap of trading more hours for more revenue, creating a business that runs and grows even when you’re not working.It redefines growth, moving from "more effort" to "better design" and creating compounding results.It provides a clear framework to diagnose exactly which part of your business is holding you back from the next level.It shows you how to leverage systems and AI not to replace connection, but to create more time and space for it.📝 Key Takeaways The Finisher’s Trap: The trait of being a "finisher" gets you in the game, but it's the ceiling that keeps you from winning at scale. Your identity must evolve.Design, Don’t Just Do: Your real job as a founder isn't to do more tasks; it's to design better systems so the business no longer depends on you.Leverage Creates Freedom: Efficiency saves you time, but leverage—designing for your own irrelevance from daily tasks—is what buys you freedom.Automation Amplifies Humanity: When done right, automation handles the repetitive clutter, freeing you up to focus on the high-value, human-centric work of connection, creativity, and care.Operations is Your Best Marketing: How your business runs—from the first touchpoint to client delivery—is your most powerful sales vehicle. People remember how your systems make them feel.The OPERATE Framework: A scalable business is built on seven pillars: Outreach, Pipeline, Execution, Retention, Automation, Telemetry, and Enablement. A weakness in one breaks the entire system.🚀 Put It Into Action This week, perform a "Finisher Audit" on your own workload: Identify one recurring task you consistently handle yourself because "you're the best at it" or "it's faster if you do it."Instead of just completing it again, ask: "How can I design a system to make myself unnecessary for this task?"Can you create a simple checklist, a video tutorial for a future hire, or a template that someone else can follow? Take the first step this week to design yourself out of that one process.🔗 Stay Connected Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeWant to see the full video training from this episode? It's available for free at opsplusai.com/trainingConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to stop doing and start designing

    35 min
  7. 1468: The Psychological Battle of Bootstrapping an AI Startup w/ Matt Peters

    May 21

    1468: The Psychological Battle of Bootstrapping an AI Startup w/ Matt Peters

    After being laid off from his software engineering job, Matt Peters didn't just look for a new role—he taught himself AI and launched a company at the forefront of the new tech revolution. In this episode, Matt, the founder of VulnautAI, pulls back the curtain on the AI arms race, explaining how his company is helping defend blockchain applications from sophisticated, AI-powered cyberattacks. This conversation is a must-listen for any entrepreneur navigating the AI landscape. You'll get a masterclass in building a B2B tech company from the ground up, the strategic patience required to land enterprise clients, and a raw, unfiltered look at the psychological toll and immense learning that comes with the entrepreneurial journey. 💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business 🚀 How to leverage your existing expertise as a "superpower" in the age of AI, instead of fearing replacement.💰 The strategic advantage of targeting niche, high-value enterprise clients and building a "sticky" product they can't live without.🛡️ Why cybersecurity is no longer a "nice-to-have" and how AI is escalating threats for businesses of all sizes.🤝 How to partner with early customers as "design partners" to build a product that perfectly fits their workflow.🧠 Why the entrepreneurial journey is a "trial by fire" and how to prepare for the psychological battle ahead.📈 The power of "compressed learning" and how starting a business, even if it fails, equips you with invaluable skills for your next venture.📝 About Matt Peters Matt Peters is the founder and CEO of VulnautAI, an AI-powered Web3 security company helping firms deploy private AI models for blockchain auditing and cybersecurity. After five years as a software engineer, a layoff became the catalyst for him to dive headfirst into the world of AI. Matt's unique experience at the intersection of blockchain, AI, and software engineering gives him a powerful perspective on building a highly technical, bootstrapped company in a rapidly evolving market. He's a true entrepreneur who understands the grit and patience it takes to build something meaningful from scratch. 🎯 Matt’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "It is not glamorous. It is not sexy. There's a lot of shit that you have to toil through... Be prepared for all the stress and the struggles and how far this is going to push you. But also how much you're going to learn." 📢 Memorable Quotes "They say that's where greatness is born, right? When you're right up against the edge.” – Matt Peters"This is just like a trial by fire that everyone... has to go through. It pushes the most out of you. And that's why the success rate of businesses is so low." – Matt Peters"You can't really force your timelines on people. You just have to be patient." – Matt Peters🔗 Links & Resources Visit VulnautAI’s websiteConnect with Matt on LinkedInFollow VulnautAI on LinkedIn

    41 min
  8. 1467: Unlocking the Full Power of AI Without Compromising Your Business Secrets w/ Rami Akeela

    May 20

    1467: Unlocking the Full Power of AI Without Compromising Your Business Secrets w/ Rami Akeela

    How can you leverage powerful AI like ChatGPT or Claude without exposing your sensitive business data? Rami Akeela, founder of Nera Systems, predicted this exact problem long before it became a mainstream concern and built the solution. In this episode, Rami unveils the Nera Chat App, a tool that delivers the full intelligence of major AI models with truly zero data exposure, eliminating the trade-off between power and privacy. For entrepreneurs, this conversation is a masterclass in not only solving a critical business problem but also in developing the visionary mindset required to anticipate future market needs and build game-changing solutions. 💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business How to leverage the world's most powerful AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) without ever compromising your proprietary sales data, client lists, or financial information.Why you no longer have to choose between data security and AI-powered productivity (and how to get both).The "pragmatic approach" to technology: How to use existing, powerful tools safely instead of waiting for a perfect, custom-built solution.How to develop the founder's mindset of predicting future problems and building the solutions for them today.The power of "trusting the process" and how a disciplined, long-term approach (like powerlifting!) builds a revolutionary deep-tech company.Why local, on-prem AI models are often a massive trade-off in power and user experience, and what the better alternative is.📝 About Rami Akeela  Rami Akeela is the founder of Nera Systems, a confidential AI company that helps enterprises use AI on their most sensitive data. With over 20 years at the intersection of hardware, software, and cryptography, Rami is a deep-tech visionary with PhDs in electrical and computer engineering. He has a track record of building for the future, having previously founded DZK, the first company to build FPGA-accelerated zero-knowledge proof systems. Rami's unique perspective comes from his ability to foresee technological roadblocks, like the data exposure problem with generative AI, and build the solutions before the market even knows it needs them. 🎯 Rami’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs  "Think of how you can add value to humanity. And the best way to think about this is to think that you're the only one. If life depended on you, what would you do?... If you think this way, that I'm the only one on this planet who can do this thing, then you truly believe in the mission and you're going to find your calling." 📢 Memorable Quotes  “Things aren't supposed to be easy. And for such a revolutionary solution, things aren't supposed to be easy. And they're not going to be easy.” – Rami Akeela“We wanted to build something that would allow us to enable that explosion of AI revolution without really risking the sensitivity and the privacy of the data.” – Rami Akeela“I wanted to get out there and start building, building real solutions, not something that people think they may need, but something we definitely need yesterday.” – Rami Akeela🔗 Links & Resources  Visit Nera Systems’ websiteConnect with Rami on LinkedInFollow Nera Systems on LinkedIn

    37 min
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4.9
out of 5
152 Ratings

About

Brian Lofrumento reveals everything you need to go from wantrepreneur – or someone who WANTS to own their own business – to a money-making, action-taking entrepreneur. Discover exactly how to start a business and build a raving audience of fans and customers who want to buy your stuff, and learn exactly how to best serve your customers and clients by building a customer-centric line of products and services. Brian has built multiple six-figure businesses, including a six-figure SEO agency at the age of 24, and now helps thousands of entrepreneurs from around the world grow, automate, and scale their businesses by implementing high-converting marketing strategies and systems into their businesses. Visit the show online and get a free copy of the book, Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur, at TheWantrepreneurShow.com.Our show is made possible by the financial, time, and knowledge contributions of our amazing guests. Together with the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur host and team, our guests believe in the power of entrepreneurs lifting up other entrepreneurs, and their contributions make it possible for us to reach wantrepreneurs and entrepreneurs all over the world.

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