Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

What happens in your business the moment a client pays you? Is it a smooth, delightful experience, or does it feel like you're handing them a mountain of homework? In this strategic Solo Sunday episode, Brian Lofrumento dives into one of his favorite topics—onboarding—with a game-changing twist. He argues that your onboarding process shouldn't just be a step in your operations; it should be one of your most powerful sales assets.
Brian breaks down why a frictionless, "done-for-you" onboarding experience can become the key reason people choose to work with you over the competition. Drawing on real-world examples—from vendors that won him over during his recent move to a video editing agency he had to leave—he shares practical strategies that will make you rethink your entire customer journey from the moment they say "yes."
✨ Why This Matters for You
A clunky onboarding process is a silent business killer. Here's why perfecting it matters:
It removes a huge, often unspoken, objection during the sales process: "Do I have the time and energy for this?"
It builds immediate trust and reduces buyer's remorse by showing clients they made the right choice.
Making your client's life easier from day one is a massive competitive advantage that justifies premium pricing.
It prevents you from becoming the bottleneck in your own service delivery, leading to happier clients and a more efficient business.
📝 Key Takeaways
Onboarding Is a Sales Asset: Shift your mindset. Your onboarding experience can and should be a powerful reason why clients choose you over competitors.
Stop Giving Clients Homework: Long forms, endless questions, and checklists create friction and can make new clients feel like they’ve just signed up for another project.
Remove the Client from the Equation: The more you can do for them instead of requiring things from them, the more valuable your service becomes. Ask yourself, "How can we take this completely off their plate?"
"We'll Handle It" Is a Power Phrase: As Brian learned from his move, clients are thrilled to pay for services that handle all the annoying details for them (like paperwork, logistics, or coordination).
Sell Your Seamless Process: Weave your easy onboarding into your sales conversations. Use future pacing to show prospects how simple life will be the moment they become a customer.
Steal the "Onboarding Specialist" Idea: Instead of a form, consider a short, live call where you get everything you need in one efficient session, making the setup process effortless for the client.
🚀 Put It Into Action
This week, conduct an audit of your onboarding process from your client’s perspective:
Where are you creating "homework" or unnecessary steps for your new clients?
What is one task or piece of information you currently require that you could "just figure out" for them instead?
Think about your next sales call. How can you proactively talk about your seamless onboarding to ease a prospect's mind and make your offer even more irresistible?
🔗 Stay Connected
Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode
Connect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrian
Share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who wants to create an unforgettable client experience from day one

Ever felt a personal frustration so deeply you just had to build a solution for it? That’s exactly what Kyle Simonett did. In this episode, Kyle shares his incredible journey from being a ski instructor and Naval helicopter rescue swimmer to a tech entrepreneur solving a major headache for golfers everywhere. He breaks down how he and his co-founders identified the universal problem of booking tee times and built Putting It Close, a platform that automates the entire process.
This episode is a masterclass in turning a passion into a scalable business. For wantrepreneurs and entrepreneurs, Kyle’s story is packed with lessons on the power of a non-linear career path, the critical importance of obsessing over your target customer, and the mindset required to take the leap from idea to execution. You’ll learn why focusing on the end-user is more valuable than chasing big corporate partnerships and how to build a business by solving a problem you genuinely care about.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
How Your "Unrelated" Past Experience Is Your Secret Weapon: Learn how Kyle’s skills as a rescue swimmer and ski instructor—like problem-solving under pressure and talking to anyone—directly translated into his success as an entrepreneur.
The Power of Solving Your Own Problem: Discover the process of identifying a personal pain point and scaling the solution to serve a massive audience, moving from a "me" problem to a "we" business.
Customer Obsession Over Corporate Partnerships: Understand why Kyle and his team chose to champion the individual golfer instead of chasing partnerships with large golf course management companies, and how that focus drives every business decision.
A Smart Freemium Model to Build Trust & Scale: Learn how Putting It Close strategically uses a free tier to prove its value, attract a user base, and create a natural funnel for its premium subscription.
How to Network Without Being "Salesy": Get Kyle’s simple but effective technique for starting conversations with potential customers in a genuine way that leads to real relationships (hint: it involves free golf tees).
Why You Need to "Cannonball" Into Your Idea: Unpack the mindset of taking calculated risks and diving headfirst into your venture, rather than endlessly "testing the waters."
📝 About Kyle Simonett
Kyle Simonett is the co-founder of Putting It Close, a tech platform designed to help golfers find and book hard-to-get tee times effortlessly. His career path has been anything but linear, with experiences as a ski instructor, a Naval helicopter rescue swimmer, and a corporate IT professional for Lockheed Martin. This diverse background equipped him with a unique blend of communication, problem-solving, and technical skills. While earning his MBA, Kyle combined his passion for golf with his knack for solving complex problems to create a solution that serves thousands of golfers across the country.
🎯 Kyle’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
“You need to cannonball into the waters and give it a go. If you don't, you're always gonna sit there and regret not taking that chance.”
📢 Memorable Quotes
“Our clientele is the golfer... Our primary purpose is to help the golfers get out and get on the course and spend less time searching.” – Kyle Simonett
“One of the things that I learned with entrepreneurship is you have to try and find a problem and then use your knowledge of the issue… and figure out a way to solve it.” – Kyle Simonett
"People get hung up on the fact that rejection is awkward... If they say no, that's great. You move on, you go to the next, and you chalk it up as what it is." – Kyle Simonett
💡 Actionable Takeaways
Solve a Problem You Know: Identify a recurring frustration or inefficiency in your own hobby or daily life. This is often the most authentic and powerful source for a business idea.
Define Your #1 Customer: Clearly identify who you serve. Write it down and make every decision—from product features to marketing—with that single person in mind.
Create a Low-Stakes Conversation Starter: Develop a simple, non-pushy way to talk about your business, like Kyle’s branded golf tees. Offer value first before you ask for anything.
Implement a Free Tier: If your business model allows, consider offering a free version of your product or service to lower the barrier to entry, prove your value, and build a loyal user base.
Take One "Cannonball" Action This Week: Instead of just thinking about your next step, commit to one bold action that moves your business forward, even if it feels scary.
🔗 Links & Resources
Website: https://puttingitclose.com
Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn
Follow Putting It Close on LinkedIn
Follow Putting It Close on Instagram
Follow Putting It Close on Facebook

Think your small business is too insignificant to be a target for hackers? Think again. In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Rick Bohm, a former corporate CISO turned ethical hacker and founder of Summit Cyber Group and SimpleSec. Rick pulls back the curtain on the very real and evolving threats facing entrepreneurs today, from sophisticated AI-driven phishing scams to the false sense of security provided by big-name hosting companies. This isn't about fear-mongering; it's about empowerment. Rick shares his journey from Fortune 100 security leader to an entrepreneur on a mission to make top-tier cybersecurity accessible and affordable for businesses of all sizes, proving that protecting your company doesn't have to break the bank.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
🎯 Why hackers are actively targeting small businesses, non-profits, and even daycares—and what you can do to avoid becoming a statistic.
🤖 How malicious actors are using AI to create hyper-realistic phishing emails and social engineering attacks that are nearly impossible to detect.
🛡️ The critical difference between your web host's security and your responsibility to protect your website, data, and customers.
🕵️‍♂️ A look inside the world of ethical hacking and how "good guys" think like "bad guys" to find and fix your vulnerabilities before they're exploited.
💰 How to access affordable, continuous, and high-quality security testing without needing a massive corporate budget.
🗣️ The leadership secret Rick learned at Oracle ("the power of why") that can help you get buy-in from your team and stakeholders.
📝 About Rick Bohm
Rick Bohm is the founder and CISO of Summit Cyber Group and the creator of SimpleSec, an AI-orchestrated offensive security platform. With a career spanning decades, Rick has seen cybersecurity from every angle—from writing code and running a web hosting company in the '90s to leading security for Fortune 100 companies like Oracle. Frustrated by the high cost and complexity of corporate security solutions, he launched his own ventures to deliver high-quality, affordable protection directly to the businesses that need it most. Rick's unique perspective as a hands-on technical expert, a strategic leader, and a fellow entrepreneur makes him an invaluable guide in navigating today's threat landscape.
🎯 Rick’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Enjoy every step of the way... Enjoy the ride the entire time. Stay in the present. Don't panic and don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone."
📢 Memorable Quotes
"On defensive security, you got to look at it as if you have a 100-window house and every day you've got to make sure every one of those windows and the doors are actually shut and locked. And as a professional hacker, I only need to find one." – Rick Bohm
"There was a particular hack last year that just flipped the switch for me, and that was a daycare that got hacked. And when the daycare got hacked, they actually posted children's pictures on the ransomware site... that's when it really turned into a mission." – Rick Bohm
"As a leader, the most effective word I learned was why. Because why answered those questions back to the board... but also to those crazy requests you have to people who work with you." – Rick Bohm
💡 Actionable Takeaways
✅ Run a Free Security Scan: Don't wait to find out you're vulnerable. Use a tool like SimpleSec's free trial to run an initial scan on your website and identify immediate risks.
✅ Question Your "Security Blanket": Stop assuming your hosting provider or other third-party services are handling all your security. Review your responsibilities and take ownership of protecting your customer data.
✅ Educate Yourself on AI Phishing: Be aware that AI can now generate highly convincing, multi-thread email conversations to trick you. Treat every link and attachment with a healthy dose of skepticism, no matter how legitimate it seems.
✅ Treat Every Customer Record as Sacred: Adopt the CISO mindset that even one exploited customer record is too many. Your integrity and your customers' trust depend on it.
🔗 Links & Resources
Website: https://www.summitcyber.io
Connect with Rick on LinkedIn
Follow Summit Cyber Group on LinkedIn

Dr. Xiao Yuan takes us on a breathtaking journey from author to the creator of an entire IP universe. It all started with A-bao, a character inspired by a simple delivery package and Dr. Yuan’s deeply personal story of adoption and the search for belonging. In this episode, she reveals how that single book idea blossomed into a creative world spanning publishing, music, children's content, and a non-profit mission. This episode is a masterclass in transforming personal experience into a scalable, multi-platform brand. Dr. Yuan’s unique blend of academic insight and real-world entrepreneurial grit provides a powerful blueprint for any founder looking to build a brand with both massive impact and a human touch.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
How to Turn Your Personal Story into a Scalable Business: Learn how Dr. Yuan connected her own life experience to the universal journey of a package, creating a deeply resonant and expandable brand.
The Blueprint for an IP Universe: Discover the strategy behind expanding a single idea (a book) into multiple platforms like music, content, and physical products.
Dreaming Big, Starting Small: Understand the power of having a massive vision (like creating the next Disney) while taking practical, actionable steps to bring it to life.
Blending Profit with Purpose: See how you can build a commercial brand that also fuels a non-profit mission, creating a powerful ecosystem for social impact.
The Human Touch in an AI World: Hear Dr. Yuan’s powerful insight on why human connection will always be the most valuable asset, even as technology and algorithms dominate business.
Monetizing a Creative Idea: Get inspired by the numerous potential revenue streams that can emerge from a single creative concept, from books and music to merchandise and themed experiences.
📝 About Dr. Xiao Yuan
Dr. Xiao Yuan is an author, educator, and the visionary founder of A-bao Universe. With a PhD in Leadership and Policy Studies, her work has always been fascinated by the human stories behind work, community, and belonging. This unique perspective, combined with her hands-on experience in the last-mile delivery industry, inspired her to create A-bao—a character and universe that explores the journey of connection in our modern world. Dr. Yuan is a powerful example of how academic insight, personal passion, and entrepreneurial drive can converge to create a brand with global potential.
🎯 Dr. Xiao’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"I have the belief that if we aim at the moon, even if we didn't reach the moon, we will get to the field of the stars."
📢 Memorable Quotes
“The algorithm can calculate the time, the efficiency. But what cannot be calculated is the human, is the human touch.” – Dr. Xiao Yuan
“A Bao is just like us. So I feel my story is touching... we are looking for the meaning of life.” – Dr. Xiao Yuan
“One day, what if I have an advertisement in Times Square saying I'm looking for A-bao, for a dad, a father, or adoptive dad... Let's make A-bao Disney in the world.” – Dr. Xiao Yuan
💡 Actionable Takeaways
Mine Your Personal Story: Set aside 30 minutes to brainstorm themes from your own life (challenges, passions, unique experiences). Ask yourself: What universal truth does my story contain that could be the foundation for a business?
Start with One Core Product: Instead of trying to launch a whole universe at once, focus on creating one high-quality piece of content or a single product, just as Dr. Yuan started with one book.
Map Your “Universe”: Take your core idea and brainstorm at least five potential expansions (e.g., a podcast, a children's book, a merchandise line, a community group, an online course). This is your long-term vision map.
Identify Your Mission: Define the deeper purpose behind your business. Who do you want to help or what message do you want to advocate for? Weaving this into your brand creates a stronger connection with your audience.
🔗 Links & Resources
Website: https://abaouniverse.com/

From serving with Navy SEALs in Afghanistan to founding a thriving consulting firm, Michael Baucum’s journey is a masterclass in leveraging unique life experience to build a powerful business. In this episode, the 20-year retired Naval officer reveals how he transitioned from high-stakes military operations to the world of entrepreneurship, bridging the critical gap between innovative tech companies and the U.S. military. This conversation is packed with lessons on military-grade discipline, finding an unshakeable niche, and the "burn the boats" mentality required to go all-in on your vision. For any entrepreneur feeling stuck or unsure, Michael’s story is the tactical and motivational push you need to move forward with conviction.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
🚀 How military-grade discipline can build an unbreakable business culture that keeps customers ecstatic.
💼 The "Burn the Boats" strategy for going all-in on your business idea and eliminating any chance of retreat.
🎯 How to identify and dominate a niche by bridging a critical gap that others can't see.
💰 A simple 3-month trial strategy to land high-value clients with low resistance and prove your value upfront.
💡 Why the U.S. military could be your next, and biggest, client (and how to start the conversation).
🧠 The "Figure It Out" mentality that turns overwhelming challenges into massive growth opportunities.
🤝 How to build a powerful network of mentors who will help you identify your blind spots before they become problems.
📝 About Michael Baucum
Michael Baucum is a retired Naval officer with over 20 years of experience in high-stakes military communications, intelligence, and strategic defense. His distinguished career included supporting a Navy SEAL team in Afghanistan, serving in the US Embassy in the Philippines, and working on the highest US Navy staffs in the Pacific. Now, as the founder of Maritime Signal Group, he uses his deep "insider" knowledge to help innovative technology companies navigate the defense sector and implement their solutions where they're needed most. Michael's journey provides a powerful blueprint for leveraging a specialized career into a thriving entrepreneurial venture.
🎯 Michael’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Trust your instincts, trust your gut. You know better than anyone else."
📢 Memorable Quotes
 “When you burn the boat, you know, there's no going back. So once you take that step, you have to go forward and you have to give it 100%. There is no one foot in, one foot out.” – Michael Baucum
“I've never known anyone that poured their heart and soul into something where they gave good service or had a good product and they failed. I've yet to meet that person.” – Michael Baucum
“There's a saying in the Navy and the military in general, it's called literally 'figure it out.'... And as an entrepreneur, you're gonna have those feelings too, like my back is against the wall.” – Michael Baucum
💡 Actionable Takeaways
✅ Adopt the "Green Book" Method: Start each day by writing down your key tasks for each client or project. Don't stop until they are complete to build discipline and ensure client satisfaction.
✅ Offer a Low-Risk "Sample": Lower the barrier to entry for new clients by offering a short-term trial or sample of your service. This builds trust and proves your value without a huge commitment.
✅ Stress-Test Your Business Plan: Find a trusted mentor and ask them to "shred" your business plan. Actively seek out criticism to identify and fix your blind spots before they become major problems.
✅ "Burn the Boats": Once you've done your due diligence and decided to start, commit fully. Eliminate your backup plans to force yourself to go all-in and "figure it out."
🔗 Links & Resources
Website: https://maritimesignalgrp.com
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
Follow Maritime Signal Group on LinkedIn