Show notes
In this episode of The What It Takes Podcast, host Tuli Kraus sits down with Seth Farbman, entrepreneur, former securities lawyer, and founder of multiple successful companies including SEC filing services, stock transfer operations, and modern LinkedIn marketing agency Share Media.This is not a typical “startup success story.” It’s a raw, behind-the-scenes conversation about building companies from a basement startup to multi-exit businesses, making millions, losing millions on failed ventures, and learning what actually drives long-term success in business: people, persistence, and purpose.Seth shares how he went from practicing law in Manhattan to building four companies with his long-time partner, how a chance conversation over Pesach led to a business that scaled to thousands of clients, and how he later transitioned into helping CEOs and public companies grow through LinkedIn marketing and strategic visibility.If you're an entrepreneur, founder, salesperson, or anyone trying to grow in your career or business, this episode breaks down real-world lessons you won’t get in business school.How Seth Farbman transitioned from securities lawyer to serial entrepreneurThe Pesach conversation that led to building a multimillion-dollar company from a basementWhat it takes to scale a business to 5,000+ customers and 100+ employeesWhy hiring the right people matters more than strategy or productThe emotional reality of selling a company (and losing identity after exit)Earnouts, acquisitions, and what really happens after you “sell” your businessLessons from failed ventures like apparel brands and startup experimentsWhy not every great idea is a profitable businessHow LinkedIn became a powerful growth engine for CEOs and public companiesWhat separates top-performing employees from average onesSales mindset: why fear kills deals and relationships build revenueHow persistence (like a candidate showing up 4 times) can change your lifeSeth breaks down 30+ years of experience in business and shares brutally honest insights:You don’t build companies to sell them — exits often come unexpectedlyThe real value of a business is in relationships, not just revenueEmployees who take initiative outperform those who just “do their job”Introverts can win in business by leading with value firstMost business failures come from building without real market validationPurpose and momentum matter more than comfort or certainty0:00 The Real Reason Behind Visibility, Clients, and LinkedIn Growth 8:05 From a Basement SEC Filing Company to Two Buyouts 14:24 Purpose, Daymond John, and Finding the Recruiting Niche 20:07 Law School, Marriage, and Becoming a Reluctant Schmoozer 27:08 The Persistence That Got Hired Four Times 33:00 Hat Flops, Weight-Loss Gimmicks, and a Thousand Public Companies LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethfarbman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethfarbmanstock/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/Hiring the wrong person is expensive — not just financially, but culturally.Blackbird Recruiting helps growing companies hire people who actually perform, so you can spend less time filtering résumés and more time building your business.