The Art of the Close: From Startup Hustle to Personal Healing w/ Steve Lequerica

Welcome to another episode of I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman, the podcast for creatives and entrepreneurs who want to build careers without selling out.This week, Luis sits down with Steve Lequerica — the COO of LiveRecover, a startup that's recovered over $13 million in abandoned carts for ecommerce brands in just the past 90 days. But this episode isn’t just about sales and conversions — it’s about the real stuff behind the grind: family, heartbreak, discipline, and figuring out who you are when everything goes sideways.Steve’s story goes from almost-med-school to startup junkie — with stops in Jersey, Laguna Beach, Cincinnati, and some unexpected emotional detours along the way. The dude went from shadowing anesthesiologists to cold-calling pharmacy owners, and eventually helped scale a tech company from the ground up. And in between all that, he got humbled by heartbreak, lost 40 pounds, and found his purpose again.In this episode, we talk about:Growing up in a Puerto Rican household with that military-level disciplineWhy he pivoted from pre-med to startups (spoiler: Organic Chemistry will humble you)What it means to “sell with soul” in an AI-driven worldHow his mom taught him more about sales than any mentor ever couldLearning to lead through burnout, heartbreak, and doubtThe pain of staying in a relationship that no longer serves youGambling addiction, money lost, lessons gainedAnd why golf, God, and gratitude are now non-negotiables in his lifeYou’ll hear about Steve’s transition from being lost in comfort to finding power in clarity. He opens up about the turning point where he chose discipline over distraction, health over hustle, and long-term peace over short-term highs.You’ll also get insight into how LiveRecover works — a human-powered platform that texts potential customers when they abandon their cart. No bots. No automation. Just real people having real conversations to close the sale and keep your brand feeling personal.Steve breaks down the psychology of checkout behavior, how AI is changing the game (and where it shouldn’t), and why human connection still wins in business.🔥 Highlights:“Work, work, work. Learn, learn, learn.” — his mom’s mantraHow childhood discipline shaped his work ethicThe way heartbreak broke him open and rebuilt his mindsetHis 3 L’s and 2 B’s: loyalty, love, living with passion — and being the best father and husband one dayWhy content and connection are king in the new sales eraThis convo is honest, funny, real, and will leave you inspired to bet on yourself — whether you’re at your lowest point or halfway to the top.🎧 Press play if you’ve ever:Had to pivot in life or businessFelt like your gifts were buried under doubtWanted to build a business without becoming a selloutNeeded a reminder that your pain isn’t wasted — it’s part of the blueprintQuote of the Episode:“Lights were off, but they’re on now — and no one turns them on and off like me.” — Steve LequericaFollow Steve:IG: @stevelequericaTwitter/X: @steveleqLearn more about LiveRecover: www.liverecover.comFollow the Show:IG: @imanartistnotasalesmanSubscribe on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube: Search Luis Guzman I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman🎨 Be an artist.💼 Not a salesman.🧠 Stay grounded.📈 Keep building.🙏 And as always… have a blessed one, not a stressed one.