Let me take you back to one of the most insightful conversations I’ve had on the Never Been Promoted podcast. It was with Greg Mayer, founder of Wysper.ai. Greg’s journey wasn’t the usual straightforward tale of climbing corporate ladders or receiving one promotion after another. In fact, what struck me most was how his path was winding, filled with deliberate career moves meant to fuel his dream of starting his own business.
His story is one that I know many of us can relate to: that constant pull to break free from the rat race and carve out our own niche. Today, I want to share two key lessons I learned from Greg’s entrepreneurial journey, ones that I think every aspiring business owner needs to hear.
Don’t Overthink It – Start Small and Test Often
One thing Greg made abundantly clear is that we often overcomplicate things when we are starting out. The classic trap most entrepreneurs fall into is thinking they need everything perfect from day one—whether that’s a flashy website, a comprehensive business model, or a fully developed product. Greg had some solid advice that I wish more of us could take to heart: start small, test often, and adapt.
Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- Focus on the Core Problem: Greg’s success came from solving a specific pain point—creating written content from already available audio like podcasts and webinars. He didn’t build a bloated product; instead, he honed in on a single need and did it well.
- Don’t Waste Time on a Fancy Website: Greg admitted one of his early mistakes was spending too much time and money on a flashy website. “I wouldn’t build a fancy website in Webflow again. It slowed me down,” he said. The truth is, your customers don’t care about a fancy website—they care about whether your product solves their problem.
- Iterate Quickly: Greg was adamant about not getting bogged down by perfection. “I would just use something like Framer… so you can just rapidly iterate,” he shared. The quicker you can test, the quicker you’ll find out what works and what doesn’t.
This point hit home for me because I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs burn out before they even get started, paralyzed by the need to have everything perfect. Greg’s message is clear: don’t waste time overthinking. Get something out there, learn from it, and improve. Perfection is the enemy of progress.
Leverage What You Know – Your Unique Experience is Your Power
The second standout lesson from my conversation with Greg was this: use what you already know. Too often, we undervalue our own experiences, thinking that everyone knows what we know. But that’s not the case. Greg’s entrepreneurial success is rooted in his deep understanding of his industry—something he cultivated over years of working in sales, customer success, and product marketing.
What I Learned from His Experience:
- Self-Reflection is Key: Greg’s journey started when he took the time to reflect on his past roles and what he genuinely enjoyed. “It’s a combination of a lot of things… I gravitated towards learning and enjoying what I was learning about.” That introspection is crucial for anyone looking to start a business. You need to know what you’re good at and what you love.
- Monetize What You Already Know: Greg identified a simple problem he had in his own work—turning audio content into written form—and built a business around it. “That arbitrage of knowledge that you’ve acquired… people would have paid me to teach them.” Don’t underestimate what you know—it might be more valuable than you think.
- Know Your Customer’s Pain Points: Greg’s background in product marketing made him laser-focused on understanding his customers’ needs. “If you try to build a product where you don’t feel the pain or don’t know it well, you’re fighting an uphill battle,” he said. This level of understanding is what differentiates successful businesses from the rest.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Greg, it’s that your unique experiences are a goldmine. The trick is to recognize that not everyone knows what you know—and many are willing to pay for that knowledge. So instead of looking outward for the next big idea, look inward. What are you already good at, and how can you turn that into a business?
Reflections from the Interview
Now, every time I sit down with an entrepreneur like Greg, I can’t help but reflect on my own journey. There were so many gems in our conversation that I’d be remiss not to mention a few of the lessons I’m walking away with.
Here’s What I’m Taking Away:
- Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot: As Greg mentioned, the entrepreneurial landscape, especially with AI, is constantly evolving. “AI is going to be a different world in a year from now… it’s going to be a year of pivoting.” The ability to adapt quickly will be what sets you apart from others.
- Bootstrap First, Raise Later: Greg’s belief in bootstrapping resonated with me. “Bootstrapped software businesses are the future for right now.” You don’t always need outside funding to start; sometimes, it’s better to retain control until you absolutely need investment.
- Focus on Solving a Specific Problem: This point is worth repeating—success comes from solving a real problem that your customers care about. It’s easy to get distracted by new ideas, but the key is to stay focused on the problem you initially set out to solve.
- Persevere Through the Learning Curve: Greg shared his struggles with learning Webflow and AI tools, but the lesson is perseverance. “You just want to move fast,” he said, and while things like tech hurdles will slow you down, persistence is key.
- Always Be Listening to Customers: Greg emphasized how much he values customer feedback. “Mainly it’s listening to customers.” You may have a vision for your product, but the best insights will always come from the people using it.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been grinding away for years, there’s always something to learn from stories like Greg’s. So, my final piece of advice? Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Just get started.
CONNECT WITH GREG MAYER:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryjmayer/
Website: https://www.wysper.ai/