There’s this idea out there, especially among new entrepreneurs, that you need a ton of cash just to start. That you need investors, flashy offices, and a million-dollar marketing budget to make it big. But Wes Bergmann has been proving the opposite for years. Wes is the type who doesn’t care if you think his approach is too simple – because he knows it works.
Starting lean isn’t glamorous, but it keeps you focused on what matters. When Wes was breaking down how he got his business, BetaBlox, off the ground, he didn’t mince words. It’s about revenue over razzle-dazzle, pure and simple. He’s not afraid to ruffle feathers, especially in a world obsessed with “how much did you raise?” But if there’s one thing I took from Wes’s story, it’s this: Making that first million has nothing to do with investors or fancy tech. It’s about putting your head down, doing the work, and selling like your life depends on it.
Build Revenue, Not Just “The Dream”
Now, it’s easy to get stuck dreaming. I’ve seen so many people planning, designing logos, and doing everything but selling. I’ve done it myself – you think if you can just make everything perfect, the clients will come rolling in. But Wes’s strategy is the opposite: He’s all about getting the revenue first. He doesn’t shy away from calling it as he sees it. As he put it, “Most incubators talk about how much money they’ve raised, almost none of them talk about how much their companies actually make.”
Wes wasn’t interested in following that “let’s raise capital first” trend. For him, it’s all about creating real traction, not some hypothetical future outcome. When Wes talks about BetaBlox, he’s talking about hitting real sales numbers – not stacking followers or planning a flawless pitch deck. He has a way of cutting through the fluff and getting to the core of what makes a business succeed or fail.
Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- Go Live Early: Forget perfecting every detail. Get something out there and start selling.
- Revenue Talks, Fundraising Walks: It’s not about how much you raised – it’s about what you made.
- Put in the Grit: The work isn’t glamorous. It’s about showing up and making it happen.
Don’t Try to Look Fancy
We all know that person who thinks they need the perfect office, the best website, and 10 employees before they even make a sale. It’s like they’re trying to copy a Fortune 500 company when they’re just starting out. Wes’ perspective? Strip it down, keep it simple, and get moving. He once spent two years focusing on creating a flashy, trendy office space because he thought his clients needed it. In the end? They didn’t even use the space. What they wanted was coaching, mentorship, and someone to guide them.
As he put it, “If I’d known what I know now, I would’ve spent all that time just meeting clients at coffee shops and saved a ton of money.” That lesson hit home because I think we’re all guilty of overcomplicating things. It’s almost a knee-jerk reaction – we feel like if we’re not doing everything “right,” we’re failing. But simplicity isn’t a failure. It’s clarity. And it’s way more powerful than any glossy website or big launch party.
What I Learned from His Experience:
- You Don’t Need Bells and Whistles: If it doesn’t directly make you money, it can wait.
- Build on Core Values: Clients aren’t looking for flash; they’re looking for real solutions.
- Get Out of Your Own Way: The more you simplify, the quicker you’ll move.
Reflections from the Interview
There’s something liberating about hearing Wes lay it out so directly. It’s not often you meet someone who talks so openly about not having everything together at the beginning – and actually takes pride in it. He doesn’t claim to have the easiest path, but he makes the point that putting in the work beats any flashy shortcut. If you’re not willing to put the effort in, to sacrifice a little pride, this whole entrepreneurship thing isn’t going to work out.
Talking with him reminded me of a few hard lessons that too often get overlooked in the business world. Because while everyone’s out there trying to raise money, Wes is raising standards. He’s measuring success by actual numbers, not just potential.
Here’s What I’m Taking Away:
- Simplicity is King: Don’t complicate things just because it sounds good on paper.
- Know Your Priorities: Flashy launches and high follower counts won’t pay the bills.
- Hard Work Beats Hype: People aren’t buying your story; they’re buying your product.
- Expect and Embrace Imperfections: The first version isn’t your final version.
- Cut the Excuses: It’s not about who has more; it’s about who’s willing to do the work.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a windfall from investors to get your first sale. You don’t need a huge marketing budget, and you definitely don’t need anyone’s permission. What you need is a willingness to do the gritty, unglamorous work that actually brings in revenue. Listening to Wes’s story made me think about the times I’ve overcomplicated things or tried to be something I wasn’t, all for the sake of making a big impression.
The truth is, none of that matters if you don’t have sales coming in. Don’t get distracted by what other people think you need to succeed. Just start, learn, and keep it real. And if you’re looking for a more direct way to reach your goals, then listen to Wes’s advice. Because, in his words, “Don’t raise funds; raise hell.”
CONNECT WITH WES BERGMANN:
Website:https://www.betablox.com/