Silicon Valley has convinced everyone there’s only one way to build a tech company: raise millions, hire fast, scale at all costs, and hope you don’t implode before profitability. The playbook is so ingrained that questioning it feels almost reckless.
Except I’ve built a seven-figure technology empire by doing the exact opposite—and it’s working better than the conventional approach ever could.
I recently spoke with BEVWO about why ignoring Silicon Valley’s playbook isn’t just viable—it’s the smarter bet for most founders.
Here’s the philosophy: “Stay small long enough to become big enough.” Build strong foundations first—team, culture, systems, structure—before trying to scale. It’s the opposite of what gets celebrated in TechCrunch headlines, but it’s how you build companies that generate substantial revenue without the bloat, bureaucracy, or burnout that plague venture-backed competitors.
My background explains the contrarian thinking. Before tech, I was a Division 1 collegiate golfer. Golf taught me strategic patience that translates directly into business. Miss a shot on hole three, and it affects your psychology on hole fifteen. In startups, overreact to one quarter’s numbers and you compound the damage for years. Every system I build is designed for consistency, not heroics. Every decision gets measured against long-term outcomes, not quarterly pressures.
The automation obsession comes from this same mindset. While other founders chase fundraising decks, I eliminate waste. One client ran a bakery and spent thirty minutes every night manually compiling orders into production sheets. I built software that reads orders and generates the list automatically—seconds instead of half an hour, zero errors. When systems are automated, you don’t need to scale workforce at the same rate as your customer base. Your business becomes scalable by design.
And here’s what surprised the interviewer most: I told him the secret to handling entrepreneurial pressure is to meditate. Early on, I chased money and recognition. Everything changed when I realized what I actually wanted was peace. I stopped building from scarcity and started creating from clarity. That’s when success came.
If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a viable path beyond venture capital, aggressive hiring, and feature-first development—this is it.
Read the full article on BEVWO to see exactly how questioning every assumption builds better companies →
The real competitive advantage isn’t moving faster than everyone else—it’s having the discipline to move deliberately when everyone else is rushing.
See this approach in action at Pabs Marketing or learn more about my methodology at pablogerboles.com.