This episode with Tom Berka, owner of Badlands Distribution, is a real look at what it actually takes to build something from nothing; no polished startup story, just hard work, risk, and figuring it out as you go. Tom walks through his journey from running delivery routes in the middle of the night to scaling a multi-state distribution business with hundreds of accounts. The conversation dives into the realities of growth: why most obstacles are worse in your head, how saying yes too often can hurt you, and the hard shift from employee to owner. It’s a blunt, practical breakdown of risk, execution, and what it really means to build a business that survives.

About Our Guest

Tom Berka is the owner of Badlands Distribution, a logistics and distribution company operating across Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and beyond. He built the business from the ground up after years in delivery and commercial distribution, turning a small opportunity with just a few dozen accounts into a company with hundreds of delivery points and a growing team. Tom specializes in scaling distribution in underserved markets (which most companies avoid) and has built his business on execution, reliability, and long-term partnerships with major brands like Nestlé and Unilever.

About Success Stories

Welcome to Success Stories, the podcast where Steve Cross sits down with the sharpest minds in business to unpack what it really takes to grow.

From scrappy upstarts to category leaders, each conversation reveals the mindset, strategies, and personal stories behind bold decisions and breakthrough moments. No fluff. No gurus. Just real founders, real operators, and real results.

If you're a growth-obsessed entrepreneur, marketing leader, or future founder, this playlist is your shortcut to hard-earned wisdom from those who've built it, scaled it, and lived to tell the tale.

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