Comments on: Is Bootstrapping for You? http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/ Marketing, Technology, New Media, Entrepreneurship Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:15:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: MSquared http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52718 MSquared Mon, 02 May 2011 02:30:42 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52718 Happy tenth anniversary to Blue Sky Factory. Hmmm, instead of coffee and cigarettes with that $20, I am thinking a smoothie and Advil! My boots are high-heeled and only nine months old but I am having the time of my life! Looking forward to catching up later this month. Happy tenth anniversary to Blue Sky Factory. Hmmm, instead of coffee and cigarettes with that $20, I am thinking a smoothie and Advil!

My boots are high-heeled and only nine months old but I am having the time of my life! Looking forward to catching up later this month.

]]> By: Greg Cangialosi http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52717 Greg Cangialosi Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:59:11 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52717 Thanks Bob! I appreciate the comment and thanks for reading! Bootstrappers unite! :-) Greg Thanks Bob! I appreciate the comment and thanks for reading! Bootstrappers unite! :-)

Greg

]]> By: Bob Cargill http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52716 Bob Cargill Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:17:24 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52716 Excellent post, Greg! I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it. When I was a full-time freelance copywriter back in the '90s (for about seven years), I was a bootstrapper. It was tough from the get-go. But it was also one of the most rewarding phases of my career. As you write, "bootstrapping is not for everyone." But for me, it was an awesome experience that I'll never forget. Thanks for bringing back those memories. Excellent post, Greg! I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it. When I was a full-time freelance copywriter back in the '90s (for about seven years), I was a bootstrapper. It was tough from the get-go. But it was also one of the most rewarding phases of my career. As you write, "bootstrapping is not for everyone." But for me, it was an awesome experience that I'll never forget. Thanks for bringing back those memories.

]]> By: Greg Cangialosi http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52712 Greg Cangialosi Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:10:28 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52712 Do it, do it, do it!!! Great to hear from you! We are 10 years old as of March! wild how times flies! Thanks for stopping by the blog! keep in touch! Greg Do it, do it, do it!!! Great to hear from you! We are 10 years old as of March! wild how times flies!

Thanks for stopping by the blog! keep in touch!

Greg

]]> By: Dipesh Mamtora http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52711 Dipesh Mamtora Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:05:20 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52711 Great post! Having worked for a bootstrapper myself ;) I have heard similar stories. It was good to get a glimpse into that world again. I hope to be a bootstrapper myself someday. -Dipesh Great post! Having worked for a bootstrapper myself ;) I have heard similar stories. It was good to get a glimpse into that world again.

I hope to be a bootstrapper myself someday.

-Dipesh

]]> By: Greg Cangialosi http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52710 Greg Cangialosi Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:39:26 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52710 Ah... yes Arsham. The pro's and the cons. I hear you loud and clear and know plenty of folks in the same scenario. ie. raised money and are in hell essentially. BUT you are right there are definitely markets that require capital raises to gain market share quickly. That sounds like fun :-) But pressure it does bring! Startup Weekend was GREAT, I wish it was once a month! Don't stop believing!!! :-) and thanks for reading! Greg Ah… yes Arsham. The pro's and the cons. I hear you loud and clear and know plenty of folks in the same scenario. ie. raised money and are in hell essentially. BUT you are right there are definitely markets that require capital raises to gain market share quickly. That sounds like fun :-) But pressure it does bring!

Startup Weekend was GREAT, I wish it was once a month!

Don't stop believing!!! :-) and thanks for reading!

Greg

]]> By: Greg Cangialosi http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52709 Greg Cangialosi Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:26:54 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52709 We withdrew $20 and split it half and half and then I am pretty sure back then we bought coffee and a pack of cigarettes :-) Thanks for reading! Greg We withdrew $20 and split it half and half and then I am pretty sure back then we bought coffee and a pack of cigarettes :-)

Thanks for reading!
Greg

]]> By: Sean P. Fenlon http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52708 Sean P. Fenlon Sun, 24 Apr 2011 03:24:10 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52708 Hmmm... Impressive, as always Greg. The ultimate question is... What exactly did you do with the $100? ;-) SPF Hmmm…

Impressive, as always Greg.

The ultimate question is…

What exactly did you do with the $100? ;-)

SPF

]]> By: Arsham Mirshah http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52706 Arsham Mirshah Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:40:24 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52706 First off, well done on biting the bullet and starting Blue Sky when you did.. there was no better time, right? Chris and I were (maybe still are a little bit) just like you with the whole "web shop" thing -- if the check clears.. SURE, we'll build ya a website, or integrate your web forms with your CRM, or man your social media stream.. whatever, money talks! haha Greg, like you, we don't know anything other than bootstrapping. We actually have a friend who just got his first round of investment -- let me tell you this: before he got investment, he was all types of stressed out trying to get capital THINKING when he gets it, everything will fall in place... guess whaaattt.. Now he's more stressed than ever because his investors are breathing down his neck and not releasing the capital he needs... GRANTED: some business require capital - would you agree? Specifically, I'm thinking of those who need to make an impact and gain "critical mass" quickly. Maybe they need a sales force, advertising, or servers before they have a chance to monetize... (Startup Baltimore Weekend was fun, you have a good time?) If I could add one last thing for those thinking about bootstrapping: READ THIS BOOK: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill --- if you read the book AND do the action items he describes, it will definitely give you the motivation and mental toughness needed to get through the hard times. That book is the definition of the last section of this blog post titled: "Be Relentless: You must BELIEVE:" -- could agree more Greg, good stuff. Thanks for blogging, more often please :) Cheers, Arsham First off, well done on biting the bullet and starting Blue Sky when you did.. there was no better time, right?

Chris and I were (maybe still are a little bit) just like you with the whole "web shop" thing — if the check clears.. SURE, we'll build ya a website, or integrate your web forms with your CRM, or man your social media stream.. whatever, money talks! haha

Greg, like you, we don't know anything other than bootstrapping. We actually have a friend who just got his first round of investment — let me tell you this: before he got investment, he was all types of stressed out trying to get capital THINKING when he gets it, everything will fall in place… guess whaaattt.. Now he's more stressed than ever because his investors are breathing down his neck and not releasing the capital he needs…

GRANTED: some business require capital – would you agree? Specifically, I'm thinking of those who need to make an impact and gain "critical mass" quickly. Maybe they need a sales force, advertising, or servers before they have a chance to monetize… (Startup Baltimore Weekend was fun, you have a good time?)

If I could add one last thing for those thinking about bootstrapping: READ THIS BOOK: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill — if you read the book AND do the action items he describes, it will definitely give you the motivation and mental toughness needed to get through the hard times.

That book is the definition of the last section of this blog post titled: "Be Relentless: You must BELIEVE:" — could agree more Greg, good stuff.

Thanks for blogging, more often please :) Cheers, Arsham

]]> By: Greg Cangialosi http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/2011/04/23/is-bootstrapping-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-52705 Greg Cangialosi Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:36:30 +0000 http://www.thetrendjunkie.com/?p=1154#comment-52705 Bill, spoken like a TRUE pro! You have been there and done that for sure. I am not sure if I am going to raise money in the future, or in another company, but I have definitely become accustomed to not dealing with committees, boards or lots of big % equity partners. Bootstrapping for all! :-) Thanks again for reading. Greg Bill, spoken like a TRUE pro! You have been there and done that for sure. I am not sure if I am going to raise money in the future, or in another company, but I have definitely become accustomed to not dealing with committees, boards or lots of big % equity partners. Bootstrapping for all! :-)

Thanks again for reading.

Greg

]]>