In an age of venture capital headlines and unicorn dreams, one approach to entrepreneurship remains timeless—and underrated: bootstrapping.As outlined in a compelling Big Think article, based on the book Bootstrapping by Rosen and Schramm, this method isn’t just about “doing more with less.” It’s about maintaining control, reducing risk, and staying true to your mission.“Bootstrapping isn’t just a funding strategy—it’s a mindset,” write the authors. And that mindset can mean the difference between being owned by your business or owning your future.

Bootstrapping a business is not for the faint of heart. It’s not luck, timing, or some kind of entrepreneurial magic that keeps things moving—it’s resilience. It’s the ability to make decisions under pressure, lead through uncertainty, and turn every challenge into a stepping stone. Looking back on the journey of building Terakeet from scratch, I’ve learned that leading a bootstrapped company requires a different kind of mindset. When you don’t have the cushion of external funding, every risk is personal, every mistake is costly, and every win is hard-earned. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned the hard way.

Most founders believe that startup success hinges on the perfect pitch, a strong product, or relentless hustle. While those matter, research and experience point to deeper, often overlooked forces that make the biggest difference in whether a business thrives — or fades away.Here are three invisible forces that quietly shape your startup journey:1. Timing Is (Almost) Everything You can have a great idea and the right team — but if you're too early or too late, traction stalls. Timing isn’t about luck; it’s about market awareness. The best founders anticipate trends just before they break, not after. Want a quick...

In 2015, Josh Bradford launched Altitude Energy, a high-voltage power line company—from his garage.Like many young startups, it started with hustle, grit, and a fair share of chaos. “The left hand didn’t know what the right one was doing,” Josh recalls. “We spent a lot of time chasing our tails.”Josh’s breakthrough didn’t come from working harder—it came from working smarter. That shift started when he plugged into the Dave Ramsey Solutions EntreLeadership System.He quickly realized his team wasn’t just missing efficiency—they were missing a clear mission, vision, and values. What followed was a complete transformation.Today, Altitude Energy operates in 17...

Why it's time to make solopreneurship easier, not harder. The U.S. is experiencing a remarkable rise in solopreneurship. In 2024 alone, Americans filed over 430,000 new business applications per month—a 50% increase since 2019. And nearly 83% of all small businesses are now “non-employer” businesses: freelancers, consultants, e-commerce sellers, creators, and more.Yet even as solo entrepreneurship grows, the support systems around it have failed to keep up. Far too many entrepreneurs walk away from promising ventures—not because they lack grit or vision—but because they’re overwhelmed by red tape, tax complexity, or the high cost of healthcare.If we want to encourage innovation,...

In today’s world, entrepreneurs aren’t just chasing profit — they’re chasing meaning. That’s why I’m excited to share a resource I believe in: Eprenz’s “Building Businesses That Matter”. It’s a platform designed to turn good ideas into sustainable, impactful businesses.

Let’s face it — coming up with a great idea is the easy part.It’s exciting, even addictive: the spark of inspiration, the rush of planning, the late nights spent sketching out your vision. But as any experienced entrepreneur will tell you, a brilliant idea is only the beginning.The hard truth? Even the best ideas can fail if they never reach the right audience.This is what’s known as the cold start problem — the challenge of gaining momentum when you have no users, no traction, and no buzz. It’s especially brutal for businesses that rely on network effects (like marketplaces or...

In today’s business world, female entrepreneurship is not just rising—it’s reshaping industries, driving innovation, and creating lasting social impact. But as more women lead companies and scale ventures, they often face a unique set of challenges—especially when it comes to managing personal wealth and building long-term financial strategies. I recently came across powerful insights from Alan Hooks, Head of Private Clients at Julius Baer International, and Sam Smith, entrepreneur, NED, and former CEO of finnCap Group Plc, that highlight the key issues—and opportunities—facing women entrepreneurs today.

Dwyer, an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business, is on a mission: to help his students discover their deeper purpose and empower them to build businesses that make a meaningful difference in the world. He didn’t always plan to teach. In 2008, Dwyer started college with dreams of becoming a doctor. But a pivotal moment at a 2009 conference challenged him to think differently. After hearing the story of Blake Mycoskie—founder of TOMS Shoes and creator of the “One for One” model—Dwyer realized business could be a powerful force for good. That realization sparked...

You’ve come up with a brilliant business idea. You’re convinced there’s a problem, and you have the perfect solution. Now, all you need is funding to bring it to life. Sound familiar?As an entrepreneur and business coach, I’ve worked with countless founders who jump straight into launching their ventures—only to realize too late that they’ve overlooked the most critical question: Should I start this business? Not how to start it, but if it should be started in the first place.According to research by CB Insights, Tom Eisenmann, and Kirol Kotashev, one of the top reasons startups fail is a lack...