Bootstrap Business [Paperback]

Rich Christiansen (Author), Ron E. Porter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2009

Business books are Sterile and Academic. Not worth the time to read. Bootstrap Business is Vibrant and Actionable. It explains Rich & Ron's process to take a $5,000 investment and bootstrap a successful company.

Build a business from where you are.
Avoid the big mistakes that kill most businesses.
Secure your future financially while maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

Bootstrap Business is a self-contained book that explores Rich & Ron's experiences in launching companies.
28 attempts 10 miserable failures 8 multi-million dollar successes.

Hard work is required. You can do it. Bootstrap Business teaches you how.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is one of the most practical, sound and wise investments you will ever make in your small business, Buy it, study it, use it and prosper! --Joseph Grenny, New York Times Bestselling co-author of Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

This book attacks business creation with the same vigor and disipline that I climb mounations. I love how Rich has tied in the analogies of mountain climbing to business creation. If your desire is to reach the summit of small business ownership, don t try it without this survival guide. The book is simple, straight forward and spot on! --Ed Viesturs, Himalayan Climber & National Bestseller of No Shortcuts to the Top

I read the book cover-to-cover and then immediately started recommending it to everyone I am in business with and do business with. --Garrett B. Gunderson, New York Times Bestselling Author of Killing Sacred Cows

About the Author

Since graduating from MBA school Rich has founded or co-founded 27 businesses. These ventures were boot strapped from between $5,000 - $10,000 of starting capital. Seven have become successful multi-million dollar businesses, seven have been moderately successful, and nine have been outright failures.

Ron spent 24 years in corporate businesses building services and support programs teams. He has founded or co-founded five businesses, boot strapped with $20,000 or less. One was moderately successful, one was a bust, one is currently enjoying marked success and the other two, well the jury is still out on those.

Interestingly, Rich and Ron value the failures the most. It is from these they ve gleaned knowledge, resources, and experience with which to improve and move forward. Of course, the successes have provided valuable lessons as well!

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wizard Academy Press (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932226729
• ISBN-13: 978-1932226720
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,039,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rich Christiansen has founded or co-founded 32 businesses, each with less than $10K. Of those, 11 were complete failures, but 11 have become multimillion-dollar companies. He describes himself as "a technology executive turned entrepreneur" from his time at Mitsubishi Electric, About.com, and Novell. Rich loves building businesses with his 5 sons, and is an avid mountain trekker.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to get started and succeed!, April 6, 2009

By 

B. Hodson "audiofile" (Cedar Hills, UT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bootstrap Business (Paperback)

This book is simply the best I've read on the REAL tools you need to start a business. Look for specific tips on how to handle risk, assembling and managing a team, finding funding (or doing it on your own), and managing the up's and down's that every entrepreneur experiences.

The book should be required reading at every major University business school. You will get more from this than the typical business program can equip you with. If you like work such as The Art of the Start by Kawasaki, then this will be right up your alley.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!, November 23, 2009

By 

D. Janis "dmjanis" (Coppell, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bootstrap Business (Paperback)

This book is amazing. As I was reading it I could not believe how simple it was to understand. I have read several entrepreneurial books and this is by far the most down-to-earth, easy to apply book ever. I loved how it gave me advice that I could immediately incorporate into my life and businesses. This book is a must read for any entrepreneur!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading...especially for tech businesses, August 21, 2009

By 

Wendi A. Pilling - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bootstrap Business (Paperback)

Rich and Ron have great advice and definitely the experience to back it up. Could have used a little editing for smoother reading. Sometimes it gets heavy with analogies but lacks real world examples to clarify what exactly they mean. That said, it had some interesting points that I don't think would be found in any other book on business. Worth reading.