The Bootstrapper's Bible: How to Start and Build a Business With a Great Idea and (Almost) No Money (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Starting out in 1986 with practically nothing, book packager and cyberentrepreneur Seth Godin has created a new- and old-media business that now employs 40 and generates around $5 million in annual revenue. In The Bootstrapper's Bible: How to Start and Build a Business with a Great Idea and (Almost) No Money, Godin shows precisely how his own venture, and a slew of others like Dell Computer, Burton Snowboards, Bose Corporation, Starbucks, and many lesser-known companies, ultimately managed to turn that nothing into something quite substantial. "Bootstrappers built this country, and they continue to make it great," he writes. "Virtually every business--from IBM to the local dry-cleaner--was bootstrapped, usually by people with far less smarts, less money, fewer connections, and less vision than you have right now." He elaborates on specific practices that he believes are critical to entrepreneurs who may have great ideas and boundless enthusiasm but lack the financial resources to launch their businesses in the traditional way. Writing in a clear and straightforward manner, he lays out Nine Magical Rules (such as "Find people who care about cash less than you do"), Ten Commandments (including "Don't forget where you came from"), and lots of other helpful tips. --Howard Rothman

Product Description

Seth Godin offers inspiration, ideas, and roadmaps to those starting their own business. To encourage bootstrappers, he shares his own story and covers other bootstrappers (from Dell Computer to Haagen Dazs) who have parlayed a great idea into a sizable fortune, using the smart strategies and cash-stretching tactics revealed in this book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Upstart Pub Co (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157410103X
• ISBN-13: 978-1574101034
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #614,249 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bootstrapper gives this book the big thumbs up., December 6, 1999

By	R. Blumenthal "Roy Blumenthal" (Johannesburg, South Africa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As an experienced bootstrapper myself -- having tried it twice and failed, and then another twice and succeeded -- I give Godin's book a massive vote of confidence.

I had several jolts of recognition seeing things to avoid, and a whole lot of smiles at things I've been doing right in my latest venture. But more than that, I was given practical advice and strategies to use and use again.

It's clear that Godin knows what he's talking about, and the book offers clear and helpful advice, with templates for success (such as the employee handbook), and to-do lists that really do mean business.

I'm presently consulting the book for tips on getting my product ready to take to market.

I'm glad I bought the book, and I have strong suspicions that the naysayers among us are sour graping our good man Godin.

Blue skies love Roy

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book if your looking for some re-motivation., February 13, 1999

By A Customer

This book is a great book if you are interested in the not so black and white aspects of starting a business with little money. It also can kick start some of that fresh desire you had back when you first came up with your business idea. I finished reading the book the other day and I am still running off the boost of refreshing ideas it has given me. Try it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a "How to start a business in 7 easy steps" book..., April 29, 2002

By	H. Baumann (Lexington, KY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book a few years ago and once again I reread it recently (ok, some areas I grazed over but I reread most of it.) Not only does this book cover a wide variety of issues about starting a business on little money, it also provides you with examples of how other businesses started (including some of the big brands that exist today.) From stretching your existing cash to finding your niche, this book is not a black and white "how to start a business in x number of easy steps" but instead a book that can be applied to whatever business you want to start. Or if you have already started and want to go back over some of the fine points it can also be helpful.