For the solo bootstrapper just starting out, time is more valuable than money. Putting the time into a new venture is often crucial in the early phases because you don't have the investment to just hire people who can get the work done.

Here are 20 tips from business coach Wendy Piersall applicable to all solopreneurs that may keep you from burning out in the process.


1. Set up a "busy schedule" and stick to it. At first glance this might seem slightly crazy. You're going to be busy already so why plan for it, right? But Wendy's talking about setting boundaries by deciding how much extra time you will spend during really busy times so work doesn't "suck you in."

2. Schedule down time. I used to play downloaded games on my PC to take breaks during time consuming projects until my nine year old informed me that playing with him also constitutes down time!

3. Squeeze in walks. I started walking at work when I could justify the time. My day job involves driving to locations that are sometimes within walking distance. When I can I do.

4. Ask for help. Partnerships can be important. One of the great epiphanies I've had recently is that connecting with partners will not only help grow your business faster but also make it more viable in the long run so that hopefully someday it doesn't just depend on your effort anymore.

5. Say NO. Since trying to pursue the bootstrap approach I've learned that lack of money is seldom an obstacle, but lack of time certainly is. Saying no to projects that cannot significantly improve or grow your venture is crucial to managing that time effectively.

6. Avoid overwhelm by making lists. I do this with blog posts and with projects. I should probably do it with many other things too.

7. Focus on your outcome, not current problems. Though sometimes current problems can help you focus on outcome. In a recent project soon to be more fully revealed, the seemingly insurmountable problems connected to my original approach to the venture caused me to seek another (and I think better) path to the desired outcome.

8. Put your perfectionism on the shelf. And keep it there! You can take it down later when you're up and running and have the time to tweak your business model.

9. Get support. On the professional side this may mean hiring, but when contemplating this remember to watch costs. Perhaps you can barter with another bootstrapper to give both of you the support you need.

10. Eat at least one meal a day with family or friends. Sometimes the hardest of these tips to follow as a part-time bootstrapper with a full time gig.

11. Set up accountability. Spouses, parents and children can be great for this. The long hours and other sacrifices must lead to a payoff in the end. It's one of the most important measures I know for success.

12. Build in consequences. But don't beat yourself up too much. I think promising yourself or others a reward if you succeed is a better idea here.

13. Eat right. Too much junk is not only bad for your health it robs you of energy desperately needed to work on your venture. I would argue that good food could be considered one of the bootstrapper's most important investments.

14. Set up email filters. Separating e-mail into distinct categories if possible makes the whole mess much easier to manage.

15. Turn off email and the phone for set hours. My parents own a place up in the country where the cell phone literally cannot get service. When I'm there chilling out for the day for a family get together I can comfort myself in the knowledge that I couldn't make or receive a call even if I wanted to.

16. Play hard. As mentioned above I like doing things with my nine year old. One of the reasons is that he's engaging. Try to think about work when he's got you on the floor with the toy dinosaur collection or he's dragging you to the arcade. Go ahead try it!

17. Know your own "Relax" buttons. I not only make coffee I grind my own beans and use a French press in the kitchen to create a relaxing brew. The relaxation is not only in the coffee itself but in the process of making it.

18. Watch your estimations. But think big! Like Mr. Scott in Star Trek, don't be afraid to tell Captain Kirk you need thirty minutes, even if you know you can restart the warp drive in ten.

19. Get a coach! If you can afford one. I predict that a coach with a stake in the venture instead of an immediate paycheck might be an important part of bootstrapping teams in the future.

20. Lay down the law. Don't work on all of these at once. Pick just a few and challenge yourself to follow them. Bootstrapping may not require cash, but taking the time to avoid burnout may be the single most important investment you make in you venture.