Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on July 29, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST In an article he wrote for Fast Company called "In Praise of the Purple Cow" laying the ground work for his book's release, Seth explained: Remarkable mar...

Purple cow appeal

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on July 29, 2007

When bootstrapping a business, establishing a strong brand can be a major way to distinguish yourself without a big advertising budget. Marketing guru Seth Godin insists the best brands are those tha...

Bootstrapping still seen as valuable while seeking funds

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on July 21, 2007

Former U.S. Marine and entrepreneur Ann Bernard says she's using bootstrapping techniques despite seeking VC or other outside funding for her startup social network Why Go Solo. For example, a bl...

Follow our bootstrap endeavor

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on July 17, 2007

So, to recap, Hessinger Media is the first step in a bootstrap endeavor, one I'm hoping will evolve into a unique combination of eclectic content blogging, interactive user posting, personal media...

Hessinger Media (Part 3)

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on July 16, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Here are some of the concepts for content here at Hessinger Media that readers of another blog, n10ah, have helped develop along with a few of mine. Feel free to add som...

Hessinger Media (Part 2)

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on July 16, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST So who am I and what am I all about? My name is Shawn Hessinger, a journalist and blogger and the founder of Hessinger Media. I am also the host/editor of www.bootstrap...

Hessinger Media (Part 1)

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on July 14, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Welcome to Hessinger Media, an online startup and experiment in eclectic content blogging that we hope will eventually offer not only a high quality variety of blogs to v...

New bootstrap enterprise launched

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on July 13, 2007

Those of you familiar with this site know that for me BootStrapMe is much more than just an online journal of resources for the prospective and practicing bootstrap entrepreneur. This blog also repre...

Entrepreneur interviews on Energybyte

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on June 25, 2007

Photo: Jane M. Sawyer, morgueFile And still on the subject of Romanian entrepreneur Cristian Dorobantescu, I received an e-mail recently about a new launch which he hopes will be sort of a "real...

Balance especially important for part-time entrepreneurs

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 22, 2007

Personal and professional coach David B. Bohl challenged fellow bloggers to participate in a Workplace Survival Dialog earlier this month, and realizing today is the deadline, I wanted to get my contr...

Looks can be deceiving

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 21, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST In a comment on a previous post about starting that new business venture at home sans office, sans employees, sans all, James Chen, senior advisor for CXO Ventures, Sacra...

Keep it cheap

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 21, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Finally, Harry Golburg again carps about a chintzy plan not to blow money on a business phone immediately, arguing that this and other decisions motivated by thrift may d...

All in the family

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 21, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Audrey Fox also took umbrage at a suggestion not to spend time telling family and friends about your great business idea. Though Dane's reason for saying this was s...

Beware the mighty Amazon

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 21, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST In a previous comment, Harry, one skeptical reader, also mentions Amazon.com. In fact, those worried about the percentage fees charged by PayPal should know that one of...

Response to critics also draws fire

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 21, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST To date, before my response to the critics from the previous series of posts is even completed, it too is drawing fire from some of the same quarters. (Check the comment ...

PayPal vs. VISA (Part 2)

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 14, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Though I adore Harry for referring to me as "young", a call to a local merchant bank that is also a VISA "acquirer" two weeks ago demonstrated part of...

PayPal vs. VISA (Part 1)

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 14, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Harry Goldburg also had this to say about my advice on Visa and Master Card: I have to disagree once again. Yes, Paypal is a service that is capable of handling all type...

Office supplies and attorneys

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 13, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Link: Bad advice? • office supplies. When a firm I still work for opened a bureau office in 1999 they supplied it with a box of 500 pens all prominently decorated with c...

Patents

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 13, 2007

CONTINUED NEXT POST This issue was also covered by Harry Goldburg, another commenter who was convinced both Dane and I were off our collective rockers. More on Harry's other great feedback later....

Incorporation

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 13, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST This is more of a consideration for those who practice bootstrap entrepreneurship by choice like Greg Gianforte who made enough on the sale of his first venture Brightwor...

Bank Accounts

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 13, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Dave mentions GAP accounting laws as a reason to start a business bank account right off the bat. He's referring, I believe, to General Accepted Accounting Principles...

Accounting

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 13, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Before you've sold your first product to your first customer on what exactly will you seek advice from the accountant you retain? The revenues projected in a well tho...

Bad advice?

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 12, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST This sort of cart-before-the-horse thinking is best expressed in a series of comments on everything from company organization to professional services and right down to t...

Missing the point completely

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 12, 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST Amazingly, most commenters ignored the point of the posts completely which was, of course, small business startup. This means sitting in your living room or in front of ...

Responding to the critics

Filed in archive Entrepreneurship by Shawn Hessinger on May 6, 2007

Last week's series of posts on Ten (X 2) Commandments when starting your bootstrap business venture inspired by Dane Carlson's "20 things not to do before starting a business" ignite...

Write your own commandments