Gavin Bowman, director of V4 Solutions e-mails:

Hi Shawn,

Just read your post asking for suggestions for links relating to bootstrapping/entrepreneurship.

I run a weekly newsletter post on my blog for a small community of independent software developers, and the linked contents tend to have that entrepreneur/bootstrapper vibe.

If you think it might be of interest to your readers, the blog link is:-

http://webhelperbrowser.com/blog

Look for any of the 100 or so Micro ISV Digest posts.

If you think the content is a bit specialized, no worries, keep up the good work.

Cheers,

Though I know next to nothing about software development, I've decided to take Saurabh Chandra's advice about "How to become the right person" in order to bootstrap an idea called PostRanger.com to reality.

Whether that will mean learning programming myself or finding a partner or reasonable subcontractor to build the platform while I continue to focus on content, my personal forte, you can bet I'll be spending time on your site in the near future, Gavin.

If you've got a great idea that won't go away, don't chuck it just because you don't have all the appropriate talents. Instead:

• Focus on learning. Educate yourself as much as possible. Bootstrapping means you won't have the security of a big bankroll to buy the expertise you need and maybe that's for the best. Having two much money could be dangerous if you know too little about your business and trust experts for hire who are working for the payoff not for you.
• Get yourself connected. Surround yourself with good people committed to your dream and willing to take a share of its possible future. Good managers and entrepreneurs have always known it doesn't require expertise in every facet of your business to succeed so long as you know enough to guide the people who do.
• Focus on core competencies. Just because you'll be learning a lot of new skills, doesn't mean you should abandon the talents you already bring to the table. Regardless of how much I learn about programming in the effort to build PostRanger.com, I know that creating content remains my strong suite and it is where I will continue to concentrate my energies.

Photo Credit: Jane M Sawyer, MorgueFile