Throughout most of the last two weeks, I have been working on a new software project. It's called permanentlink, and it's a SaaS tool for authors. When I published my book Zero to Sold, I ran into one particularly annoying issue: after the book was out, many links that I had put into the book started … Continue reading Limiting Beliefs
Year: 2020
Early Tech Choices and Analysis Paralysis
I was working on a side project this week, and I ran into an all-too-familiar pattern: the more I thought about the technical requirements for this project, the bigger it grew in my mind. I only want to build this for myself to see if I could be Customer Zero. But it derailed quickly. What … Continue reading Early Tech Choices and Analysis Paralysis
“Audience-First” Is Not Just “Building an Audience”
We live in overly practical times. More and more entrepreneurs have been conditioned to look for the quick fix, the growth hack that will get them months' worth of success within a single day. Many founders are looking for immediately actionable tactics, ignoring the long-term strategies in which those should be embedded. That approach has … Continue reading “Audience-First” Is Not Just “Building an Audience”
Finding an Audience for Your Side Business
A step-by-step guide to building your first product, audience-first It's (almost) that easy! You can listen to this article as a podcast episode here: This article inspired my second book, The Embedded Entrepreneur. In the book, I expand on the process of finding, validating, and diving into your side business ideas. In this article, you … Continue reading Finding an Audience for Your Side Business
Priming Your Business for Due Diligence
In preparation for a due diligence process, there are a few things you can routinely update and use. Most of these things have to do with financial and business metrics, while others are legal requirements. The Profit & Loss Sheet One of the first things any interested party will expect you to provide is a … Continue reading Priming Your Business for Due Diligence
Preparing for the Sale From Day One: Getting the Documentation Right
Before any acquisition can happen, many prerequisites need to be in place. There will be an extensive due diligence process. Commonly, "buyer-side due diligence" is the procedure of an acquirer making sure that everything is in order with the business they are about to acquire. It's a detailed investigation, making sure that everything you claimed … Continue reading Preparing for the Sale From Day One: Getting the Documentation Right
At a Crossroads: The Different Kinds of Exits
Companies get acquired for a few reasons: they’re interesting economically, they’re interesting strategically, their employees are attractive, or they are a thorn in the eye of the acquirer, a foe to be vanquished. Depending on why someone wants to buy your company, the deal and the whole process of selling the company may be radically … Continue reading At a Crossroads: The Different Kinds of Exits
A Unified Voice: Staying Consistent When You Grow
At a certain point, it won’t be just you talking to your customers anymore. Your employees will be the first touch-points for customer interactions, co-founders and directors, and partners and other businesses. What once was a unified voice—your voice—is now a chorus. If you want to have a company that is consistent and aligned, you’ll … Continue reading A Unified Voice: Staying Consistent When You Grow
How I Self-Published Zero to Sold, a Bestselling Book on Bootstrapping
On June 29th, 2020, I self-published a book called Zero to Sold: How to Start, Run, and Sell a Bootstrapped Business and released it on Twitter. Within twenty-four hours, I sold 350 copies. Within another twenty-four hours, the book was #1 on Product Hunt and already a category bestseller on Amazon. After a week, 1000 … Continue reading How I Self-Published Zero to Sold, a Bestselling Book on Bootstrapping
Positioning Is Where It’s At
You can position your product in different ways in many different markets. You may have started describing your product in a certain way, only to find that your customers understand it very differently. Many first-time founders make the mistake of iterating on their product but keeping their positioning the same. Even if they're capable enough … Continue reading Positioning Is Where It’s At