Bootstrapping whilst working full-time

Some quick Bootstrapping tips to get you started!

Simply put, bootstrapping is doing something with nothing, and that ‘something’ usually refers to running a business.

The origins of the term bootstrapping  are up for debate (it’s from the legend of Baron Munchahusen if you believe Guy Kawasaki), but it is generally agreed that it refers to ‘an absurdly impossible action’.

So if bootstrapping a business already seems like madness then why would you try it while working full-time?

I’m sure many people working in digital marketing have fantastic business ideas and think ‘If only somebody would give me £1million to get that business underway.’

Well, the sad fact is that isn’t going to happen, but when you can become an instant worldwide publisher for very little cost then digital bootstrapping is an appealing option for many fantasist millionaires.

So where to start?

• Trees and acorns

All businesses take investment to grow and if you don’t have a VC backer or heaps of spare cash then you’re going to have to make an investment of a different kind.

What are the skills that you’re going to use to bring your idea to life and make it flourish when nearly all the chances are against it?  Copywriting, SEO, design – whatever skill it is you have you’re going to invest it along with a heck of a lot of hours.

• Pick something you’re interested in

That’s why it’s essential you pick a subject you’re interested in – you’re going to get very close to it over the coming years.  Yes, years.  If that gives you a sinking feeling then give up now – wealth doesn’t happen overnight.

Adii Pienaar founder of Woothemes, who create WordPress themes, says: “Stick to creating a business that you love, because once you lose that passion, you’ll lose your drive to improve your business.”

• You have to be lean

Every minute is precious so be sure not to waste a moment, especially when working full-time.  If you need some inspiration on how to integrate lean thinking in to your life then take a look at The Lean start Up by Eric Ries, or his lean start up site

• Become a jack of all trades

If you work full time then it’s inevitable you’ll have other departments with specialist skills you can draw on such as finance, marketing or graphic design.  But with bootstrapping you’re on your own and any additional resources you manage to acquire will be the absolute minimum to keep innovating and growing so it’s essential you can learn new skills.

There is one great advantage of learning new skills in your spare time:  I’ve taken these skills directly in to the workplace.  It makes you more independent, means you can make things happen quicker or voice an opinion on subjects you never felt confident on before.

• Know where to go

Of course, in a networked world you can usually find the answer to a question or somebody with the skills you need with a quick search.

Here are a couple of my ‘go-to’ resources for information and skills:

• Google: Do I really need to say more?
• Fiverr: Need a quick banner or want something a bit more wacky for your marketing activities? Then this is the site for you.
• 99 Designs:  When you need something designed with a bit more skill than fiverr can offer.

Of course you’ve already made a great start by finding this site!

Over to you!

Hopefully this article has given you the confidence to turn that million pound idea in to a reality, or maybe you’re already bootstrapping a business and have something to add.  Either way I’d really like to hear your thoughts on this article…

Thanks to David Coombes for sharing their advice and opinions in this post. David Coombes is a full-time digital marketing professional who runs his own successful stag & hen hen party resource website in his spare time. You can follow him/her on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn.