Book review: The Bootstrapper’s Bible by Seth Godin

Book review
The Bootstrapper’s Bible by Seth Godin

If you have ever dipped your toe in marketing, you must have undoubtedly heard of Seth Godin. It is hard to describe what Seth Godin actually is precisely, because he is so many things when it comes to thinking, questioning and probing about current business affairs, especially in the marketing field. There is one definition that comes to my mind whenever I encounter on Seth’s work: the marketing and business philosopher.

If you know about Seth, you know he is a prolific writer as well. He is the author of nineteen international bestsellers that have been translated into over 35 languages, and have changed the way people think about marketing and work. For a long time, Unleashing the Ideavirus was the most popular ebook ever published, and Purple Cow is the bestselling marketing book of the decade.

But today we will not talk about his most famous work, but about the one he has written more than 20 years ago: The Bootstrapper’s Bible. You see this is the evergreen book for entrepreneurs. It talks about how to start and build a business with a great idea, but almost no money. Sounds familiar to your story perhaps?

So who is a bootstapper? quoting:

“TAPE THIS TO YOUR BATHROOM MIRROR AND

READ IT OUT LOUD EVERY NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED:

I am a bootstrapper. I have initiative and insight and guts, but not much money. I

will succeed because my efforts and my focus will defeat bigger and better-funded

competitors. I am fearless. I keep my focus on growing the business—not on politics,

career advancement, or other wasteful distractions.

I will leverage my skills to become the key to every department of my company, yet realize

that hiring experts can be the secret to my success. I will be a fervent and intelligent user

of technology, to conserve my two most precious assets: time and money.

My secret weapon is knowing how to cut through bureaucracy. My size makes me faster

and more nimble than any company could ever be.

I am a laser beam. Opportunities will try to cloud my focus, but I will not waver from my

stated goal and plan—until I change it. And I know that plans were made to be changed.

I’m in it for the long haul. Building a business that will last separates me from the

opportunist, and is an investment in my brand and my future. Surviving is succeeding, and

each day that goes by makes it easier still for me to reach my goals.

I pledge to know more about my field than anyone else. I will read and learn and teach.

My greatest asset is the value I can add to my clients through my efforts.

I realize that treating people well on the way up will make it nicer for me on the way

back down. I will be scrupulously honest and overt in my dealings, and won’t use my

position as a fearless bootstrapper to gain unfair advantage. My reputation will follow

me wherever I go, and I will invest in it daily and protect it fiercely.

I am the underdog. I realize that others are rooting for me to succeed, and I will gratefully

accept their help when offered. I also understand the power of favors, and will offer them

and grant them whenever I can.

I have less to lose than most -- a fact I can turn into a significant competitive advantage.

I am a salesperson. Sooner or later, my income will depend on sales, and those sales

can be made only by me, not by an emissary, not by a rep. I will sell by helping others

get what they want, by identifying needs and filling them.

I am a guerrilla. I will be persistent, consistent, and willing to invest in the marketing of

myself and my business.

I will measure what I do, and won’t lie about it to myself or my spouse. I will set strict

financial goals and honestly evaluate my performance. I’ll set limits on time and money

and won’t exceed either.

Most of all, I’ll remember that the journey is the reward. I will learn and grow and enjoy

every single day.

In fact you can find all this and more…for FREE, if you download The Bootstrapper’s Manifesto, which is a shortened version of the book itself. You can downloaded here.

Remember these 9 magic rules that Seth offers in the book:

1. Ship real work.
2. Do it now.
3. Serve clients eager to pay.
4. Resist the urge to do average work for average people.
5. Own your assets.
6. Scale is not a reward.
7. Charge a lot and be worth more than you charge.
8. Create boundaries for yourself about what you do (and don’t do).
9. Become ever more professional.

 You can find every single possible detail that anyone could ever want to know at https://www.sethgodin.com/

I would also urge you to subscribe to daily Seth’s blog.  it is worth a gold mine.

Happy reading!