This formula is proof you can launch a business for under $1,000. — I’ve built companies for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and I’ve built companies for hundreds of dollars. I’ve also lost hundreds of thousands of dollars (typically on those more expensive-to-build companies), and I’ve made hundreds of thousands on companies with an initial investment of under a thousand. I’m living proof…

A few considerations before you accept venture capital (or any other type of funding). — A few years ago I received an email out of the blue that really took me by surprise. I was at least a couple of years into my startup journey (also known as, living in a dingy 400 square foot studio apartment and trying to stretch my savings as long…

What I learned in my first startup failure and how you can determine if and when to cut your losses. — Let’s be honest: I know why you’re here. You’re excited to hear another startup failure story from someone whose dreams have crashed and burned before them, even better to hear it was all their fault (what a poor, pathetic loser of an entrepreneur they must be), and you can’t wait…

How a boy named Esmeralda changed my life. A love story for those who don’t believe in love. — Let me preface this with the fact that I’m not a very emotional person. I don’t open up quickly or easily and I have an auto-cringe response to most anything mushy or gushy hurled my way. I like to keep my friends, enemies, and pretty much all humans a good six to ten emotional feet away from me on a fairly regular basis.

Then I realized having 500k+ followers and an impressive resume doesn’t make someone right — even if the credentials are there. — A paranoid intrusive thought penetrated my brain, sending a momentary shiver down my spine that I tried to shake off. Just to be certain I’d let mind tricks get the best of me, I clicked the link to confirm I was being irrational. That’s when it happened: I stared at…

Conquering it will put you above 80% of the competition — Before I started my first company, I had a vague idea of what the “day in the life” of a successful entrepreneur should look like. That stereotypical vision was a Silicon Vallified agenda, not too different from what you’ve seen in countless startup documentaries: Important investor meetings Project delegation and…

Just because a person can do something, doesn’t mean they should — Anyone who knows me (well) would likely admit that one of my biggest weaknesses is my brutal honesty; some call it “honest to a fault” (at the expense of the recipient’s feelings or emotions). Luckily, I’ve managed to finesse my delivery in situations where protecting feelings is important; however, this…

Don’t take all the bait — just the nugget of gold — It still astounds me to this day the things people will type in far-from-anonymous emails, particularly to businesses (including ones they’ve never patronized). Furthermore, I’m not talking about teenage bullies or unproductive couch potatoes with no lives. I’m talking about seemingly accomplished, bright, or at least sane people who still…

AI tools are breeding millions of destined-to-fail entrepreneurs who haven’t a clue — There are three types of people reacting to ChatGPT: Those petrified that AI is going to take their job, but too fearful or disinterested to dig any deeper or use it to their advantage Those living blissfully under a rock, who have no clue just how much has changed over…