It pisses me off when people say they don’t have enough money to start a business. That’s a load of crap!
Many of the biggest, strongest companies were launched in garages with just pocket change – Amazon and FedEx, for example. Yet Silicon Valley is littered with multi-million dollar dot.com start-ups that went belly up before they earned one penny of profit.
Having limited resources is actually a huge advantage in business. Success requires ingenuity, perseverance, and gratitude, which is not required of silver spoon entrepreneurs. Put one person with $100 to invest and another with plenty of backing up against each other in a battle of start-ups, and my money’s on the underdog. Always.
Having Less Forces You to Use Your Mind
Financial limitations force you to think outside of the box to come up with creative solutions to problems. A person with lots of dough is more likely to throw money at a problem, rather than think her way out of it, missing a golden opportunity for growth and invention.
Having Less Helps You Stand Out
You can’t possibly follow the status quo without money – and that’s a GOOD thing. Do you really want to bust your butt to keep up with the guy down the street when you could be blazing a new trail?
People with capital spend a lot of money trying to look like everyone else, and when that doesn’t work they spend even more money trying to be unique. You don’t have the money to keep up in the first place, so you’re already ahead of the game!
Having Less Makes You Grateful
Gratitude is the key to manifesting more of what you want. TPEs like us appreciate what we have, and every little gain, every small win that comes down the pike. Well-funded entrepreneurs may take money and success for granted, which is like telling the universe you could care less about the gifts you’ve been given, a surefire way to stop the flow of cash!
Having Less Inspires You to Be Resourceful
When you have limited resources you make better use of them. You’re smarter about it, able to strategize how you could make the most of what you have and get more of what you need for next to nothing. Most people think it’s not possible, but you know better.
Whether you need office furniture, plane tickets, or a staff, inspired use of resources can help you get what you need. Trade, entice, scavenge, you’ll do whatever you have to do to get what you need, besides pay for it. (As long as it doesn’t get you on C.O.P.S.)
Having Less Enables You to Use Less – Even When You Have More
So many businesses tank because the moment the money starts rolling in, the founders go on a spending spree, loading up on office supplies like they’re stocking a bunker. All of sudden they’re paying retail, signing expensive office leases, and the worst of the worst – hiring unnecessary staff at high salaries.
Despite the fact that I sold two companies for millions, my ass is still sitting on a used office chair I got for free. (What? It’s not smelly or anything!) Accustomed to working with less, I still operate my business with the attitude that I’m not made of money. And that means my bottom line is healthier than most.
I’m not saying the homeless dude in the park is better equipped than a guy with angel financing. But if you’re living in your mom’s basement, you’ve got a good chance of making it. (Plus the food’s better.)
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