There are many people out there that claim pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is an unattainable myth.
However, the truth is that there have never been so many resources that have been as easily accessible to people than in the present day.
Robert Bassam pulled himself up by his bootstraps the hard way, buying used cars for as little as $50 and then fixing them up for resale.
If he could get it done getting his hands dirty, then you can make it happen with your keyboard and internet connection. Here’s how you can make it happen for yourself in a 21st century world…
1) Build your skills
These days, it’s easier than ever to build skills for little or no money on the internet. Some of the most in-demand and high-paying positions that are out there today require coding knowledge.
There are a number of sites that specialize in teaching these languages to anyone willing to put in the time to learn them.
Once you know the basics, you can then take jobs for entrepreneurs that may not pay much to begin with, but once you accumulate a track record of well-done jobs, you will be able to land better-paying work with increasing regularity.
If you don’t want to become a coder, there are other courses that you can take through sites such as Udemy that will help you become a better writer, graphic designer, stock trader, and so on.
2) Cut your costs
No matter how hard you try, it can be nearly impossible to get ahead if your living costs are meeting up or exceeding the amount of money that you are making on a monthly basis.
If you eat out regularly, cut back severely and start cooking the majority of your own meals at home.
Cancel your cable (there’s so much free entertainment on YouTube anyway), gym memberships (the outdoors is one big gym), and anything else that isn’t necessary to get by from day to day.
Move away from higher priced neighborhoods, get a cheaper place to live and take on roommates. Sell your car and start taking public transportation.
All of these steps can cut your outgo significantly, giving you the cash flow that you’ll need to save up money to make a run at whatever business venture you want to start.
If you are globally inclined, consider packing your bags and moving to a more cost-effective part of the world, such as Latin America or Southeast Asia.
In these regions, the average apartment can cost less than half of its equivalent back in the western world, making it super easy to save money and bootstrap your dreams.
3) Network your butt off
No person is an island, especially in today’s hyper-connected world. While the idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps sounds alluring, you can’t do it all by yourself.
When you determine what it is you want to pursue, set to work finding others that are on the same mission as you, or have achieved what you want to achieve.
This way, you’ll have access to perspectives and skill sets that will help you build your business much faster than if you were trying to figure it all out on your own.
What’s more, they may have knowledge of other colleagues that could use your services, which will help boost your bottom line considerably.