100 Startup Paperback – January 1, 2015

I got this book from the library and liked it so much that I bought it. I thought I might write out highlights and steps, but there is too much to do that. That said, it is not an overflow of too much information. I have read books that are hard to follow, hard to pinpoint where to start, what to do next. It is just information vomit.This book is extremely well written, interesting, easy to read. It is succinct in its advice, and orderly - there isn't an overload of text in haphazard placement and order. I wanted to have this book as I get my business set up and on their way. I want to have the best chance I can to do the best job I can, to give it a good and honest go. I believe this book is going to help me immensely.

The $100 Startup is the latest offering from the amazing Chris Guillebeau, who runs a fun blog at The Art of Non-conformity, where he writes great manifestos, updates readers on his mission to visit every single country by the time he turns 35 (he has about 10 months to visit the last 10 countries on his list), and sells some nifty e-books to aspiring travel hackers and creative entrepreneurs.This book is Guillebeau's second and is a bit more polished than his first, while being equally charming. As expected from the title, the $100 Startup focuses on people who built profitable business with small amounts of startup capital, and now earn at least $50,000 a year. Guillebeau definitely did his research for this one, with detailed anecdotes from successful entrepreneurs were woven seamlessly into key points he was trying to make.If you have a vague idea and are looking to quit your job and start anew, but really have no idea where to start or what to consider, the book provides a very good primer. You'll have all sorts of checklists and guidelines to consider (some of which are available for free on 100startup.com), and all sorts of information you likely hadn't even considered.The book is a quick and fun read, and covers an incredibly wide range of topics, ranging from location independence to health insurance, from an info product launch to making decisions about everything from outsourcing to choosing between ideas for projects.The only place where I felt the $100 Startup fell short is that it was so heavy on success stories by successful small businesses where almost identical ideas by equally eager and skilled individuals have fallen flat. Although Guillebeau touches on areas that could lead to less-than-stellar results, and even focused on specific missteps of the successful entrepreneurs he profiled, this may not be the best book for people who make a passable living from their business but want to get to that $50,000+/year level.On the plus side, Chris Guillebeau's integrity and generosity really shines through in the book. The $100 Startup is a breath of fresh air if you're used to reading ones fixated on marketing gimicks; he asks the reader to focus on how you can actually improve people's lives-not how you can convince them that you are. It is always refreshing to get business advice from someone who actually wants to help people.

If you are just starting out as an entrepreneur, this is an excellent resource. I appreciate Chris Guillebeau's optimism and imagination, and I always get a surge of inspiration after reading one of his books.I started my business in 2006, and I have read many business books over the years. This one provides case studies profiling the fun opportunities you can create for yourself when you choose to do what you love in exchange for money.I have modeled my own business after this concept with much success. The seed was planted way back in 2008 when I read 'The 4-Hour Workweek' by Tim Ferriss. Lifestyle design became my primary focus and I built my business to support my travel dreams. More freedom, better health, and more time with my loved ones became my goals.Most people don't think like this. It's the other way around: Focus on making tons of money and ultimately working long hours and sacrificing your mental health and your relationships in the process. 'The $100 Startup' shows you how to take control of your life and build your business to support your dreams. This ultimately leads to better health, more happiness, and endless creativity and contribution.While this book was more long-winded and repetitive than I would have liked, I still enjoyed it and I think it's a must read for those just starting to build their dream business. If you've been in business for yourself for a long time, this book will provide some much needed ideas and inspiration, too.

The book was extremely good. If anyone who is still struggling to find a way to entrepreneurship then this book will definitely help you

er staan handige tips in, maar mensen die het lezen moeten begrijpen dat ze zelf nogsteeds werk moeten doen om iets te beginnen

Es un buen libro, te muestra como hacer un negocio desde la perspectiva de tu hobbie. Señala que hay cosas que disfrutas hacer y que estas mismas pueden tener un valor en el mercado. Para todo aquel que busca empezar un negocio, este libro te permite empezar a pensar desde otra prespectiva.

The book is divided into 16 chapters which are always structured in the same way. Introduction, examples and explanation on the topic of the chapter, partly with "exercises". The chapters are concluded with the Key Points, a kind of summary. Easy to read and always interesting because of the many examples. Who thinks about creating an additional income for himself certainly a help.It is almost always the idea and the perseverance with which one stays on it that brings success. Chris Guillebeau has given himself a task, namely to travel all countries until he is thirty. On the way there, he learned how to get by without a steady job. It's not about getting rich, it's about shaping his life. For his second book he interviewed many people who run a microbusiness and finance their lives with it. From the many interviews and his own experiences he has made a book which describes what you can do to be/become independent. It is a guide how to create an income with work that you determine yourself. It will still be work, but the basic idea is to say, think about how you want to live your life and then rebuild your work so that it could be done. If it does not work, try something else.Through the many examples show that it is normal people who have normal ideas to create their life and income.I am a University of Twente Honors student enrolled in the Entrepreneurship and Business Development track and this was my recommended reading

Life changing stuff. Really enjoyed the lessons I learned that will help me turn around after my first “failed” business and do the right thing in my next one!