Zero to Sold is an actionable guide that takes readers through the four stages of a bootstrapped business: Preparation, Survival, Stability, and Growth. The book recounts the story of FeedbackPanda, a bootstrapped SaaS business that grew to thousands of customers before being sold. It provides practical advice on validating ideas, building products, and growing businesses sustainably, with a focus on mental health and real-world experiences.
The E-Myth Revisited challenges the common assumption that most businesses are started by entrepreneurs. Instead, Gerber argues that most businesses are started by technicians who understand the technical work but not the business itself. The book introduces the concept of the E-Myth and explains that successful business owners must balance three roles: the Entrepreneur (the visionary), the Manager (the planner and organizer), and the Technician (the one who performs the technical work). Gerber emphasizes the distinction between working 'in' your business and working 'on' your business, and he provides strategies for systemizing and scaling businesses, including the concept of the Franchise Prototype.
This book provides practical, step-by-step instructions for developers aiming to launch startups with no outside funding. It focuses on finding product ideas, testing the market, pricing products, using virtual assistants, and structuring the ideal startup launch. The book is tailored for solo founders or small teams, emphasizing sustainable success in niche markets rather than seeking venture capital funding.
In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.
In 'The Infinite Game', Simon Sinek distinguishes between finite and infinite games. Finite games have known players, fixed rules, and a clear endpoint, whereas infinite games, like business and life, have no defined endpoint and are played to continue the game rather than to win. Sinek argues that leaders who adopt an infinite mindset, focusing on a 'Just Cause', building 'Trusting Teams', having 'Worthy Rivals', practicing 'Existential Flexibility', and showing the 'Courage to Lead', will build stronger, more innovative, and resilient organizations. The book uses real-world examples to illustrate the benefits of an infinite mindset and the pitfalls of a finite mindset in business and leadership[1][2][5].
In 'The Embedded Entrepreneur', Arvid Kahl provides a comprehensive guide on how to build a business by first identifying and engaging with the target audience. Instead of developing solutions in search of customers, embedded entrepreneurs join communities, observe, participate, and transform their learnings into products that meet the needs of their audience. The book covers key aspects such as audience discovery, exploration, problem identification, and leveraging social media to build and monetize an audience. Kahl shares his own experiences and practical advice, making the book a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and community builders.
In 'Built to Sell', John Warrillow provides practical advice on creating a business that can operate independently of its owner. The book is structured around a story where a business owner, Alex, is guided by his mentor Ted to transform his marketing agency into a sellable business. Key lessons include running the company as if it will last forever but being ready to sell at any moment, focusing on a specific, non-customizable product or service, creating a positive cash flow cycle, and hiring a sales team to remove the owner from the sales process. The book emphasizes the importance of making the business repeatable, valuable, and teachable to attract potential buyers.
In this book, James P. Carse distinguishes between finite and infinite games. Finite games are instrumental activities with clear rules, boundaries, and winners, such as sports, politics, and wars. Infinite games, on the other hand, are authentic interactions that aim to continue the play, changing rules and boundaries as needed. Carse explores how these concepts apply to various aspects of life, including culture, religion, sexuality, and self-discovery. He argues that finite games offer wealth, status, and power, while infinite games provide something more subtle and grander, such as true freedom and endless possibility. The book offers insights into how approaching life as either a finite or infinite game affects one's choices, satisfaction, and success[2][4][5].
Arvid Kahl is the creator of The Bootstrapped Founder. The Bootstrapped Founder is the home of his Twitter course Find your Following, the books Zero to Sold: How to Start, Run, and Sell a Bootstrapped Business and The Embedded Entrepreneur, which is an audience-driven book teaching you how to build an audience-driven business.
Previously, Arvid was the co-founder of FeedbackPanda, an online teacher productivity SaaS company, with my partner Danielle Simpson. FeedbackPanda was sold to SureSwift Capital in 2019.
In this episode, we talk about the start of FeedbackPanda, a speaking opportunity that opened up a new world for Arvid, the transition from founder to creator, his unconventional approach to Twitter, the difference between creating a course vs. books, and why he’s on a personal mission of Empowerment.
Learn more about Arvid Kahl
Follow Arvid Kahl on Twitter
Take Arvid's Twitter course
Join the Creative Companion Club
Subscribe to Creative Companion
Follow Jay on Twitter
Full transcript and show notes
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ What's underneath brand building for creators
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Creator Science 
