Jason's Business By Bootstraps

  • Nutrition for success

    I’ve been thinking about food and nutrition a lot lately, in part because the takeout options around my office leave a lot to be desired.  There are four grocery stores within a ten minute walk, which in theory is cheaper than prepared food, but without full kitchen facilities it quickly becomes a game of annoying […]

  • On “Tetrising” your deliverables

    The beginning of the month is a time of reflection for me, as I tally up my hours worked and accomplishments, er, accomplished, like I mentioned yesterday.  As it happens, this past month went pretty well, by the numbers, with a solid gain over the previous month that continues the curve I’m working on, but […]

  • It’s nothing you haven’t heard before

    A thought last night while driving through Brockville – a passing memory of a coach’s speech to the team, some 20-odd years ago. It was one of his better ones, but not one we much wanted to hear.  See, Brockville reminded me of it not because the race was held there, but the team that […]

  • The secret language of the market

    I was on the road this weekend to Quebec, where many people speak English but it’s not something that should be assumed. My French is passable but rusty. A funny thing’s been happening though – I haven’t had to use it very much. That’s partly because I’m traveling with other people who’ve handled a lot […]

  • When list brokers attack!

    Welcome to the world of direct mail list buying!  Check out the mailing list finder by mailing list brokers NextMark as just one example, and search for your target demographic.  Or, if you want to surprise yourself, search for the demographic you’re in, and see how many companies you deal with are renting out your name. […]

  • Embracing inbox infinity

    It’s funny to read my thoughts on achieving inbox zero three years ago.  While I generally keep my inbox pretty empty, lately it’s been slipping out of control again.  The thing is though, what was fine back when I was an employee isn’t necessarily the best strategy for an entrepreneur, and I need to be […]

  • Amazon reviews reveal more than you think

    I recently picked up The Narrow Road: A Brief Guide to the Getting of Money by Felix Dennis [Amazon affiliate link] on the recommendation of someone who understands that the road to success is indeed a narrow one. And, because the Amazon reviews were awesome. No, really, two of the five customer reviews, plus the […]

  • Todo lists considered harmful

    The title’s a little misleading, but my comp sci training forces me to invoke Dijkstra whenever possible. Just so we’re clear, I’ve been using a daily todo list for most of this year, and the reasons are very simple: when I start the day with a list, I get more done.  More so if the […]

  • On the highest and best use of time

    The “highest and best use” concept is one that’s been hammered into my head relentlessly over the past year or so by various mentors and coaches.  Maybe it’s been overemphasized because of the years of corporate work that I need to deprogram from my brain (nothing wrong with the work I did, but it occurred […]

  • Closing prospects: how long should it take?

    Over the course of the year, I’ve been lucky to have a number of potential deals fall into my lap (and I know I’m lucky because up until recently my biggest marketing effort has been to install a phone and wait for it to ring.)  To the new business owner, it’s a euphoric feeling; similar […]