Comfort creep

I love bootstrapping small businesses! Building a livelihood with nothing more than a $500 investment and a lot of curiosity is an adventure everyone should partake at some point.

You’re not going to be able to stay in the bubblegum and duct tape phase forever, though. As you grow, your systems must mature both to sustain the larger load of business, and ensure your personal survival.

When I think back to the early days of Perennial City, it’s baffling. Our rudimentary website required us to manage subscriptions and payments manually for a while, and all the composting was done in our tiny back yard — I don’t know how we did it. Thinking back even just 6 months ago, how I maintained the farm without a skid steer, it’s painful.

The danger to avoid as you develop is innovating yourself into softness. The grittiness and resolve to get things done — despite lack of means and the odds against you — are what transmutes your limited resources into something remarkable.

So, it’s essential that you progress and solve increasingly complex problems. Continually evolve your business. If you can’t seem to stay engaged and excited, it may be time to conjure up another.