Hey bootstrappers,

You know that “cowboy cop” trope from the movies?

The one that goes something like, “You don’t play by the rules, but dammit – you get results!”

While it makes for some admittedly clichéd scenes – and more than a few laughs – the trope also says a thing or two about entrepreneurship. (Stick with me!)

How many people have told you the “best” way to build a business is their way? How many books, videos, or influencers have done the same?

Conventional wisdom is simply a model of success that worked for others. While it can help steer you in the right direction, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll succeed.

Sometimes, you have to break convention and go your own way – just like this week’s founders.

Trust your instincts.

You might be a loose cannon, but you’re the best you’ll ever have. 😉

Ramy Khuffash knew he wanted to start a business but didn’t know what to build, so he asked his newsletter subscribers. Today, his UI tutorials generate a six-figure income.

A Website Full of Screen Recordings Frees This Founder to Work Only Three Days a Week

“People building products spend a lot of time building new features and don’t necessarily have the time to research or the money to hire a pro UI developer. They can sign up to Page Flows to see how everyone else is doing it for a small fee.”

Mallorie Dunn experienced the cruel world of “fast fashion” first-hand and hated it. She decided to reimagine what fashion could be – tailored, fun, and inclusive – and now can’t fulfill orders fast enough!

How One Woman is Making Online Shopping More Inclusive for People of All Shapes and Sizes

“Keeping people engaged and part of the creative process meant that on the very first day I released a collection, it did 300 percent better than anything released in the previous seven years. It was so impactful.”

Christine Hildebrand’s holistic, almost spiritual approach to strategic consulting and branding might raise an eyebrow or two but has led to over $1 million in revenue and crowds of happy clients.

This “League of Superheroes” Is Not Your Average Consultancy, and Their Success Is Astronomical

“We create safety so that people can speak the truth in real-time. We create belonging so that people want to contribute their best to their team and company, and we help leaders feel and foster pride and dignity in their work, which carries over to culture and how things get done.”

 - Wendy Horng Brawer, Intune Collective

If you've got a great story about your bootstrapped company, we want to help tell it. Fill out this form and we'll be in touch soon. 

What did you think of this week's stories?