Bootstrapping Help From My Network
Creating a business without funding means asking friends to help, learning how to do tasks that should really be outsourced and sleeping on friends’ couches. How have I managed to launch a company within 3 weeks? The obvious, working my rear off, but also, relying upon my network. Colleagues who have turned into friends. And friends who want to see me succeed. Folks who know I would do the same for them. A good deal of the help I received came by way of instant messenger, sending files back and forth and Facebook communications.
Within a 2 week time period, I:
- Got that amazing logo you see to the right by asking one friend to create the shiny door graphic and another friend to create the name logo. The shiny door was created by Rick Groves and the name logo was created by Danno Vivarelli. Both tremendously skilled graphic artists.
- Yesterday I relied upon a friend at the Chicago Technology Cooperative to talk me through installing a new Drupal theme at angelasiefer.com. It was a bit painful for both of us. But the site looks great and I now have new skills!
- I’ll be wearing out my welcome in two different places next week. I will be in Chicago and DC for my first two workshops. Couch surfing. When a friend lets you stay at their place for multiple days you know you are a lucky gal.
- I am a firm believer that written material should have a 2nd pair of eyes. Most of the text on my site has been reviewed and edited by friends. I have 5 folks I shamelessly ask to review my text. I need 5 because at any point in time I’m happy if I find one of them available.
- How did I set up 3 workshops for December and am on my way to 2 for January? Friends. Friends who agreed to help me find space and promote the workshops. The Chicago workshop is being held at the Community Media Workshop, preceded by a presentiation the previous day at Net Tuesday Chicago. The DC workshopis being held at the New America Foundation. The Columbus workshop is being held at the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State. All three of them are being/have been promoted by other friends. The Chicago class filled up within 2 hours of being posted!
I would not be as far along in setting up Shiny Door as I am today without my network, an international network I have built over the years. A network with relationships that would not be as strong as they are if it were not for my use of social networks and other online tools.
