Topics in ‘Getting Started’

Why women entrepreneurs fail.

I’m about to break one of my very own rules: Don’t write for women. I’m a woman. I write about business. Why not write about business for women? Because I write for people, and women are people. Because business doesn’t care what you’re packing in your panties. At least, not the kind I write about,… Read more »

Making huge projects work: Implementation

In my last essay, I totally pulled back the curtain on the planning + design stage of the (huge) brand new 30×500. The next step? Action, baby. And the key takeaway? Work has an interface and experience all its own… and YOU get to design YOURS. Do it right, and it’ll pay you back. Typically,… Read more »

VIDEO: Failure vs Creating a product people want to buy

Newsflash: Lean Startup and Customer Development are inherently broken. If you ask me, the whole process is functionally bankrupt. Why? Let me answer your question with a pair of questions: Why do you create good things… but nobody buys? Worse: Why do you feel the thrill of a great idea, then get stuck before you… Read more »

From Pain into a Product, a real live coaching session

Five years ago, we launched the very first class that would become 30×500. For the last 3 three years, Alex and I have played the role of heartless gatekeepers: Wanna take 30×500? Great, you have to apply. Not a designer, or a developer? Sorry, friend, but we can’t accept your application at this time. We… Read more »

I used to suck at shipping.

Are you a procrastinator? Do you have a list of unfinished (or unstarted) projects as long as your arm? Don’t feel bad about it. Do something about it. People often marvel at the amount of shit I manage to get done. Me! With a part-time effort, because I am so often ill and juggling two… Read more »

How Your “Fuck This!” Moment Changes Everything

“I’m going to write a book.” “I’m going to build a SaaS app.” “I’m going to quit my job and travel the world.” Sound familiar? How often are these statements followed by action — real action? We all know That Guy. We all know people who spend all their time talking about what they want,… Read more »

From Zero to $3k MRR in 10 days — the story of launching RubySteps

Less than 2 weeks ago, Ruby developer Pat Maddox‘s rent was due. He had quit his job some time before. He had no audience or mailing list, no products… But he did have one thing: He had a pile of hard-earned Sales Safari research, thanks to his time in our 30×500 Product Launch Class. So… Read more

Startup Escape Plan: How to free up time, energy & money to build your future

When you stop working for the day, have you really gotten anywhere? Will the hours that you spent today still be paying off for you next week, next month, next year? If your answer is “No,” then you’re probably here because you’re somewhere on the left side of this spectrum: But you want to be… Read more »

Why You Should Do A Tiny Product First

NOTE: The Bootcamp has been moved to June 29/30th due to conflicts. Expect an official announcement this week! So, one of the major changes that Alex and I are making to 30×500 is to teach our students to create an educational product first. What’s an educational product, or infoproduct? Anything small that teaches (which isn’t […]

Nathan Barry’s $5k App Challenge: My Seasoned Bootstrappy Advice

I think Nathan Barry is the bee’s knees. He’s been killing it with his info products: The App Design Handbook and Designing Web Applications. Even before he announced his Web App Challenge, to build an app from scratch that would reach $5,000/mo revenue in 6 mos, I was sure it would only be a matter […]

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