The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future

by Chris Guillebeau

Often, the combination of freedom and value comes about when someone takes action on something he or she loves to do anyway: a hobby, skill, or passion that that person ends up transforming into a business model.

The goal isn’t to get rich quickly but to build something that other people will value enough to pay for. You’re not just creating a job for yourself; you’re crafting a legacy.

convergence represents the intersection between something you especially like to do or are good at doing (preferably both) and what other people are also interested in.

To start a business, you need three things: a product or service, a group of people willing to pay for it, and a way to get paid. Everything else is completely optional.

the secret to a meaningful new career was directly related to making people feel good about themselves.

“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.”

“If you make your business about helping others, you’ll always have plenty of work.”

“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.”

There’s nothing wrong with planning, but you can spend a lifetime making a plan that never turns into action. In the battle between planning and action, action wins.

If you admit to a flaw, weakness, or limitation in your product, this will probably help instead of harm you. This is because when we are evaluating a purchasing decision, we like to consider both the strengths and the weaknesses.

The lesson was that you shouldn’t assume someone isn’t interested or won’t attend or won’t buy.”

Hi [name], I wanted to quickly let you know about a new project I’m working on. It’s called [name of business or project], and the goal is to [main benefit]. We hope to [big goal, improvement, or idea]. Don’t worry, I haven’t added you to any lists and I won’t be spamming you, but if you like the idea and would like to help out, here’s what you can do: [Action Point 1] [Action Point 2] Thanks again for your time.

“Nothing will work unless you do.” —MAYA ANGELOU

People who know less about the business than me do not get to make decisions about it.

“Be careful of letting clients take your business in a direction that makes you hate your job,”

The most important lesson in the whole book: Don’t waste your time living someone else’s life.