$100 startup

In The $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau tells you how to live a life of adventure, meaning, and purpose, and earn a decent living. Chris, who is still in his early thirties, is about to complete a world tour—he has already visited more than 175 countries—yet he has never held a real job or received a regular paycheck. Instead, he has a special genius for turning ideas into income, and he uses his earnings to support his adventurous life and give back. There are many others like Chris—those who have found ways to forgo traditional work and dedicate their time and income to pursuing what they find meaningful. Sometimes, achieving that perfect combination of passion and income doesn't depend on giving up what you're currently doing. You can start small, committing a little time and money, and wait until you see if it works. In preparing to write this book, Chris identified 1,500 individuals who had founded businesses that generated $50,000 or more with a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less). From this group, he chose to focus on the 50 most interesting case studies. In almost all cases, people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal passion that could be monetized and were able to restructure their lives in ways that gave them greater freedom and fulfillment. Here, finally, summarized in one easy-to-use guide, we present the most important lessons from those who have learned how to turn what they do into a gateway to self-fulfillment. It's all about finding the intersection between your "expertise"—even if you don't consider it that—and what others will pay for. You don't need an MBA, a business plan, or even employees. All you need is a product or service that stems from what you love doing anyway, people willing to pay, and a way to make money. Chris doesn't just talk in generalities. He tells you exactly how much money his group of unlikely entrepreneurs needed to get their businesses up and running; what these individuals did in the first weeks and months to make a fortune; some of the key mistakes they made along the way; and the crucial insights that contributed to the venture's success. Among Chris's key principles are: if you're good at one thing, you're probably good at something else; never teach a man to fish—sell him fish; and in the battle between planning and action, action wins. In ancient times, people dissatisfied with their lives dreamed of finding magic lamps, buried treasure, or streets paved with gold. Today, we know that changing our lives is in our own hands. And, even more beautiful, if we change our lives, we'll help others change theirs. This brilliant book will guide you on your way.