Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building a Successful Company from Scratch

Kenneth L. Hess

Bootstrap serves as a useful reference for the prospective or newly established entrepreneur and offers valuable lessons for anyone interested in building a self-funded company, regardless of industry. Ken Hess lets the reader step into the shoes of the entrepreneur, and benefit from first hand experiences on what worked well and what failed. Written in narrative form, the book takes the reader through the evolution of a company, from one employee to one hundred, and highlights the fundamental business philosophies that enabled this entrepreneur to achieve success. The book covers topics applicable to any company, such as: how to hire the right employees, developing a functional organizational structure, creating a vision that translates into actionable objectives for every employee, managing the product portfolio, and understanding your customers needs and market trends to stay one step ahead of the competition.


From the Author:

What`s it like to start a business from scratch? I found it to be intensely creative and stimulating -- so rewarding that I`m in the process of doing it again. Yet the very thought of leaving a job to start your own business scares many people. Should you start your own company? This book provides an insider`s window into the process I went through, starting with a dream and ending years later with the sale of my company, Banner Blue Software, at a handsome price. As I built my business, I learned answers to these questions and many others. Ultimately, I did more right than wrong, for Banner went on to great success. I hope that by sharing what I learned, you can improve your chance of success and minimize your mistakes.





About the Author

Kenneth L. Hess was founder and President of Banner Blue Software, a bootstrap startup that he built to annual sales of $23 million. Leveraging his twenty-five years of business experience, Ken taught Entrepreneurial Business Management in the Stanford University Continuing Studies Program. With interests that extend beyond management, Ken holds one of the first software patents. Ken is a graduate of Stanford University and received an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Currently, Ken participates in several entrepreneurial ventures, and he serves on the boards of Sensant Corporation and Stanford University`s Hoover Institution.