Welcome to this week’s edition of The Bootstrap Insider (Thoughts of the Week). If you’re new here, subscribe to ensure you receive my next piece in your inbox. If you want to read more of my posts, check out my archive.

Hi {{first_name}},

thank you for being part of this newsletter.

As I mentioned before, the main goal of The Bootstrap Insider (Basic) is simple:
to help you find equity-free prize money and opportunities that actually move your startup forward.

But on Sundays, I’m sharing something different: Thoughts of the Week.
Personal learnings. Reflections. Things that stuck with me.

It’s not a fixed category yet—but if you enjoy this kind of content, give me a sign.

Best,

Bartosz

Do you, {{first_name}}, actually have a bucket list?

Or at least a mental wish list? Maybe it includes things like "diving at the Great Barrier Reef," "running a marathon," or—like so many of us—"writing a book."

I believe we all carry this list around with us. Packed with dreams for "someday."

For me, "write a book" was right at the top. But you know how it is with big dreams: the mental hurdles are huge. Do you write it in Word? Do you need special software?

I spent years watching YouTube videos on "how to prepare" and saving empty documents titled "Book Project 2017" that I never opened again…

Until suddenly, everything changed.

The year is 2020. The pandemic hits.

While panic was everywhere, I mostly felt one thing: Uncertainty. Being suddenly confronted with the fragility of life dug deep into my thoughts. Sitting at my desk in isolation in the evenings, I knew one thing: I needed an outlet. I had to turn this nervous energy into something productive, or I was going to lose my mind.

Back then, I had started my podcast "Working With Startups from Science" as a side project, and I wanted to create a Lead Magnet for my website. A simple e-book featuring my experiences from pitch coaching.

Back then, there was no ChatGPT to do the work for me. But I still wanted to take a shortcut. My thought process:

"I’m smart, I’ll just outsource this."

So I hired a ghostwriter. The deal: 20 pages of text for €600. My expectation: A finished, polished e-book that I could proudly present.

When the email with the result arrived, I almost fell off my chair. And not out of excitement.

Attached was a simple Word document. Poorly formatted. The content? General fluff, no depth, and completely lacking my voice. I had paid €600—for 20 pages of garbage.

I was frustrated. I was angry at myself for thinking I could outsource passion. But right in that moment of frustration, something clicked.

That was the birth of my Bootstrapper Mentality.

I thought to myself:

"If a ghostwriter can charge money for this kind of work, I can do it myself—and better."

I deleted the document. All of it. And I started from Page 1.

Every evening during the lockdown, I wrote. It stopped being work and became my therapy. Just when I thought the book was finished, a new chapter would come to mind. What was planned as a small e-book turned into a full manuscript.

The pandemic helped me finally get started. And the book project helped me keep my sanity during the pandemic. A true Win-Win.

But how did a Word document on my laptop end up becoming a real, printed specialist book published by the renowned Springer Verlag?

That is a story about networks and coincidences, which I will share with you next week.

Curious about the final result?

If you can't wait until next week to see what came out of those late-night writing sessions, you can check out the book here:

👉 Get the book here

💡 Pro Tip for Students & University Staff: Before you buy it, check your university library access! If your institution has a subscription, you can often download the eBook for free via SpringerLink.

Speaking of "keeping your sanity": Isolation is the enemy of every good idea. I may have done the writing alone, but success comes from exchange.

That’s why I’m inviting you to our next Community Event:

The Bootstrap Insider - Community Coffee

📅 When: January 27th | 08:00 AM – 09:00 AM

📍 Where: Online

Whether you are an early bird or a late sleeper who needs a reason to get out of bed: Join us! It’s completely casual and non-binding. We’ll drink coffee, swap best practices, and maybe you can tell me what’s currently on your bucket list or what project you’re building.

Sometimes, great things come from a simple coffee chat. ;-)

Click here to add the event to your calendar

Have a great Sunday,

Bartosz

P.S. Is "writing a book" also on your bucket list? Hit reply and let me know! I’d love to hear if you are planning one. ([email protected])