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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. Stories. 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.

Welcome to the finale of my book journey.

(Missed the drama? Part 1: I fired my ghostwriter. Part 2: My boss stopped me from self-publishing. Today: The result.)

Walking out of my boss's office, I felt a mix of relief and terror. Relief, because he actually liked the idea. Terror, because I now had a new problem:

How on earth do you find a publisher?

I did what we all do: I asked Google. And the answers were depressing.

If you believe the forums and blog posts, a publishing house is an impenetrable fortress. You can’t just "send them a book." They expect a professional "Exposé" (which is basically a business plan for a book). And the timeline? "Expect to wait at least 6 months for a generic rejection letter."

My Imposter Syndrome kicked in hard. How am I supposed to do this? A migrant kid writing a specialist book? No way.

To be honest: I didn't believe in a successful publication myself.

I realized I couldn't break down this fortress alone. So I changed my strategy. Instead of knocking on doors myself, I decided to find a "door opener."

I looked for a literary agent or consultant. The market for this is… wild. There are a lot of dubious offers out there. But after a month of research, I found him:

Christoph Landgraf.

I emailed him, and we jumped on a call. I pitched him my book idea, and he saw potential.

The Deal: His fee was a flat rate (which felt high back then, but looking back as an entrepreneur, it was fair). We agreed on a "Success Fee" model: I pay for his time and prep work, but he gets a bonus if—and only if—he lands a contract.

Win-Win.

If he fails, I tried my best. If he succeeds, I reach my goal.

Christoph sent me a template for a professional Book Proposal. He knew exactly what publishers looked for because he used to work for one. I filled it out, he refined it, and we sent it out.

I asked him: "How long does this usually take?" He said: "About 6 months."

Okay, I thought. Back to normal life. I hung up the phone and tried to forget about the project.

Two weeks later.

My phone rang. It was Christoph.

My first thought: Oh, I probably forgot to sign a form.

The dialogue went something like this:

"Hello Mr. Landgraf, nice to hear from you. Did I forget something?"

"No, Mr. Kajdas. Do you have a moment?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"I have good news. We have feedback from two publishers who want to offer you a contract."

I froze. "What?! Seriously? Already?"

"Yes, really. And hold on to your seat when I tell you who they are."

"Okay, don't make it suspenseful!"

"The Gabal Verlag and Springer Gabler are both interested. You have to decide. Gabal would need you to rewrite it for a broader audience. Springer wants the manuscript exactly as it is."

I couldn't process it. "Wait... you mean THE Springer Gabler? The big science publisher?"

"Yes. That one."

"If Springer Gabler thinks it's good, I'm going to Springer!"

"Great choice. I'll set everything up. The publisher will contact you shortly."

We hung up. And I just sat there.

It was one of those moments you only fully grasp in hindsight. Even hours later, I doubted if it was real. Springer Gabler. The manuscript that started as a chaotic Word doc was going to be published by one of the most renowned scientific publishers in the world.

Suddenly, all the voices from my past faded away. I could hear my old German teacher telling me I’d never be able to write three straight sentences. Well, looks like I wrote a whole book.

All the self-doubt, the feelings of inferiority—they just fell off. It felt like liberation.

Imagine this: I started with the plan to put a PDF on my homepage (the equivalent of playing soccer in the backyard). And suddenly, I was standing in the middle of a Champions League stadium.

It was unbelievable.

And honestly? I don't care how critics rate the book. I don't care about the sales numbers. Because the impact this journey had on me and my confidence is something nobody can ever take away.

After the decision, the real work began. The process with Springer Gabler was incredibly warm and professional. I felt like a valued author, not just a number.

It took another 6 months of editing and finalizing. I also had the crazy idea to include QR Codes in a printed book (cool idea, but technical nightmare—would not recommend doing it!).

But I didn't do it alone.

My Lesson for you: Work on your dreams. Even if you think you are "just" a backyard player. You never know when the Champions League might call.

See you at the top,

Bartosz

A successful project is never a one-man show. I didn't just have a great agent; I had a team of specialists who made the book look and feel professional.

If you like the look of my book, the illustrations, or the website, I can introduce you to the creators:

Do you need one of them for your own project? I can make a personal introduction for you.

👉 [Request an Introduction to the Team here]

Want to see the book?

👉 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.

Whether you are just starting your "Word Document" or you just signed a big deal—we want to hear about it.

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. Have you ever had a "Champions League Moment" where you exceeded your own expectations? Reply and tell me! I read every email. ([email protected])