The Minimalist Entrepreneur: How Great Founders Do More with Less

Minimalist entrepreneurs aim to be profitable from day one or soon after, because profit is oxygen for businesses. And they do that by selling a product to customers, not by selling their users to advertisers.

While you probably won’t have millions of email subscribers, each subscriber is worth far more than a follower. Besides the product itself, Gumroad’s email list is probably our most valuable business asset.

Start by educating, then inspiring, then entertaining. Each of these three levels of content is more far-reaching than the last.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’re already in the process of building a product, knowing and contributing to your community is key at every stage. Remember that, and you’ll find and nurture the right atmosphere for collaboration, growth, and eventually a sustainable business that matters.

It’s the community that leads you to the problem, which leads you to the product, which leads you to your business. Once you’ve found community-you fit, start contributing with the intention of becoming a pillar in that community. Pick the right problem (it’s probably one you have), and confirm that others have it. Then confirm you have business-yo... See more

There are only four different types of utility: place utility, form utility, time utility, and possession utility. What can you make easier to understand, faster to get, cheaper to buy, or more accessible to others?

Now more than ever before, we don’t need to move to a place called Silicon Valley, go to a school called Harvard or Stanford, and raise money from the venture capitalists. The internet lets you learn from anywhere, network with anyone, and raise money directly from customers.

Minimalist entrepreneurs don’t have millions of dollars, nor do they want to manufacture problems for people. Instead, we believe that people already have enough problems, and that our role is to help them get rid of one.

“Viral success” is a myth, pure and simple. There is no such thing.

“Creating a product is a process of discovery, not mere implementation. Technology is applied science,” Naval Ravikant says.