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by Hope

There was  a post from Julie Chenell somewhere this week that really hit home during this time in my life. I follow her on everything, so can’t remember where it was exactly. I have followed her forever. And love her posts, her story, her passion…I can relate to her on so many levels.

Back to the point of this post…she kind of went off on the internet about how business owners don’t know how to bootstrap it now. The market has changed. What was once a “golden goose” for so many small business owners is evolving. And people are complaining about it and not prepared for it. I see this all over the place.

And in some senses, I am facing it myself as I attempt to re-launch my business. However, I’ve been through it a couple of times. And know that to keep up and stay relevant, my business and I must change. I’ve got to modify what I offer, how I offer it, and even where I offer it. (Phew, that’s a lot of change all at once. Seriously, who does well with change, anyone?!?)

Bootstrapping 101

Now I’m going back to the basics. I’ve downgraded all my business tools and I’m exploring alternatives. Would anyone be interested in a serious of exactly how I modify my business in preparation for re-launching. I mean, the nitty, gritty details…tools, costs, services. Just a thought, let me know if you are interested.

But today, I spent some time reviewing the tools I love, their costs (because really everything has changed since I closed down a couple of years ago,) and making a list of what are NEEDS vs WANTS in this endeavor.

Here are a few things I am reviewing:

1. Scheduling – I love Calendly. Thankfully, they offer a free version that does everything I need at this moment. It integrates with my Google calendar and that is a MUST have for me.
2. Cloud storage – I have used Dropbox FOREVER, but am seriously considering switching to Google storage instead. Anyone have any experience with this? From the research I’ve done, there would be a cost savings and well, it’s Google so it integrates with everything. Although, I do have to mention that I love the Dropbox password keeper.
3. Website – Thankfully, because I host so many of my clients’ websites, my own websites are hosted for free. But I do need to refresh and relaunch my site(s) depending on the direction I decide to go. (And yes, they are all WordPress sites that I design myself. What a website? Hit me up!)
4. Analytics – I make decisions based on numbers, so deep diving into analytics has been important. Since Google launched GA4, I am working on getting certified and up to speed on all the new offerings.
5. Advertising – For the bulk of my contracting career, I’ve gotten work from sites like Guru and Upwork. But after the last couple of months of investing time and money there…well, it’s not paying off like it used to. So I must explore some other options. Any suggestions, fellow small business owners?

Staying Focused but Open

I am staying very focused on searching for work…hitting up everything I can find. (And yes, I am looking at both contract work and full time W2 employment.) But while I’m doing that…I’m about to bootstrap this relaunch like I’ve never done before. Let me know if you’d like to hear more about how I do this exactly.

Read more from Hope

A Whole Day Off Work – March, 2021

I Got a New Job – April, 2014

Striking Out on Your Own – April, 2014

When Absolutely Everything is Up in the Air…Again – January, 2023

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.