What I learned in my first 2 years of bootstrapping a startup

I made a conscious decision to fund 3 Degrees ourselves as I wanted to build a company based on our belief system that?might not fit the typical corporate mold.

To paraphrase my corporate crush (Basecamp or 37Signals), I believe that companies can have a positive impact on their ecosystem. I treat people like how I want to be treated - whether it's doing our best for clients, doing right by our employees and even?keeping a?balance of work and play. For example, we have a 4-day workweek in?December (submit your resume here).

However, bootstrapping your company can bring a whole new set of joys and challenges.

1) Everyone is a potential staff. Even your unborn child. And isn't 10 the legal working age in some countries?

?2) You call up clients who owe you money more often than you call your mother.?

3) Ikea office furniture isn’t half-bad. That high-back chair is almost like an Aeron if you sit like so.

4) You can finally have the pantry that you’ve always wanted. Chia seed biscuits? Ginger ale? Score!

5) Listening to Spotify is a good distraction while cleaning the office on a Saturday.?

6) Your landlord is your best friend. He’ll fix the leaking window and paint that wall for free if you ask him really, really nicely.

7) Everyone smiles on payday. Except you and your bank account.

8) There are no holidays. Ever.

9) But the satisfaction of seeing the company grow? Priceless.

Given a choice, we'd probably do the same all over again as it's time for business to get back to basics. Running a company should not be about cutting off 10,000 staff?so that you can increase your share price by 2.7%. It should be about delivering exceptional work, getting paid a decent amount for it?and then sharing the bounty with those who have contributed to your bottom-line.?

We don't spend on things that don't really matter and invest in what's really important - people.

(More on 3Degrees here)?