In an age of venture capital headlines and unicorn dreams, one approach to entrepreneurship remains timeless—and underrated: bootstrapping.As outlined in a compelling Big Think article, based on the book Bootstrapping by Rosen and Schramm, this method isn’t just about “doing more with less.” It’s about maintaining control, reducing risk, and staying true to your mission.“Bootstrapping isn’t just a funding strategy—it’s a mindset,” write the authors. And that mindset can mean the difference between being owned by your business or owning your future.Why Bootstrapping Matters NowIn today’s uncertain economy, more aspiring entrepreneurs are rethinking the rush to raise money. They’re asking: Can I prove my concept without outside funding? Is growth sustainable on revenue alone? Will I sacrifice long-term vision for short-term cash? Bootstrapping provides the discipline to say yes to all of the above. It demands clarity, focus, and relentless customer value—traits that build lasting businesses.
Living with Purpose: How One Entrepreneurship Professor is Inspiring the Next Generation
Living with Purpose: How One Entrepreneurship Professor is Inspiring the Next Generation
“Why are you doing what you’re doing?” That question changed the trajectory of Sean Dwyer’s life—and today, it’s helping him shape the future of business education.
Dwyer, an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business, is on a mission: to help his students discover their deeper purpose and empower them to build businesses that make a meaningful difference in the world.
He didn’t always plan to teach. In 2008, Dwyer started college with dreams of becoming a doctor. But a pivotal moment at a 2009 conference challenged him to think differently. After hearing the story of Blake Mycoskie—founder of TOMS Shoes and creator of the “One for One” model—Dwyer realized business could be a powerful force for good. That realization sparked a lifelong commitment to purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
Since then, he’s launched a charitable clothing line, worked as a CPA and consultant, and traveled to rural Southeast Asia with Youth With a Mission. It was there, among aspiring entrepreneurs with limited resources, that Dwyer’s conviction deepened: business can be a tool to lift communities out of poverty.
That calling led him to pursue a Ph.D. at Baylor University, where he connected with like-minded changemakers, including the team behind the BEST (Business, Excellence, Scholarship and Team) program. Together, they began shaping what business education could look like when rooted in purpose.
Earlier this year, Dwyer helped host a “Live with Purpose” event at OU, bringing together students from both Baylor and OU to hear from university leaders, social entrepreneurs, and each other. The impact was immediate. Students walked away inspired—not just to succeed, but to use their success to serve others.
As one student, Preston Rathburn, put it:
“Financial success alone doesn’t bring fulfillment. True purpose comes from something deeper.”
Dwyer sees Gen Z as one of the most purpose-driven generations yet—but also one at risk of losing motivation in unfulfilling work environments. He believes universities and companies alike have a responsibility to help this generation thrive by aligning mission with meaning.
“Helping raise up the next generation of business leaders with a strong sense of purpose is a major part of my own purpose,” he says. “And I’m incredibly grateful to do that at the Price College of Business.”
With research underway and a forthcoming book on purpose-driven entrepreneurship, Sean Dwyer is walking the talk—and inspiring others to do the same.
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Bootstrapping: The Entrepreneur's Path to Controlling Their Own Destiny
Resilience: The Foundational Skill Every Entrepreneur Needs
“Entrepreneurship is about experimentation: the probabilities of success are low, extremely skewed, and unknowable until an investment is made.”After more than a decade of building ventures across Asia, I can say with full conviction: this is the most honest statement I’ve ever heard about entrepreneurship.It’s not a comfortable truth. But it’s the truth: Not everyone is built to be an entrepreneur.It’s Not About the Idea — It’s About the Bounce Back The defining trait that separates those who make it from those who don’t isn’t brilliance, funding, or even having a world-changing idea. It’s resilience — your ability to recover from failure and keep moving forward.When I co-founded ATEC back in 2016, we had a big vision: clean cooking tech that could dramatically reduce indoor air pollution, raise household incomes, and help fight climate change.The potential was enormous. The reality? Much harder. In Cambodia, we faced skeptical customers, fragmented logistics, and moments where it felt like nothing would work.Those were the first of many inflection points: quit, or adapt. We chose to listen more deeply to our customers, refine the model, and push forward — one step at a time.
Leadership That Prevents Burnout: Building Resilience Into the Workplace
Employee burnout has quietly become one of the most damaging epidemics in the modern workplace. The “always on” culture, rapid-fire pace, and constant pressure to produce don’t just wear people down—they often break them. And the effects are serious: damaged mental health, declining job performance, and shortened careers.But burnout isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a leadership one. Solving it starts with leaders who create cultures of resilience, flexibility, and trust.1. Create Awareness to Empower ActionToo often, burnout is only noticed after it's done the damage. But wise leaders stay proactive. Use engagement analytics, absentee trends, and tools like eNPS surveys or anonymous feedback to spot early warning signs. One-on-one check-ins—done with genuine empathy—can open the door to honest conversations before crisis hits.When employees see their leaders truly listening, it builds trust. And trust lays the foundation for real change.2. Build an Agile, Adaptable Work CultureRigid policies and unrealistic expectations fuel burnout fast. Instead of controlling how work gets done, shift the focus to outcomes. Flexibility—whether through schedule options, clear boundaries, or space for vacation—gives people the ability to balance work and life without sacrificing results.Even if your team isn’t remote, you can still be flexible. What matters most is whether people feel in control of their time and energy.