What's in a Name?

Since launching this blog, I've had friends and acquaintances ask me how I selected the name and what "plan on fire" means, so I'm writing this post to clarify that for anyone who might be curious.

First of all, "plan on fire" is obviously a play on the expression "man on fire," which happens to be the title of a 1981 novel by A.J. Quinnell, although I suspect the phrase may predate his book. Readers may be more familiar with the films based on the novel, one in 1987 and the other in 2004 (with Denzel Washington).

More importantly, "plan on fire" reflects my critical stance towards a myopic view of entrepreneurship often peddled to aspiring business owners. Many academic courses and books on the subject of new venture creation emphasize little beyond writing business plans and raising money, as if these were the skills that will make you into a successful entrepreneur. They won't. They are merely prerequisites necessary to exploit a limited range of opportunities.

Why Write About Bootstrapping?

So, I've decided to add my voice to the chorus of online resources on entrepreneurship. Why does the world need one more blog on early-stage companies, and why do I promote bootstrapping over venture-backed startups? I've elected to focus on bootstrapping, because (a) it's the best approach to entrepreneurship I've found, (b) it seldom receives the attention it deserves in the business press and academic literature, and (c) many resources on bootstrapping do not venture much beyond discussions of sole proprietorships.