Resources

This is a list of tools, books and courses for bootstrappers and affiliate businesses. I'll list all the nice stuff I use myself and really like. Plus, at the end you'll find a list of resources I have tried and do not recommend.

Please note that when possible, I'm using affiliate links. It means I'll get pennies if you choose to buy that tool/product/course. This does not cost you anything and I always tell you my true opinions on the resources. 

Courses 

• SiteBuildIt (aka. SBI!): A 10-day course to start up a web business on a topic you feel passionate about. The course has a process for selecting a topic that is popular enough and that has chances to be monetized. Then you'll build a site on that subject. This is a perfect course for a beginner who wants to concentrate on learning how to make business - and not on technical details. Huge amount of learning material and tools for creating content. Also, no extra costs - the domain hosting and all the tools are included in the price.
  
  My SiteBuildIt! Reviews:
• $1000 Passive Income Site Walkthrough
• SBI - Why People Fail?
• Midway Battle - SBI! vs GRWeB 3.0

• 30x500: Recipe for a successful business? Sell something worth of $30 for 500 people per month and you have it. 4 months to learn all tricks needed, starting in November 2012. The course is run by Amy Hoy, the creator Let's Freckle and Charm. She's been there and she has done it - several times. There are no free seats left for this round - you'll have to wait for the next one! 
  
  My 30x500 Reviews:
• Yay! I'm In 30x500!

Tools And Software

• WP Engine: This WordPress hosting service makes sure you'll be up and running all the time. Read my review here. 
• RescueTime: Let's you know where you procrastinate while online. Unlike regular time trackers, you don't have to remember to record anything, RescueTime spies your activity on its own and sends you a weekly report.
• Let's Freckle: The prettiest time tracking application there is. I have the free plan and I'm using it to track hours for my passive income project. You can read more in Sharpen Your Focus With Freckle.
• LastPass: Stores your passwords in one place and auto-fills them while you surf. I use it for storing and creating passwords for the affiliate programs I use. Their system is pretty secure, but any system can be broken. For that reason I don't save my critical passwords into LastPass. I'm using the free plan.

Books For Online Startups 

• Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works, by Ash Maurya: What if you'd connect with the customers first, and build your product only after that? This book outlines a process to do that. (Not as good as 30x500 course, but a lot better option than starting with just an idea)
• Getting Real, by 37 Signals: A classic on writing your first SaaS application, now freely downloadable
• Bootstrapping Design, by Jarrod Drysdale. Become the web/ui designer your startup needs. Read my full Bootstrapping Design review. 

Books for Self-Development

• Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel Gilbert. A delightful read on how lousy we are at evaluating what will make us happy. A real eye-opener for planning one's future. The witty British writing style captures the reader and guarantees good laughs, even though the book is heavily science-based.
• Predictably Irrational, by Dan Ariely. Lot's of useful information about human irrationalities in a fun to read package.
• You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise Hay. A lovely program for working on your limiting beliefs. I have the colorful gift edition that does not seem to be available anymore. This is a book that helps you to love yourself and grow into a direction you want.
• The Ascent of Humanity, by Charles Eisenstein. This brick of a book is freely readable online. This was the book that changed the direction of my life. It led me to believe again that there indeed is a possibility for a more beautiful world. 

Steve Pavlina's Passive Income Series

When I started this blog in 2012 I was inspired by Steve Pavlina's Passive Income Series. It's a good read if you want to become motivated to jump off the rat race. The series was discontinued/delayed in December 2012 as Steve did not reach the goal he set to himself. But that's life.

Courses And Tools I Don't Recommend

• Getting Rich With eBooks 3.0, by Vic Johnson. While this course does contain value, I think it is way overpriced. I was disappointed to find out that several steps of creating the eBook were skipped. Vic suggests that you should just outsource them. Huge amount of extra costs, including outsourcing and a domain/hosting for marketing your book.
  
  My Getting Rich With eBooks 3.0 Reviews:
• Getting Rich With eBooks 3.0 Review
• Midway Battle - SBI! vs GRWeB 3.0

• Market Samurai application. I'd love this keyword research tool, if I wouldn't follow a rule: "Don't mess up with Google"! As I see it, this tool Violates Google API policy.

• The Sedona Method. Is supposed to work on your limiting beliefs, but after listening Sedona Method Audio from Steve's blog, I was not impressed. Read more in Sedona Method Sucks! Is It Just Me?