Book Review: Starting a Business with $100 by Ja-Nae Duane

Recently, Shashi met Ja-Nae Duane who put together the book, “Starting a Business with $100“. According to Ja-Nae’s bio, she is a “strategist, artist, creative economist, and author of “How to Start Your Business with $100” Ja-Naé Duane, has been written up and seen in dozens of media, including by Associated Press, NPR, Classical Singer Magazine, Boston Globe, and Business Week. Mostly recognized for her diverse skill set and unwaivering commitment to improving the quality of life for our global community, Ja-Naé was nominated as one of New England’s “Most Innovative Leaders of 2007.” She is CEO of Wild Women Entrepreneurs, CEO of Ja-Naé Duane Ventures, Co-Founder of the Massachusetts Artist Leaders Coalition, and Founder of The Leaders. Ja-Naé is also a professional opera singer, social media strategist, and a faculty member at Northeastern University.”

I recently had the opportunity to read her book, “Starting a Business with $100“. Here are a few highlights of the book that I really liked:

Ja-Nae is a polymath

The term polymath is an updated version of “Renaissance Man” and according to Wikipedia, “a polymath is a person, with superior intelligence, whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath (or polymathic person) may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable”. When you read Ja-Nae’s bio you see she is a force of nature with her entrepreneurial and grassroots work and this book serves as part-lessons learned and part toolbox for those looking to bootstrap their new business.

Seven Sections of the Book

The book is separated into five major areas – branding, teams, marketing, strategic partnerships, outsourcing, passive income and negotiations. I would read through things and quote stuff, but there is so much amazing stuff in there that you should take a read yourself.

$100 Business and the Expense Sheet

From her book she shares an expense sheet on how her business cost $100 to start. I have included it below so you don’t say to yourself “this is just a gimmick”. It is not and here is the list:

Check the Book out at Ja-Nae’s site and tell us what you think.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 at 8:00 am and is filed under small business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.


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