Episode 2: Delegating Your Bootstrapped Product Efforts w/Ruben Gamez

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Ruben Gamez of Bidsketch joins me on this second episode.  We discuss his journey from freelancer to day job and on to product. We learn what Ruben did right from the very start.  We also learn what practices he’s developed over time.  There’s also some frank talk about the importance of delegating.

Bootstrapped Product Talking Points

  • giving yourself time to develop your domain expertise, be it design or development
  • what it takes to become good at delegating and outsourcing, and what you gain from it
  • respecting your own value, and asking for the money
  • the most important thing Ruben gained after acquiring a competitor
  • how to pick the right writers for your content marketing efforts
  • why “marketing first” was the right approach for Bidsketch

And more, including how Ruben would do pricing differently, and why he avoided letting his personal identity get too deeply imprinted as the public face of his company (here’s a hint: can your business stand on its own if you’re not there?).  

The theme of letting go & delegating comes up throughout this episode.  It’s a practice that benefits Bidsketch as a bootstrapped product startup, and Ruben clearly feels strongly about it.

Bidsketch – Ruben’s bootstrapped product; create professional client proposals in minutes
The Business of SoftwareEric Sink‘s book that inspired an entire generation of bootstrappers
Patrick McKenzie – author of many fantastic and educational marketing blog posts over at Kalzumeus
Peldi’s blog – founder of Balsamiq, all-around nice guy and fantastic marketer