Top Startup

ib0rk3d: Clever ways to replace a broken unlocked iPhone?

I declared gallantly that I had unlocked my iPhone. It was great while it lasted. Then the phone stopped working. I guess am left with an Apple i or an iPod touch. As a natural born tinkerer, I decided to revirginize and reflash the phone to 1.1.1 and unlock again (aside: Ben suggested that it would be great if you could revirginize people too). My first revirginizing effort was not a success. The software crashed while revirginizing. I tried a few different things. Eventually I was able to revirginize the phone. I got 1.1.1 back on there, unlocked again and voila! It worked…. for a few hours. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 11% [?]

How much whitespace should a resume have?

This is the question I have after seeing the new resume templates in Pages ‘08. I have to update my resume, so I was thinking about snazzing it up. Im really not sure about these resume templates. They all look great, but isn’t a resume primarily about a font large enough to read, and getting your message across? Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 25% [?]

Property in Boston - a bad investment?

I’ve spent several months researching and looking at properties in Boston. I can’t find a single property in the Back Bay, Beacon Hill or South End where the rental income covers the costs. Im looking at multiple unit buildings (4 - 6 units) with a cap at around $2 million. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 8% [?]

I get schooled by an expert in site design

Vishen at mindvalleylabs gave me some fantastic tips on how to get you, the reader to stay on my blog a little longer and come back for more! The advice is great. Look for some modifications to my site design in the next couple weeks. Check out the video!
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Popularity: 8% [?]

Wanted: Roommate(s) in Boston, Sept 1

Ben and I are looking for a roommate or two for Sept 1, 2007 in the Boston area. Check out our Craigslist ad. Are you interested?

Popularity: 8% [?]

Money again!

Money is the root of all my stresses

• Because of my lack of money, I can’t justify getting in a long term lease which means I have to endure the stress of moving around a lot. (I’m trying to get that fixed by September 1st.)
• Because of my lack of money, Im screwed if something in my house in Houston breaks, and I need to find new tenants!
• Because of my lack of money, Im constantly having to figure out how to move around funds to make sure my bills get paid
• Because of my lack of money, I have to spend time doing less convenient things to avoid spending more.
• Because of my lack of money, Im distracted from doing what I really need to be doing.

I can’t stress to everyone out there enough, that if you decide to bootstrap, pay off everything first… and I mean everything. What you have to realize is that once you leave your job, your cash-flow shrinks to a crawl. When I was working, I was buying things for the company, going on business lunches. My income was somewhere around $4000 a month, but my revolving balance on my credit card was more like $5000 a month on average… I always had a lot of cash coming in and going out which meant that when I had a bill to pay, I more than likely would have that cash. Now, I’ve got 0 (or close to that) coming in every month, so if I get an unexpected bill (like an old $300 dentist bill from 2006 that my insurance didnt pay), it means I have to spend a lot of time figuring out how to move money around to pay it.

You’ll always have old dentist bills and the like creep up on you. I really can’t stress it enough: Don’t try to be clever and move debt to zero percent (for one full year) credit cards like I did, just pay the stuff off before you leave your job. Bootstrap first, then quit.

Lesson learned.

Popularity: 12% [?]

What side job should an entrepreneur have?

I’ve got a small problem. Lack of funds. Right now, my benefactor is giving me enough money to get by, but I am still eating into my savings. So, I probably should get some kind of additional income. What I do know is that it won’t be from this blog, or any other internet games I can do on the side.

• I could get a job at a coffeeshop for a few hours a day - some good mindless work
• I could try and start doing IT consulting. I have the expertise
• I could try getting a job delivering mail (or something else mundane) at a financial services company - could be a good networking opportunity.

Really though, I am stumped for what is the best use of my time. Can anyone suggest anything?

Popularity: 8% [?]