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Sweat Equity is always the best equity. The next best version of equity is Customer Equity where you get customers coming in buying from you and that's how you're funding your growth. Third is using kickstarter/IndieGogo as a way to support you. The last thing on the list is venture capital money. They aren't giving it to you for charity and the minute you take that money, that's not the end, but when the obligation really starts. You thought you had an obligation to grow your business before you took the money? You have no idea.

As Cuban and Hamilton attest, I've seen founders walk away with next to nothing when their company was sold because they gave so much of it away to investors.


And sometimes investors don't see your vision for the future, which was the case when my founders and me sold our last company with 100 percent ownership. Bootstrapping often allows you to fulfill your ultimate plan in ways outside investment cannot.

Second, take a small step now.
There are two major camps now: Either you should use this time to work extra hard since you (theoretically) have extra time or you should rest, reflect and recharge to get ready for when things stabilize again.

Both philosophies are pretty extreme, as one will have you guilty for not being more productive, while the other may have you shameful about wanting to create.

Instead, as Cuban says during the interview, take a small step now. Prioritize your loved ones and your mental, physical and emotional health, and even do what you need to do to make ends meet. It is still possible to move forward, though, in small, incremental steps.

The big difference now is that we're all in this situation, which makes you equally, if not better suited to lean into your dream business now.

By Marc Cuban