Bridge the Impossible Gap With What You Have

You’re staring down the elephant in the room: “I don’t have enough time, education, or money.” It’s tempting to fold—everyone’s been there. But consider Hana, a graphic designer in a small town who dreamed of launching an art-therapy side business. She lacked formal certification, startup cash, and even a clinic. Yet she chose to focus on what she did have: evening hours, a public library’s free workshop, and a network of friends supportive of her cause.

Hana blocked two nights a week to study online art-therapy basics, hosted pay-what-you-can sketch sessions in her living room, and traded her own designs for rented studio space. Within three months, her calendar was full—and she had proven demand.

Economist Ronald Coase showed that when transaction costs are too high, markets don’t form. But Hana’s DIY approach collapsed those costs: she learned on the job, traded skills instead of paying fees, and turned empty hours into traction.

This isn’t a once-in-a-career hack; it’s a method. Whenever “no resources” feels true, break your problem into “what I do have” and “what small next step I can do today.” That mindset neutralizes the TEM Gap and jumps you onto the path. You’ll surprise yourself at how resourceful you can be.

Instead of waiting for perfect conditions that might never come, take stock of your toolkit and move. Your first bootstrap sprint begins now.

When that familiar “I don’t have enough” thought appears, pause and list exactly what you do have—hours tonight, free courses, friendly contacts. Then decide on one bootstrap workaround, like trading your skill for a needed resource or enrolling in a free tutorial, and calendar that first session tonight. Use what you have and start now.