Many of us are infatuated with the idea of being an entrepreneur and the potential to be your own boss, pursue your passions, and achieve financial freedom.  Most people don't want to take the huge risk that is involved with starting a business or they don't know where to begin.  Others take the plunge and invest their time, money, and energy into their dreams.  Some of these people achieve success, others are lucky to breakeven, and even more crash and burn because of one or more of a number of reasons.

One of these risk-taking individuals is a great friend of mine, Travis Lubinsky, and I have seen him have his fair share of ups and downs on his entrepreneurial journey.  Travis and I studied Business Management in college together, but Travis has been a business owner since before we even hit upper division classes. I have been fortunate to not only call Travis a friend, but also a business partner in multiple ventures.  Working with him personally for years, there are few other people I know that have his level of experience and perseverance to boot in the world of business startup.

Travis has owned businesses in industries that range from apparel design and manufacturing to event production and promotion to marketing and consulting to watches and accessories.  I have either worked with him directly or watched firsthand as he dreamed, launched, and grew these businesses. In some cases, there were failures (read: critical learning experiences) and in other cases, there were massive triumphs.  Travis is still only on the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey, but his wide ranging background as a business owner already outweighs many others with decades more experience.

Travis recently approached me about his idea to write a book sharing his experiences and insights into starting and owning a business.  Being someone that has had their life positively impacted by the magic of books and also being passionate about helping other people, I was immediately on board to help him make this book a reality. Travis sent me what he was working on and I gave him my feedback and suggestions.  Ultimately, I ended up editing Just Startup while adding many of my own insights to the book.

I would recommend getting a copy of Travis' book if you're considering starting your own business, are new to the world of entrepreneurship, or are curious about how a guy boot-strapped multiple companies while in college.  The lessons Travis shares are universal to all businesses and industries, but his unique perception based on his experiences are what make this a valuable and quick read.  The world needs more people who are willing to take risks to positively change the world, or at least their lives.  Hopefully this will give you the information and motivation you need to Just Startup.