Everyday Office Jargon · Intern level

"Bootstrap"

"Bootstrap" means to build or fund something using only existing resources, without outside investment or external help.

Say this instead: self-fund

How "Bootstrap" shows up at work

Worn as a badge of honor by founders who want to signal scrappiness and control. In practice it means doing the work of six people, owning 100% of something that may or may not be worth anything, and never having a safety net.

Buzzword

We bootstrapped the first version in three months on nights and weekends.

Plain English

We self-funded the first version in three months on nights and weekends.

Corporate Rank: Intern · Category: Everyday Office Jargon

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