In chapter 2 of his book Amar Bhide beautifully captures the bootstrapper's approach withthe term.. This chapter is a must-read for every bootstrapper as "opportunistic adaptation" is exactly the strategy we need to take in the Valley of Death!

Bhide points out that Bootstrappers have little reason to devote to prior planning and research. Indeed, "the lack of research and planning...has a sound economic basis" (pg 53) and, "costs of extensive planning in a startup exceed the benefits." Bhide's further finds, "..we cannot find any correlation between startup success and planning." So much for the maniacal focus on writing business plans!

One entreprenuer he interviewed likened the process to "jumping from rock to rock up a stream, rather than contructing the Golden Gate Bridge from a blueprint." Entrepreneurs, "start with a sketchy idea and which they alter and refine as they encounter unforseen problems and and opportunities."