The $100 Startup

Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future

By: Chris Guillebeau

Narrated by: Chris Guillebeau, Thomas Vincent Kelly

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

In The $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau tells you how to lead of life of adventure, meaning and purpose - and earn a good living.

Still in his early 30s, Chris is on the verge of completing a tour of every country on earth - he's already visited more than 175 nations - and yet he’s never held a "real job" or earned a regular paycheck. Rather, he has a special genius for turning ideas into income, and he uses what he earns both to support his life of adventure and to give back.

There are many others like Chris - those who've found ways to opt out of traditional employment and create the time and income to pursue what they find meaningful. Sometimes, achieving that perfect blend of passion and income doesn't depend on shelving what you currently do. You can start small with your venture, committing little time or money, and wait to take the real plunge when you're sure it's successful.

In preparing to write this book, Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less), and from that group he’s chosen to focus on the 50 most intriguing case studies. In nearly all cases, people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal passions that could be monetized, and were able to restructure their lives in ways that gave them greater freedom and fulfillment.

Here, finally, distilled into one easy-to-use guide, are the most valuable lessons from those who’ve learned how to turn what they do into a gateway to self-fulfillment. It’s all about finding the intersection between your "expertise" - even if you don’t consider it such - and what other people will pay for. You don’t need an MBA, a business plan or even employees. All you need is a product or service that springs from what you love to do anyway, people willing to pay, and a way to get paid.

Not content to talk in generalities, Chris tells you exactly how many dollars his group of unexpected entrepreneurs required to get their projects up and running; what these individuals did in the first weeks and months to generate significant cash; some of the key mistakes they made along the way, and the crucial insights that made the business stick. Among Chris’s key principles: if you’re good at one thing, you’re probably good at something else; never teach a man to fish - sell him the fish instead; and in the battle between planning and action, action wins.

In ancient times, people who were dissatisfied with their lives dreamed of finding magic lamps, buried treasure, or streets paved with gold. Today, we know that it’s up to us to change our lives. And the best part is, if we change our own life, we can help others change theirs. This remarkable book will start you on your way.

©2012 Chris Guillebeau (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

"Thoughtful, funny, and compulsively readable, this guide shows how ordinary people can build solid livings, with independence and purpose, on their own terms.” (Gretchen Rubin, author of the number-one New York Times best seller The Happiness Project)

"The $100 Startup is a twofer: It's a kick in the pants to get started on your dream and a road map for finding your way once you begin. If you're not ready to launch your own business after reading this book, you need to go back and read it again!" (Daniel H. Pink, New York Times best-selling author of Drive and A Whole New Mind)

"In this valuable guide Chris Guillebeau shows that transforming an idea into a successful business can be easier than you think…. You are in charge of which ideas deserve your time, and this book can help you wake up every morning eager to progress to the next step." (Tony Hsieh, New York Times best-selling author of Delivering Happiness and CEO of Zappos.com)

Loved the book! Can't wait to apply it!

For anyone who is driven to succeed or wants a bit of motivation, great book!

Brilliant!

I listened to this book twice and the second time was as exciting as the first. Chris gets you in the right state of mind to start a business. He explains everything with simple words and concepts. The success stories are so inspirational and contagious. I think I am going to read it for the third time!

Overall a great book!

Tons of fantastic case studies and inspiration! Narrator was terrible though, like listening to one of those computers from the 90's speak. Very hard to stay engaged. I find it so much more valuable and engaging when the author reads his own work, the passion comes through. Great book though! Excellent content.

Amazing hear and give you an Amazing ideas

It really gives you an idea to start a business with how it got implemented. Neat

Great book with unfortunate narration

Would you listen to The $100 Startup again? Why?

I would probably not listen to it again because of the narration, which simply didn't reflect the author's voice and intention. I've heard the author speak on podcasts, and can't imagine why the publisher didn't have him narrate the book. It would have been a much richer experience.

What didn’t you like about Chris Guillebeau and Thomas Vincent Kelly ’s performance?

The narration sounded almost like it was computerized, lacking the enthusiasm the author clearly had when writing the book.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed all the stories and the fact that the author interviewed a whole lot of people and not just a handful. I was also pleased to hear one person interviewed who is doing the exact same thing as me.

Interesting read

You get some good points out of it and it's great for anyone that's researching startups

Freedom for low price of $100

No exact plan presented,, but the stories gave me alot of good ideas. I have the confidence to try.

Don't be afraid to take a leap of faith!

An inspiring read. Overcome your fear and just start with $100. Thank you very much

Just awesome!

Great compelling and succinct stories about the very basis and the raise of some entrepreneurs.
A lot of very interesting quick "how to" illustrated by real case studies - what I was looking for.
Only downside could be the rather robotic voice, though not a big deal.

Good information overall

Slow at first and not my interest. But latter it gave me good information. one word