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)

I was expecting a little more

If you could sum up The $100 Startup in three words, what would they be?

Just Get Started

What did you like best about this story?

It was nice to know the different businesses and startups people have. Lots of testimonials and case studies

What three words best describe Chris Guillebeau and Thomas Vincent Kelly ’s performance?

I would've liked it better if Chris narrated the whole thing. Thomas' voice just didn't pack the same punch.

Any additional comments?

If you have the Empire Building Kit, really all you need from this book is the overall key points

Long Car Ride - Perfect

I listened to both Side Hustle and This Book on a drive from bend Oregon to TURLOCK California and back. As someone who is starting their own side hustle this is a very well written book.

More than a how-to, this book is a collection of examples and lessons from numerous businesses which started as side hustles or a way to pass the time and wound up becoming a primary source of income. I recommend this book. Well worth the time and token.

Found myself getting distracted

Overall, a good listen and there was valuable insight but I found it was hard to focus at times because the narrator had that type of voice and the information seemed repetitive. There wasn't a ton of technical math but there was enough number crunching that it could distract you from the message of the story.

Anatomy of a Micro-business

If you could sum up The $100 Startup in three words, what would they be?

Inspiring, refreshing, actionable.

What other book might you compare The $100 Startup to and why?

This is kind of similar to the 4-Hour Work Week, but they differ vastly in their values. I consider $100 Startup more in line with my own particular values.

Any additional comments?

I love Guillebeau's emphasis on crafting a business that delivers genuine value to the world, something truly useful, that solves a real problem, or otherwise helps others in a meaningful way. And he himself delivers on truly visionary ways to achieve it, in ways that allow people to express their individuality. That is refreshingly different some of the other books I've read that teach readers clever ways to deceive people or trick them out of their money, or get them out of your way once they've given you their money.

I also like the counterpoint he creates between all his case studies and all the supposedly tried and true methods of building businesses. You don't have to spend months writing a business plan. You don't have to borrow tons of money. You don't have to destroy someone else to ensure your own success. You don't have to become big to be sustainable. Many other crusty old ideas of how to succeed in a small business are shattered by a large, diverse body of real-life case studies.

Yesterday's disenfranchised are becoming today's "new rich", and they travel light. Literally.

It's not bad, but quite over-hyped

It's more suitable for aspiring small business owners, like moms that want to retire and open a business from home than to entrepreneurs with big dreams. At least that's my personal impression.

A good start to start your startup!

I liked this book. It was almost like his podcast Side Hustle School but more depth. Gives you help and a jump start to think about what you can do.

Eye opening

This book is a must for both new and seasoned entrepreneurs. It stories in this book will open your eyes to other possibilities you probably haven't thought of. I highly recommend it!

loved the listen

great book with a lot of ideas I will be implementing. Thank you to the author!

Inspiring and Actionable!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it provides many great ideas and inspiring examples of real people taking control of their lives and income.

Any additional comments?

Along the same lines as The 4 Hour Workweek, this book has given me a number of new ideas that I have already begun testing and trying to figure out how to implement. I enjoyed the simple strsightforward presentation of the stories, and clear actionable steps provided.

Very Inspiring

I enjoyed this book. It gave a real look at options to start a business with minimal investment. I enjoyed hearing about each business owner's failures and successes. I can't wait to relaunch my business.