Company of One

Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business

By: Paul Jarvis

Narrated by: Paul Jarvis

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

What if the real key to a richer and more fulfilling career was not to create and scale a new start-up, but rather, to be able to work for yourself, determine your own hours, and become a (highly profitable) and sustainable company of one? Suppose the better - and smarter - solution is simply to remain small? This book explains how to do just that.

Company of One is a refreshingly new approach centered on staying small and avoiding growth, for any size business. Not as a freelancer who only gets paid on a per piece basis, and not as an entrepreneurial start-up that wants to scale as soon as possible, but as a small business that is deliberately committed to staying that way. By staying small, one can have freedom to pursue more meaningful pleasures in life and avoid the headaches that result from dealing with employees, long meetings, or worrying about expansion. Company of One introduces this unique business strategy and explains how to make it work for you, including how to generate cash flow on an ongoing basis.

Paul Jarvis left the corporate world when he realized that working in a high-pressure, high profile world was not his idea of success. Instead, he now works for himself out of his home on a small, lush island off of Vancouver, and lives a much more rewarding and productive life. He no longer has to contend with an environment that constantly demands more productivity, more output, and more growth.

In Company of One, Jarvis explains how you can find the right pathway to do the same, including planning how to set up your shop, determining your desired revenues, dealing with unexpected crises, keeping your key clients happy, and of course, doing all of this on your own.

©2019 Paul Jarvis (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Starts out strong...

Company of One starts strong – but weakens as it progresses. And when he went down the "team this, teams that" path, I knew this book's title was the misleading (and typical) result of a book publisher (or editor) who insists on either a more appealing, better-selling title – or, added content that caters to a broader audience (i.e. teams).

The actual subtitle (premise) of the book is "Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business".

A better fitting subtitle for the actual book would have been: "Why Starting Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business".

The book isn't about staying small. It's about starting small. And there's a BIG difference.

In the beginning of the book (which is also the Audible preview), he mentions examples of being an author as a perfect example of a company of one. And that's why I purchased the book: to learn more about being successful as a SOLOpreneur – i.e. STAYING a "company of one".

With that said, the book is fair enough as a general business startup book. But so are many other books.

It's strange there are so few books that solely and extensively target SOLOpreneurship.

Dont bother

Really disappointed, refered via a podcast dont waste your time listening. all he discusses are other peoples lives using basic formulas. Its more like a history book then any new ideas

Not all that fresh

This was disappointing, and came across as somewhat amateurish in style. I’m surprised it was rated so highly. The advice wasn’t bad per se, but it was far from original. The book lacked depth, was highly repetitive, and, while underpinned by good ideas, did not communicate them very well.

Additionally, the performance was pretty terrible. Apparently Audible is a self publishing shop now? The narration was full of odd pauses, strange inflections, and just didn’t flow well at all.

not for entrepreneurs

feels like the author's editor forced him to make it applicable to people working for large companies. I rarely don't finish a book but this one was a big disappointment.

Repetitive and predominantly common sense

This book could probably have been cut in half with no reduction in content. Contained mostly self-evident comments about good customer service driving high retention. Also found the usage of large, venture-backed businesses that have never been profitable as examples to be very odd given the thesis of the book. Overall would not recommend.

Captures my biz philosophy and gives me guideposts

I started my company of one three years ago. I reached viability quickly in the first year, had increased well beyond my highest salary in the second year, and continued double digit growth in the third, staying cashflow positive and profitable throughout as I expanded. I am at the phase where my business is and will remain viable. I can continue carefully growing, but I am ambivalent at best about adding employees, and I want to be more selective and continue tailoring to the work I find most engaging. I am also exploring the issue of moving from service delivery (all of my revenue is my own direct service and expertise) to developing monetizable associated products. My business represents my personality and beliefs, but I am also trying to figure out how to continue defining those and aligning the business to the beliefs. So this book is really perfectly timed for me. This book could have more details tailored to where I am at, but I think it's enough of an entre that I will check out Paul's podcast and community. I also recommended this book to a small circle of women entrepreneurs I'm in (almost all of whom are companies of one) for discussion and I can't wait to talk about it with them. The details for people just beginning are better, but of course I didn't have this book three years ago!

I think it might have been advisable for Paul to use a professional narrator but given the content and premise I also understand why he did it himself. There is some odd halting and there are awkward pauses, but at the same time it's his voice, and so it makes sense that it's his voice. I would have done the same, so I cannot blame him much.

Could Have Been a Great Book!

The author makes a very compelling case for anyone to want to read the book. The main theory that you can do well (or better) by keeping your business small and manageable is very compelling. The introductory chapter lays the ground for a very interesting book. But it goes downhill from there. The book overall is very repetitive and should be much shorter. The author also confuses the audience by trying to appeal to everyone under the sun. He gives examples of individuals who have succeeded in bringing new ideas within large corporations. Calling them a company of one! He also said that technically large corporations are also "company of one". Well... which one is it?
It's not a book I would recommend. Read the author blog post instead and you will get basically what the book is telling you in 7 hours. I recommend Small Giants by Bo Burlingham or The million dollars, one-person business by Elaine Pofeldt. These two books tackle the same topic but much more effectively.

Great Book

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I have been operating my own company of one for 4 years and this book let’s me know I am on the right track.

Actuation was odd

The book is read with a lot of odd pauses. Like the sentence was going to end, but it doesn't.
Content was great. A fresh view on how to approach growth in business.

Confirmed the cry of my heart

I run my own law practice. I was sick over the idea that I must grow to prosper. Hell no I won’t deal with employment law issues and being responsible for other people’s salaries at the expense of my freedom. Thanks for confirming what I had been thinking about for a while—-i dont need to grow to prosper!

One of the best business books

Loved every piece of it. It's powerful & empowering and really helps you question growth in your own company.

Must have for small businesses!

I enjoyed it and it has really good ideas and stories for starting or even developing small businesses. Based on them I think I'll start my own. Thank you!