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

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)

AWFUL narrative, but...

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur and are interested in one day running your own business, I would highly recommend this book. Narrative was robotic and boring with zero feeling or emotion. The information itself though was rather valuable. I will be picking up the physical copy and retracing my steps. I wish more authors would read their own books!

You are $100 away from living your dream

Would you consider the audio edition of The $100 Startup to be better than the print version?

Chris Guillebeau is making his living by do what he loves. This book shows how he did it, and how he inspired others to follow their dreams. The anecdotes are inspiring, and the ideas are practical. I enjoyed hearing Chris' voice in the introduction, and Thomas Kelly does well with the book itself. Well worth listening to, as it is inspiring me to take action on my dreams.

I'm going to start a business with aliens.

I've been meeting with aliens a lot now. Once a month they come and pick me up and we cruise around. they really like the musical artist Katy Perry and Kreayshawn. Together we read this book and the aliens are now thinking of how they can become entrepreneurs in addition to being intergalactic explorers. We Loved this book. five stars you will learn a lot about business especially small business and startups that will earn you a considerable amount. The book is fantastic and I think everybody on Earth should read it or listen in this case. I love you.

This book was amazing.

Really glad I listened to it! If you're on the fence about starting a business the will get you started.

Great book a must read for any entrepreneur wanting to start a micro business

I absolutely love this book. A lot of good information shared, and all of the stories very relatable I referred to it multiple times and I found it to be a tremendous resource.

One readers opinion

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I liked the content and message but found the music and reading voice a bit annoying.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

no recommendations

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

well informed
detailed
clear story

Who do you think would benefit most from listening to The $100 Startup?

any current or potential entrepreneur

It was OK

The narrator for me lacked enthusiasm at times, for a book that is supposed to change lives I had expected more. They probably should have used James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman they seem to narrate everything and tell one heck of a story lol

I keep listening to it over and over

This book is so packed with amazing content that I am about to listen to it for the third time. I have sent it to a three people so far that I know need it as much as I do. I am excited to go to 100startup.com. I have spent at least $4000.00 on various business coaching and this book has everything I've been learning and more. The details of each story are so relatable and interesting that I am excited to continue my quest to develop the best business.

Enjoyable

I felt that the message in this book spoke to me personally and there were enlightening tips that I feel I can implement in my small business with ease.

I wish I had this book sooner.

Very inspirational and full of practical advice.
It lays out the stories of people without making crazy suggestions or saying this is the way you have to do things.