Company of One cover art

Company of One

Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business

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Company of One

By: Paul Jarvis
Narrated by: Sam Woolf
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Company of One by Paul Jarvis, read by Sam Woolf.

What if the real key to a richer and more fulfilling career was not to create and scale up a new business, 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?

Company of One
is a refreshing new approach centered on staying small and avoiding growth, for any size of 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 up as soon as possible, but as a small business that is deliberately committed to staying that way. By staying small, you 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, 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 do the same, including planning to set up, determining desired revenues and keeping clients happy, and of course, doing all this on your own.

©2019 Paul Jarvis (P)2019 Penguin Audio
Business Development Business Development & Entrepreneurship Career Success Employment Entrepreneurship Motivation & Self-Improvement Small Business Business Career Management Commerce Inspiring Investing Leadership Marketing

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Critic reviews

You are not alone with Company of One. If, like so many others, you're setting out to take on the world by yourself, then welcome to the best company there is, your own (Sam Conniff Allende)
A bright, useful entry in the small-is-beautiful genre (Kirkus Reviews)
Company of One is the next frontier for less is more (Richard Koch)
In Company of One, entrepreneur Paul Jarvis attacks the rapid growth model of Silicon Valley and promotes a different, gentler route to business success, calling for a slow growth movement (Tom Hodgkinson)
All stars
Most relevant
Great voice, easy to listen to. Delivering a message worth consideration for me. Reframing what we ate told, aligning to what I want to create in my life for my family and I, this was a breathe of fresh air.

Aligns perfectly for what I want

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I hadn't heard of the Author before, but thought I'd give the book a go after reading a few positive reviews.

Glad I did. The book has given me a lot to think about as a small business, and was written in a way that is engaging and easy to digest. Very relatable listening, especially so as I'm in the same industry (web) as the author.

Highly recommended for anyone that owns a small business or is building a side hustle.

Insightful book for small business owners

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It’s not all about VC and instant growth, we all have a choice and need to make sure we are evaluating our choices. Sounds trivial but this book is well thought and good reminder. I will try it’s advice to become company of one for the next year.

Good reminds about choices

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Paul Jarvis in his book presents examples of how other people started/managed a company of one and how it was done. He also talks about his own experience in this matter. With that, the book does not only feel like a simple guide 'How to..." but it gives you psychological guidance too. Vast examples and authors' comforting words can make you consider starting such a company. All I missed are so bad examples where the company of one failed andy why.

Psychological Guidance

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This book has covered the basics of starting a side hustle with goal maintain yourself financually.

It is super simple conceptually put together and examples are super fun and interesting.

Last chapter is amazing and has really gave confidence to get this thing going for myself!

Perfect first steps

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