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The Sweaty Startup

How to Get Rich Doing Simple Things

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

If you ask the average person who an entrepreneur is, they’ll probably say people like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg. But the truth is, you don’t need to know how to code or raise VC money to start a business. There are hundreds of millions of small business owners globally, with most creating simple, straightforward services that customers need.

Nick Huber, founder of The Sweaty Startup and several million-dollar businesses, challenges the prevailing Silicon Valley wisdom by demonstrating that success as a small business owner is based on the essential principle of doing common things uncommonly well. In The Sweaty Startup, Nick offers readers the simplest, easiest, and lowest-risk path to reclaiming entrepreneurship, generating value, and forging a new path to get ahead on their own terms. By returning to the most foundational business tactics, this book is a refreshing burst of clarity and simplicity in a world that’s obsessed with technology startups, the suffocating squeeze of digital innovation, and the elusive lure of billion-dollar payouts.

Filled to the brim with practical insights, inspiring real-life stories, and actionable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Nick will reveal how to create a business that succeeds on the most essential level: making money, consistently and predictably over the long term. His book will redefine entrepreneurship and become the go-to handbook for years to come.

© Nick Huber 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Business Development & Entrepreneurship Career Success Entrepreneurship Forecasting & Strategic Planning Management Management & Leadership Inspiring Success

Critic reviews

Nick’s approach is a smart one. Mainly because he’s able to deconstruct how a business works and quickly discern a smart business from a dumb one. A business that can grow its cash flow over time, keep costs low, add value to people’s lives, and become resilient year after year. That’s a smart business. And this is a smart book. (Oren Klaff, New York Times bestselling outhor of PITCH ANYTHING and FLIP THE SCRIPT)
Nick’s book is an indispensable toolkit packed with entrepreneurship principles that work. Solve problems for customers. Deliver value. Hire good people at the right time. Focus on the simple things, the timeless truths that matter. The rest takes care of itself. (Gary Keller, New York Times bestselling author of THE ONE THING)
All stars
Most relevant
This was such an eye opening book. I like that there were clear actionable points to do from it. The key insight for me was that I don't have to reinvent the wheel. I can find what works, copy it and do likewise and get great results.

I already plan to listen again. There's so much I have learned and I feel very encouraged

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It’s hard not to like the simple principle in the book. Do common things uncommonly well

A refreshing different take on entrepreneurship

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I like the fact that he speaks from personal experience and in detail tells you the pros and cons are not everything is sunshine and rainbows

Very good

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Overall, the book is good and makes good points, but the author often delivers these 'tips' in condescending and a lecturing tone. Yes you have been successful, you make some good points, but others aren't by default wrong because of this... Not everyone wants to grow a lawn mowing business and that's actually ok, they aren't an idiot for not wanting that. The author also makes multiple contradictory points throughout the book, "don't do this...but actually do it, but do it my way"...

Worth a read, but put it in 3x speed to get through it faster

A long Lecture on Contradiction

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It’s basic and super repetitive with concepts that seems like they are written for a 15 year old.

This could’ve been a blog post. Underwhelming.

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