This is a summary review of Company of One containing key details about the book.

What is Company of One About?

“Company of One” by Paul Jarvis challenges the conventional wisdom of growth at all costs and offers a framework for building a sustainable and profitable business as a solo entrepreneur. (Full Summary…)

Company of One Summary Review

“Company of One” by Paul Jarvis presents a distinct perspective on business success, challenging the conventional notion that growth is always synonymous with achievement. The book advocates for the concept of deliberately staying small, asserting that fulfillment in one’s career can be achieved without conforming to traditional notions of expansion. Jarvis, drawing from personal experiences, guides readers through the process of establishing a “company of one,” emphasizing the freedom and meaningful pleasures associated with avoiding the pressures of corporate growth.

The author provides practical insights into various aspects of running a deliberately small enterprise, including setting up a business, determining revenue goals, managing unexpected challenges, and ensuring client satisfaction. “Company of One” is underscored by endorsements from influential figures such as Cal Newport, adding weight to Jarvis’s unconventional business philosophy.

While the book’s departure from the typical entrepreneurial narrative is appreciated by some, there are critiques regarding the execution, with some readers feeling that the examples provided may not sufficiently illustrate the concept of a “company of one.” Despite these criticisms, the book is recognized as a valuable read, offering a refreshing perspective on business success. It serves as a manifesto challenging preconceived notions, prompting readers to reconsider the conventional path of business growth.

Essentially, “Company of One” encourages a reevaluation of traditional success metrics and proposes an alternative for those prioritizing a rich and fulfilling professional life over conventional measures of growth. Combining practical advice with a visionary manifesto, the book provides a unique perspective challenging the status quo in entrepreneurship.

Who is the author of Company of One?

Paul Jarvis is a veteran of the online tech world, and over the years has had such corporate clients as Microsoft, Yahoo, Mercedes-Benz, Warner Music and even Shaquille O’Neal. He is the co-founder of Fathom Analytics.

How long is Company of One?

• Print length: 272 pages

What genre is Company of One?

Business, Nonfiction, Entrepreneurship

What are good quotes from Company of One?

“From an evolutionary point of view, it is explainable why we wanted to gather more and more: with more food, more water, more protection against predators, we may be less likely to die. But today, growth feeds our ego and social standing.”

“There’s nothing wrong with finding the right size and then focusing on being better. Small can be a long-term plan, not just a stepping-stone.”

“He believes that companies need to focus on becoming better instead of simply growing bigger.”

“There are advantages to putting in the time and effort to master a skill, but there’s also a great need for balance.”

“In saying no to anything that doesn’t fit, you leave room to say yes to those rare opportunities that do fit—opportunities that align with the values and ideas of your business.”

“Sukhvinder Obhi, a neuroscientist at McMaster University, coined the term “power paradox” to describe what happens when we gain power through leadership: we subsequently lose some of the capabilities we needed to gain it in the first place—such as empathy, self-awareness, transparency, and gratitude.”

“economies of scale can sometimes be required for success in certain markets and for some products, but often they aren’t required and it is ego, not a strong business strategy, that is forcing growth where growth isn’t necessary.”

“Sometimes finding and working with a single customer, then adding another, and then another, is a very useful and solid way to begin. And sometimes that can even be the end goal—one where your focus is on the relationship and the paid work at hand.”

“For companies of one, the question is always what can I do to make my business better?, instead of what can I do to grow my business larger?”

“Instead of imagining “if only this changed, I could thrive,” they have a down-to-earth view that most of what happens in our lives is not entirely within our control and the best we can do is to steer the boat a little as we float down the river of life.”

“Begin to Think About: Whether you are paying attention to your existing customers or to just your potential customers Whether you could make your business better (however you define that) instead of just making it bigger Whether your business really needs scale to succeed Where the upper bound to that scale might be, the place where profit and enjoyment have diminishing returns”

“what’s difficult to automate is exactly what makes a company of one great: the ability to creatively solve problems in new and unique ways without throwing “more” at the problem.”