Start small, then choose your path

Good, but not world shattering. This is likely biased since I just finished the $100 startup.

Treat your customers right and give value whenever you can. Values and how to make a solid business of your choosing are the central tenants of the book. Don't expect a perfect playbook or series of steps. Instead have an open mind and be ready to think.

This book traces Paul's influences and path through business. I enjoyed his story and suggestions from his own experience. I liked the specific recommendations for Canadians. Included are many other stories reinforcing the points throughout the book to great effect.

He espouses having your small company embody your excentricity and unique values. His values and humility come through clearly. This isn't a book proclaiming how smart the author is but an invitation to forge your own path.

Although I was not blown away on my first listening, I do think I will listen again. The values shared go much deeper and are worth repeating.

9 people found this helpful

Excellent

I’m a small business owner and struggle with the whether I should expand my staff to grow or look for ways to maintain my size but grow my revenue more slowly.

I’m glad to hear someone else say the measure of success isn’t size of your company/revenue but the happiness of yourself and staff.

4 stars for performance only because it felt a little stammering at times. I’m guessing it was the first time narrating.

2 people found this helpful

sustainability vs nonstop growth argument.

Some people talking smack about this book saying it was too repetitive etc. It reads like a chill blog post which is comfortable and nice. I'm also a Canadian who graduated from UofT so the author resonated with me. He brings up a lot of good points that helped me feel better about the stigma of running a small business. Uses examples like 90% of businesses that have survived past 100 years are in Japan and have less than 300 employees. Lots of real world examples, the average company on the SP500 only survives 15 years etc. It's pretty much a sustainability vs nonstop growth argument. If you're a freelancer or self employed person who feels crumby about being a company of one, he shows you how for a lot of us it's the most rational healthy option, and the rest is just hyped up media talk designed to brainwash you or please investors after an IPO. It's almost like the slow fashion theory of running your own business. This dude pretty much convinced me to keep my team as small as possible and only scale if I'm really reaping benefits and just chill and enjoy my life and business stability. I've been in larger businesses before that scaled too fast and guess what happened to them. Thanks Paul it was honestly a slick read.

1 person found this helpful

Not a fan

I like the idea of being a company of one but this book didn't resonate with me. Would be better if it was narrated by someone else.

Perfect for freelancers and consultants

This book has given me the enlightenment and alignment I needed to get unstuck in my business. Stories are well-told and very relatable.

A worthy read

Invaluable advice from a guy who has lived and breathed the experience of setting up a company without the rigmarole of detractions from the core agenda or values. Love it.

Thank you so much for this Book

Thank you for sharing these useful datum. Greatly appreciated and all the best with your company of ONE :)

I enjoyed the book, its great for newbies

Perfect little book for people that need a Kickstart into starting their own business of 1. exactly what it says

Excellent perspective that is too rarely shared

Questioning growth is one of the great skills of successful business people. Paul does an excellent job of inviting us to think about this perspective from many different angles, providing benefits for people in many different situations, including at larger and established companies.

Delivery is a bit stiff but the content is top notch

Several parts of this book sound like the author is reading his own words for the first time with broken sentences and stumbled words. He could have benefited from some practice.

Otherwise, the content and stories within are exemplary and useful for businesses of all sizes. Another format is perhaps the best way to consume this book.