A review by servemethesky
Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis

4.0

I'm typically not a huge fan of business books. They can be stuffy, self-important, and dull. I was optimistic about this one because I've followed Paul Jarvis's work for awhile now, listening to his Creative Class podcast and even taking the Creative Class online last fall.

Company of One does not disappoint. It presents the radical idea that companies don't need to grow obsessively and endlessly in order to be successful. Instead, it's about working better and creating the lifestyle you want for yourself. It's about optimizing the whole rather than just blindly seeking more and more profit.

There are lots of great little nuggets in here and many insights to think about and applying to your own business growth. Paul did a ton of interviews with fascinating folks and you can learn a lot from it. After awhile, some aspects did start to feel repetitive. The final chapter will also feel redundant if you've taken The Creative Class, because it aligns with many of the topics taught there.

All in all, the "company of one" movement is a great one to consider. Say goodbye to growth hacking and hello to "enough."