Summary of Paul Jarvis’s Company of One

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Book Preview:If you ever considered quitting your job and starting your

own small company, would you know how to do it?

In Company of One (2019), Paul Jarvis collects his expertise

and the experiences of dozens of small companies to

provide a simple, straightforward guide to building your own

company of one. From developing your idea, to collecting

loyal customers and finding funding, Jarvis provides a clear

path to success. You will learn what to avoid doing from

unsuccessful startups and things to keep in mind from

successful ones. You will know what your business priorities

should be, and learn the difference between growth and

success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Feb 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669345220

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

Book preview

Summary of Paul Jarvis’s Company of One

Overview

If you ever considered quitting your job and starting your own small company, would you know how to do it?

In Company of One   (2019), Paul Jarvis collects his expertise and the experiences of dozens of small companies to provide a simple, straightforward guide to building your own company of one. From developing your idea, to collecting loyal customers and finding funding, Jarvis provides a clear path to success. You will learn what to avoid doing from unsuccessful startups and things to keep in mind from successful ones. You will know what your business priorities should be, and learn the difference between growth and success.

Defining a Company of One

Tom Fishburne was the vice president of marketing at a large food company. In fall  2010, he quit his job to pursue one of his lifelong passions, drawing cartoons. Tom kept drawing and sharing cartoons even while working a corporate job. Once he was popular enough and lined up enough clients, he decided to turn his hobby into a career. Generally, a business is supposed to grow, but Tom’s cartoon company remained small, with just him, his wife, and a couple freelancers. This gave him more time to draw the cartoons, instead of managing cartoonists. Tom is the perfect example of a company of one, which allows him to have a life outside work while still earning more than most illustrators. A company of one believes that growth isn’t the most essential or beneficial move.

Although it’s more difficult, a company of one also can thrive within a corporation. This is described by the word intrapreneur. These people typically focus on their goals and use the company’s resources to achieve them without much help from anyone else.

Companies of one typically have four traits: resilience, autonomy, speed, and simplicity. Resilience includes acceptance of reality, a sense of purpose, and the ability to adapt. Autonomy and control are essentially based on being competent in your field. Speed is the ability to work smartly and efficiently under different circumstances. Simplicity is knowing the