In this day and age, it seems like the only way to succeed in business is to grow as large as possible. But what if that’s not the case? What if the real key to a more fulfilling career was not to scale up but to work for yourself and become a successful and sustainable company of one?
That’s the idea behind Company of One, a new book by Paul Jarvis. In it, he argues that staying small provides one with the freedom to pursue more meaningful pleasures in life―and avoid the headaches that come with the traditional growth-oriented business. My friend had the chance to speak with Jarvis about his book and his thoughts on entrepreneurship and let me tell you, they were definitely worth hearing!
“I wrote Company of One because we’re taught that the only way to be successful in business is to grow,” Jarvis told my friend. “But what if that’s not necessarily true? What if staying small and focused on being the best at what you do can actually lead to a more fulfilling career?”
Jarvis makes a compelling case for why this is often the case. For one, he argues that growing too large can lead to all sorts of headaches, from managing employees to dealing with red-tape and bureaucracy. But more importantly, it takes away the time and freedom that many entrepreneurs crave in the first place.
“If you’re constantly chasing growth, you’re not going to have time for the things that are really important to you,” Jarvis said. “You’re not going to be able to spend time with your family or pursue your passions. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want?”
I have to say that I’m definitely intrigued by Jarvis’s thinking. It’s definitely something that I’m going to be giving some serious thought in the days and weeks ahead. If you’re interested in doing the same, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Company of One. You won’t regret it!