Company of One – Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing

Date: 2024-03-28

Book Author: Paul Jarvis

After reading all the “scale fast or die” startup books, this one felt like an exhale. Jarvis flips the script: what if growth isn’t the goal? What if freedom, sustainability, and focus are more valuable than headcount or VC rounds? He’s not anti-business. He’s anti–blind-scaling.

💡 Refreshing Ideas: • Growth can be a trap — not all revenue is worth the cost. • Small teams = faster pivots, better control, lower overhead. • Success is personal — define it before you chase it.

❤️ What's Insightful: • Perfect for solopreneurs or bootstrapped founders. • Reminded me to audit my goals, not just my KPIs. • Great interviews with indie founders across industries.

🤔 What's Soft: • Lacks deep technical finance or systems thinking. • Won’t resonate with VC-backed founders aiming for blitzscale.

📈 Verdict: Read this if you’re burnt out, bootstrapping, or questioning scale for the sake of it. A grounded book in a noisy ecosystem.

Rating: 4.4/5