Company of One by Paul Jarvis. A successful business doesn’t have to be a big business. If your goal is to be happy and live well, then a simple, profitable, and fulfilling company of one is a perfect goal. This book is a great guidebook.

Following this path does require some mental recalibration. You have to let go of the need to compare yourself to others, and the pride that makes you think you need much more than your living costs.

was also able to answer more specific questions about my ideal work and life values, which you can gradually answer too: How many hours would you ideally work in a day, week, or month? Where and how do you work? What does your average workday look like? How much time can you easily take off at any given moment? What is your business philosophy, or

FOCUS ON YOUR PRODUCT, NOT YOUR MARKETING

In Mountain Song, I wrote about one of the moments I loved most in my daily routine in my house by the mountains: This is a place made for rituals, the slower and more mindful the better. I love the ritual of coffee as much as the taste. It punctuates my day – once after breakfast, again after lunch. Choosing the beans and putting them in the

If you hit resistance from multiple people, you know you need to make your value more obvious or lower your prices until you have more experience behind you.

Telling stories can mean sharing what you’ve learned, but it can also mean sharing who you are. Think about these questions: What valuable experiences have you been through, and what have you learned? What do you know to be true about life and your industry? What’s your ethos? What are you working on now? What does your work process look like

I asked my dad for his best business advice when I was writing this book. He told me: “Follow your hunch, as long as you don’t risk going broke.”

What’s the point of creating a big company that makes millions? If it’s to be happy and do less work, look out at the birds and smile. You can have that already – and it doesn’t cost a thing.