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The Big Enough Company: Creating a Business That Works for You [Hardcover]

Adelaide Lancaster , Amy Abrams
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 15, 2011

All entrepreneurs start their companies because they think it will give them freedom-freedom to work on their own terms, be their own bosses, and create a company that meets their needs. But so often the opposite happens, and they end up encumbered by businesses that bear little to no resemblance to those they had envisioned. They wind up working for their companies, but their companies don't work for them.

Despite the freedom that striking out on your own promises, most of the accepted wisdom on how to build a small business advocates a one- size-fits-all approach. So-called experts-and sometimes just well-meaning friends-urge business owners to grow fast, be more profitable, and imitate other successful start-ups. And while these tips may work for some, they fail to consider the astounding variety of values and motivations that individuals have for starting a business. Too often, owners sacrifice their personal satisfaction in order to conform to unnecessary (and often unworkable) standards.

Adelaide Lancaster and Amy Abrams have seen this problem for years when working with women entrepreneurs like themselves. They set out to explore how successful female business owners have grown their enterprises in a way that sustains their own personal goals and needs, not someone else's standards.

Drawing on the true stories of nearly 100 entrepreneurs, as well as their own experiences, Abrams and Lancaster guide readers through the best principles that really matter when you work for yourself. For instance:

  • Figure out what's in it for you: Clarify why you started your business and what you want to get out of it over the long haul.
  • Find a role that suits your strengths: Identify where you add the most value and can have the most impact.
  • Embrace experimentation: Trying new things gives you the opportunity to see what works and what doesn't and opens up unseen possibilities.

This book empowers entrepreneurs to ignore popular "wisdom" and peer pressure to take charge of their businesses in a way that will help them succeed on their own terms.


Frequently Bought Together

The Big Enough Company: Creating a Business That Works for You + Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Great work is an important element for a happy life, and The Big Enough Company gives smart, accessible guidance on how entrepreneurs can shape their work lives to build a sense of control, success, purpose—and happiness.”
—GRETCHEN RUBIN, author of The Happiness Project
 
 “T he Big Enough Company is loaded with invaluable tips, sound advice, hard-earned lessons, inspiring stories, and cautionary tales for women seeking to build a business they will love—and for men who want to know what’s missing from traditional approaches to entrepreneurship. In the land of business books,
it’s a breath of fresh air.”
—BO BURLINGHAM, author of Small Giants
 
“ I wish I’d had this book when I first became an ‘auntrepreneur’! What a bevy of inspiration this book is. It goes straight to the top of my list of recommendations for any woman ready to live her dream by starting her own business—of any size.”
—MELANIE NOTKIN, author of Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids
 
“ In a day and age when too many so-called experts tout hyperinflated ‘success’ tips and ‘guaranteed’ growth strategies ad nauseam, this book serves as both a reality check and a breath of fresh air.”
—SCOTT GERBER, author of Never Get a “Real” Job and founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council
 
“ Today more and more women are choosing entrepreneurship as a path to expressing their creativity and making money, but also as a way to manage their unique work+life ‘fit.’ The Big Enough Company lays out a clear road map for success as you define it, personally and professionally. Whether you are starting your business or taking it to the next level, this book will give you answers.”
—CALI WILLIAMS YOST, CEO of the Flex+Strategy Group/Work+Life Fit Inc. and author of Work+Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You
 
T he Big Enough Company assembles an all-star cast of female entrepreneurs who will inspire you with the courage to build a company on your own terms. A must-read for anyone thinking about dipping their toes into start-up waters, as well as for seasoned entrepreneurs who want to grow their companies to the next level wisely and purposefully.”
—DONNA FENN, author of Upstarts: How GenY Entrepreneurs Are Rocking the World of Business
 
“ Reading this book is like spending the day with a hundred inspirational women in one room. The Big Enough Company is an invaluable resource that will have entrepreneurs at any level shouting ‘Yes I can!’”
—ELLEN DIAMANT, cofounder of Skip Hop, Inc.

Review

"The Big Enough Company is loaded with invaluable tips, sound advice, hard-earned lessons, inspiring stories, and cautionary tales for women seeking to build a business they will love-and for men who want to know what's missing from traditional approaches to entrepreneurship. In the land of business books, it's a breath of fresh air."

(-Bo Burlingham, editor-at-large of Inc. magazine and author of Small Giants: )

"Great work is an important element for a happy life, and The Big Enough Company gives smart, accessible guidance about how entrepreneurs can shape their work lives to build a sense of control, success, purpose-and happiness."

(-Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project )

"I wish I had this book when I first became an 'auntrepreneur!' What a bevy of inspiration this book is. It goes straight to the top of my list of recommendations for any woman ready to live her dream by starting her own business-of any size."

(-Melanie Notkin, Founder, Savvy Auntie and author of Savvy Auntie: The Ultim )

"In a day and age where too many so-called experts tout hyper-inflated 'success' tips and 'guaranteed' growth strategies ad nausea, this book serves as both a reality check and a breath of fresh air."

(-Scott Gerber, Author of Never Get a "Real" Job, Founder of the Young En )

"Today more and more women are choosing entrepreneurship as a path to express their creativity and make money, but also as a way to manage their unique work+life "fit." The Big Enough Company lays out a clear roadmap for success as you define it, personally and professionally. Whether starting of your business, or taking it to the next level, this book will give you answers. I've been running my consulting business for more than 12 years, and it helped me!"

(-Cali Williams Yost, CEO of the Flex+Strategy Group/Work+Life Fit Inc. and auth )

"Reading this book is like spending the day with 100 inspirational women in one room. The Big Enough Company is an invaluable resource that will have entrepreneurs at any level shouting 'Yes I can!'"

(-Ellen Diamant, co-founder, Skip Hop, Inc. ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover; 1 edition (September 15, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1591844215
  • ISBN-13: 978-1591844211
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a graphic and fashion designer I tried entrepreneurship a few years back, and it didn't work out as I expected, so I came back on 2011 to a full time job. if you want something you have to keep trying but learning from your mistakes is key element. This book is giving me answers (real honest, direct.... 'in your face' answers) about what went wrong with my project, and the important thing is next time my approach will be entirely different. THANK YOU ADELAIDE AND AMY!!!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Reading the Big Enough Company is like sitting down for a cup of coffee with your closest friends and hashing out what you really want out of life and career and then getting the most expert and actionable advice on how to get there. As an entrepreneur who's had her share of fits and starts with my own business, I found myself nodding and agreeing and wishing I had had this book years ago. Amy and adelaide force you to ask the tough questions that highlight your true goals and motivations--so that you create a business that works for you, not one that simply sounds good on paper or meets the standards of what the "typical" or "successful" entrepreneur would do. This book is fun, engaging, inspiring, liberating, relevant and it will challenge you to your core-- so that you walk away with a clarity and confidence you didn't even know you had. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone considering striking out on their own (or who's wondering if they're on the right path with the business they've got). It will hands down be one of the best investments you make!
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Was this review helpful to you?
Format:Paperback
I have always enjoyed reading about business success this book is current and modern in it's content. As the owner and partner of a
new service business, Mindful Transitions, we were looking for a book to guide and focus our efforts as we just passed the launch phase of our business. It's a productive read full of very useful guidance for any woman entrepreneur. It touches on all those subjects we need reminded of and plants the seeds of do's and don'ts for new businesses. Bravo ladies !! Joanne Devereaux
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Especially Good For Part-Time Businesses As Well As Full-Time Ones
If you want a full-time business, don't let the title of my review stop you from looking into this book. It's absolutely GREAT for that. Read more
Published 6 months ago by F. McLemore
5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Business Book
I was so burnt out on business books, I almost didn't read this one, which would have been really unfortunate. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Caroline Clark
5.0 out of 5 stars Really thoughtful book.
This book definitely covers territory about entrepreneurship that other books don't, because it recognizes the fact that each entrepreneur may have come into their business ideas... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Dancer
5.0 out of 5 stars a must read for anyone considering entrepreneurship or already running...
If you are considering entrepreneurship, or are already there, this book is an invaluable tool! In addition to laying out insightful and helpful advice, authors Amy and Adelaide... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Chana Balk
5.0 out of 5 stars If You're Interested in Building the Business that Works for You, Buy...
The Big Enough Company is full of stories of people creating their body of work--their way. If you want to give yourself a job you enjoy or create a life and work in it that is... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Chief Amusement Designer
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A useful and practical book for businesswomen
I used to read a lot of business advice books, but I gave them up because so many of them are written by male Harvard MBA CEOs who talk about growing their companies into these... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Karen Rancourt
5.0 out of 5 stars This is the 'Get It Right' handbook for any serious entrepreneur
Are you keeping the right company? If you're not sure, then you must read this book. There are as many business books as there are people in business. At least it feels that way. Read more
Published 20 months ago by FearlessFactor
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and insightful
The best business books, or at least the ones I like reading the most, combine anecdote and context. That's why this is such an excellent and engaging book. Read more
Published 20 months ago by DJD
5.0 out of 5 stars The Small Business Owner's Secret Weapon
Have you ever been asked "How fast is your business growing" and had kind of a pit in your stomach in response? If so, this delightful book is for you. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Manisha Thakor
5.0 out of 5 stars Heather Ouida, co-founder of Mommybites
This is an incredible, easy to read, understand and digest book. Every woman who owns her own business or is thinking about starting a business should read this book. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Heather Ouida
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