The Big Enough Company: How Women Can Build Great Businesses and Happier Lives [Kindle Edition]

Adelaide Lancaster (Author), Amy Abrams (Author)

Book Description

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"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

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. )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 466 KB
• Print Length: 288 pages
• Publisher: Portfolio (September 15, 2011)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0052RHEFK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,419 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars KNOWLEDGE COMES FROM EXPERIENCE... THIS IS ***THE BOOK*** January 23, 2012

By Adriana Velasco

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!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book out there on small businesses and entrepreneurship. period. November 9, 2011

By Jodi Glickman

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!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique, informative book on running your own company September 15, 2011

By amggrrl

Format:Hardcover

Amy and Adelaide of In Good Company offer candid advice that will resonate with any woman interested in entrepreneurship or already running her own business. Their approach to entrepreneurship is completely in tune with the needs of TODAY's entrepreneurs, especially women who think a lot about work-life balance. Their approach is unique, fresh, and completely about customizing your own experience to make it work best for you. I loved this book!

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read if you are an an entrepreneur or working for yourself November 27, 2012

By Donald Keeley

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

5.0 out of 5 stars Especially Good For Part-Time Businesses As Well As Full-Time Ones November 13, 2012

By F. McLemore VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

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. But I bought this because I'm starting a part-time business. I checked this out of the library, and I've bought it because it has so many good ideas that I wanted to highlight - and I knew I couldn't mark up a library copy. I also didn't want to have to return it!

I used to be a professional photographer, and then I quit to pursue another career. Now I'm in school, and I need a flexible way to work, so I've decided to do photography again part-time.

If you want a part-time business, it's probably because you have other things in your life that are important to you, like getting an education, your kids, etc. But even a part-time business requires time and attention. It can feel like it's full-time, when it's meant to be only part-time.

And you can have other people saying, "You're so good, you should go 'full-time.'" They can stoke your ego into doing just that. And you start thinking of ways to "grow your business." Then your business starts taking over your life...and you lose control of your schedule. Your business starts managing you, instead of you managing it.

If you want a part-time business, you may need help KEEPING it part-time. This book helps you clarify what you want from your business - which is essential for a part-timer. It will help me remember I'm doing this for my education. It will keep my REAL goals clear for me, and keep my business from taking over my life.

I know this book is aimed at women - which I love, because we women have unique challenges in business. But this would be great for men, too - for anybody who wants to start a business.... So often, people are unclear about why they really want to start a business, what, exactly, they want to do with it, and how big it should get. This book helps you find those things out.

No matter who you are, or what type of business you want, this book is a must-have. This should be in the libraries of business schools across the country. Read more ›

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Business Book February 6, 2012

By Caroline Clark

Format:Hardcover

I was so burnt out on business books, I almost didn't read this one, which would have been really unfortunate. While most business books seem to rely on some sort of gimmick, The Big Enough Company is refreshingly honest about the challenges that entrepreneurs face and offers some great food for thought on how to overcome those challenges. Lancaster and Abrams write in a clean, conversational, easy to read style, and instead of throwing cookie cutter solutions at the reader, offer questions that help you better define your purpose and direction in business. Well worth the read (and re-read!).

5.0 out of 5 stars Really thoughtful book. December 9, 2011

By Dancer

Format:Hardcover

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 with different motivations and strengths. Also, as far as expansion, I think that they have shown a lot of thoughtfulness as far as the many considerations that a business owner may need to make in order to stay true to her mission.

They also provide a huge number of great anecdotes and references...the businesses that are mentioned in this book should hopefully credit the authors for providing them with some client referrals. I've already considered some of the product development and marketing businesses in this book for services. Also, it's well-written and readable.