111: How to Build a Company of One with Paul Jarvis

Why engagement is more important than numbers, how to run a business that doesn’t require growth, and how to find your rat people with Paul Jarvis.

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Welcome to episode 111 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Paul Jarvis about building a company of one, the most important part of his online business, and finding your “rat people.”

How to Build a Company of One

Paul has been working for himself for nearly 20 years, and his career has taken him in a few different directions. Starting out as a web designer, he began working for himself as a freelancer for clients like Danielle LaPorte, Marie Forleo, and Mercedes-Benz, and then he started selling his own software and courses.

And he wrote a vegan cookbook along the way.

While he built his business, he learned what it means to own, run, and grow a “company of one.” Paul’s experiences and advice will inspire you to think about your own business in exciting and unconventional ways.

In this episode, Paul shares:

• Why he releases his podcast in seasons
• How he successfully “batch-creates” his content
• Why he measures engagement over signups
• Why a mailing list is powerful
• How he spent less than $100 on creating his vegan cookbook
• How he transitioned his business from client work to products
• How he uses artificial constraints for creativity
• Why he focuses on the people who are already paying attention
• What it means to run a profitable and sustainable business that doesn’t require growth
• How to build a “company of one”
• Why you should find your “rat people”

Resources:

• Sunday Dispatches Newsletter
• Sunday Dispatches Podcast
• pjrvs.com
• Eat Awesome
• Mailchimp
• The super-cute picture of Paul’s rats
• Danielle LaPorte
• Marie Forleo
• Chimp Essentials
• Mr. Money Mustache
• Psychotactics
• Basecamp
• Derek Sivers
• Read Paul’s articles

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [e-mail].