Big Enough

About the Author

Lee LeFever is the co-founder of Common Craft and the author of "The Art of Explanation." Since 2007, Common Craft has won numerous awards and collaborated with respected brands like LEGO, Google, Intel, and Ford. LeFever is known for creating original explainer videos that have earned over 50 million online views. Today, Common Craft produces educational guides, ready-made videos, and digital visuals used by educators in over 50 countries. Lee and his partner Sachi are Common Craft’s only employees, working from their home off the coast of Washington State.

Main Idea

"Big Enough: Building a Business that Scales with Your Lifestyle" by Lee LeFever challenges the conventional notion of endless business growth. Instead, it focuses on creating a business that aligns with personal goals and enhances the quality of life. LeFever advises readers to define what "big enough" means for them and build scalable, product-based businesses that contribute to work-life balance and happiness.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. More Hours, More Money
3. Return on Luck
4. Work for Hire
5. Choice as a Shareholder Value
6. The Business of Permission
7. Designing for the Future
8. A Platform of One’s Own
9. Live the Monetorium
10. Turning Copycats into Customers
11. Success through Failure
12. The Power Not to Care
13. Define “Big Enough” for Yourself
14. Conclusion

More Hours, More Money

Quitting your job and starting a business can be stressful. LeFever emphasizes the importance of finding an outlet that keeps you engaged in your work, even if it doesn’t produce direct income. Productivity can take many forms, such as blogging, podcasting, or creating videos. Seek help when starting your business. In the US, for instance, a spouse or partner may provide health insurance, or a friend or family member might help with initial expenses or a used office desk. Success increases when you are passionate about your work. Pay attention to what excites and engages you, and keep your options open while understanding business model basics.

Starting a business often requires more hours and more money than initially anticipated. Finding passion in your work can make these long hours feel more rewarding. LeFever suggests looking for ways to stay engaged, such as starting a blog or podcast, even if these activities don't generate immediate income. Leveraging support from friends, family, or even financial institutions can provide the necessary boost to get through the early stages of entrepreneurship.

Return on Luck

LeFever discusses the importance of being prepared to seize opportunities when luck shines on you. Attention is a powerful asset, and experimenting with ways to earn attention can lead to business opportunities. Look for ways to create something useful and solve a problem, as utility endures. Branding your work is crucial because you never know when it might be recognized. Improvement happens incrementally; focus on fixing the most significant problems first and continue improving.

When luck presents an opportunity, it's essential to be ready to take advantage of it. LeFever emphasizes the power of attention and the importance of being prepared to convert attention into business opportunities. He advises focusing on creating something useful and solving problems, as these efforts tend to have lasting value. Branding your work ensures that when opportunities arise, your efforts are recognized and can lead to further success.