‘Boss Life: Surviving My Own Small Business’

Paul Downs, an entrepreneur with an engineering degree, exposes the reality of starting and leading a small business in “Boss Life: Surviving My Own Small Business.” Downs opened his Pennsylvania-based custom furniture company, Paul Downs Cabinetmakers, in 1986. For the past 30 years, the company has specialized in manufacturing large conference tables and credenzas for commercial and residential clients and has outgrown five different work facilities.

In his book, Downs authentically takes the reader through his experiences during 2012, a year that presented him with both business and familial challenges. He focuses on four main themes—sales, operations, money and power—to convey these experiences and to provide insight about growing and maintaining a successful company. Despite past failures or hardships as a business owner, Downs strongly believes people are the heart of every small business, no matter the product or service.

“Boss Life” gives the term “boss” a new meaning as Downs gives honest accounts of the challenges that lead to ultimate success.

“Boss Life” is available on 800ceoread.com for $21.56.