Business for Bohemians audiobook cover - Live Well, Make Money

Business for Bohemians

Live Well, Make Money

Tom Hodgkinson

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Entrepreneurship

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Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9
Why does the author argue that bohemians should go into business rather than get a traditional job?
  • A. It guarantees a significantly higher income than most corporate jobs.
  • B. It allows them to completely avoid dealing with customers or clients.
  • C. It provides a better way of maintaining freedom and autonomy in their work lives.
  • D. It requires less daily effort and fewer hours than a standard nine-to-five job.
Question 2 of 9
What is a 'lifestyle business' according to the text?
  • A. A humble, small-scale operation that provides enough free time and money to live out a good life.
  • B. A massive corporation focused on selling luxury lifestyle products to creative types.
  • C. A temporary startup intended to be built and sold quickly to investors.
  • D. A company that dictates the personal habits and lifestyles of its employees.
Question 3 of 9
What happened when the author initially ignored traditional business practices and adopted a 'permissive' management style at the Idler Academy?
  • A. His employees became highly innovative and launched new, profitable product lines.
  • B. He had to spend 14-hour days doing rudimentary tasks like cleaning the bathroom himself.
  • C. The business immediately went bankrupt within the first two months.
  • D. He successfully proved that corporate hierarchies are entirely unnecessary for a business to thrive.
Question 4 of 9
How does the author view the process of creating a business plan?
  • A. As a rigid, binding contract that must be followed without any deviation.
  • B. As an unnecessary corporate ritual that stifles bohemian creativity.
  • C. As a useful exercise for clarifying ideas before putting actual money on the line.
  • D. As a tool used exclusively to secure massive loans from traditional banks.
Question 5 of 9
What is the author's primary rule of thumb regarding how to price products or services?
  • A. Match the prices of large corporations like Amazon to stay competitive.
  • B. Set prices as low as possible to maximize the number of customers.
  • C. Calculate the exact cost of materials and add a standard 10% markup.
  • D. Take the original price you have in mind and double it.
Question 6 of 9
According to the author, how should you interpret customers complaining about your prices?
  • A. It is a sign that your prices are probably set correctly.
  • B. It indicates that your business model is entirely unsustainable.
  • C. It means you need to immediately offer discounts to retain customer loyalty.
  • D. It shows that your product quality is too low for the current market.
Question 7 of 9
What is a major trade-off of taking money from traditional investors to fund a business?
  • A. You will have to pay exorbitant interest rates compared to a standard bank loan.
  • B. You will have to sacrifice some of your autonomy and control over the business.
  • C. You will be legally prohibited from hiring friends, family, or freelancers.
  • D. You will be forced to transition your business into a non-profit organization.
Question 8 of 9
What does the author mean by the 'Bohemian Wobble'?
  • A. The tendency of creative businesses to constantly pivot their product offerings.
  • B. The phase where an entrepreneur starts having second thoughts and envies people with stable office jobs.
  • C. The financial instability a business experiences during its first year of operation.
  • D. The physical exhaustion that comes from working long hours to keep a startup afloat.
Question 9 of 9
What is the author's ultimate advice on whether to quit or keep going when a business gets tough?
  • A. Never give up under any circumstances, because every business eventually becomes profitable.
  • B. Push through the rough patches, but it is okay to quit if an idea is unviable and making you miserable.
  • C. Quit at the first sign of the 'Bohemian Wobble' to avoid further financial and emotional loss.
  • D. Sell the struggling business to corporate investors rather than closing it down completely.

Business for Bohemians — Full Chapter Overview

Business for Bohemians Summary & Overview

Business for Bohemians (2016) provides creative, free-spirited individualists with an alternative path to making a living. Combining practical advice, philosophical reflections, and autobiographical anecdotes, it shows that you can enter the world of business without sacrificing your bohemian values. 

Who Should Listen to Business for Bohemians?

  • Bohemians who want to start a business
  • Businesspeople who have a creative side  
  • Anyone who wants to escape the rat race

About the Author: Tom Hodgkinson

Tom Hodgkinson is the founder and editor of the Idler magazine. He is the bestselling author of How to Be Idle, How to Be Free, Brave Old World, and The Idle Parent. Along with his partner, he is also the founder of the Idler Academy of Philosophy, Husbandry and Merriment, which offers online and offline courses in a wide range of subjects – from business to philosophy. 

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