I’m reading ( The E Myth Contractor ) book on running a successful business.
Have any of you read the book? I’m looking for some feedback.
Having a hard time wrapping my head around running a full blown business. I’m basically just a one man show. The book seems to want to push a( big show)
Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Mike
“Gentle to the touch, exquisite to contemplate, tractable in creative hands, stronger by weight than iron, wood is, as William Penn had said,”a substance with a soul.'”
Eric Sloane
Replies
E myth has been discussed at length a few times before. Search it and you might get what you are looking for.
While Ive never read the contractor version, I have read revisited twice. IMO the book is about setting up a system(s) so the business can run itself. While this may be possible for a bakery or a sandwich shop, I dont see the systems working as effortlessly in the construction biz.
I think instead of systems you need qualified people. Maybe the system is having qualified people. Qualified saleperson, project manager, accountant and subcontractors. With you being the conductor of the orchestra.
Some people think it can work(me included) and others claim there is no way.
I have been thinking of setting up a crew with a worker whose expertise is plumbing, another in electrical, a trim carp, a framer and a laborer. This would relieve the pressure of someone having to know a little about everything. As long as they are willing to learn a new phase of construction then everything could be handled in-house.
I wonder if something like this could work? Any thoughts?
I would agree: the system is to have qualified people and recognizing their need. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
"Having a hard time wrapping my head around running a full blown business. I'm basically just a one man show."
The book is trying to warn you that if you're "one man show" succeeds, you will be trapped.
I think most "one man shows" fail to understand that they are running a full blown business whether they know it or not. You are being warned and therefore can adequately prepare for it.
I think there is an old proverb that fits...."....you can lead a horse to water...."
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
As others have said the book is about running a business. You are doing that already. Rather than trying to achieve a full blown system that is the goal of the book's philosophy, you should simply add one person (either employee or sub) for some phase of your business. You could start out with a part time bookkeeper/office person. The important part of the philosophy is that you train them properly to reflect the goals of your company. You gradually train people to do everything that you do to make the company function.
You will need a certain minimum size company to make this work to the point where you could sell the company to an outside party but there is no other pressing need to make your company this large. The basic principles start to work as soon as you start to farm out some of your work. Good luck.