So tonight I am reading The E-myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. I can't even get though the introduction page when it hits me like a ton of bricks. I have heard it before but never really had any use for the info until now. I'm not sure if this was an AHA! moment or more of DUH! moment.
Let's go back to where this started. It was way back in the, uh, last night. I went to a Meetup called "Coffee with Entrepreneurs". We had lots of great conversations. The E-Myth book was highly recommended. Since I went full time photography last week, I am really focusing all energy on building my business and doing it the right way, whatever that may be. Something I heard throughout the night was the question, "Are you working AT your business or ON your business?" I knew what they were getting at, I just wasn't sure how to answer the question. It's just me and my camera. I am the business. Of course I am working At it. I had created a JOB for me not a business.
So how do I change this?
Back to tonight. I'm reading in the cozy corner this E-myth. I get to thinking about a conversation I had with my last boss. This guy is a boss of bosses, a manager of managers. He was a very higher up at Kraft foods for years and had 100's of people under him. He was telling me one night over a couple of beers about a mid level manager, named Bob, that used to work for him. Bob's job was to hire people to stock shelves with Kraft products in the stores. Bob was struggling to keep good employees and found himself stocking the shelves himself. My old boss goes to Bob and tells him that he is not doing his job. His job is to build a team, not stock shelves. He goes on to tell him that he should stop what he is doing and go find someone to stock the shelves, and train them to do it well.
I still haven't said what this AHA! moment was. I also haven't answered, "How do I change this?". As all this is rushing through my head, I remembered from way back somewhere basic business 101 stuff - Do what what you do best and hire out the rest.
I have never been a good door to door salesman or outside sales guy. That is not my expertise and quite honestly, I abhor it. So how am I going to build my business if I don't go find customers? Hire an outside sales person that does thrive in that environment - DUH!
That, my friends, is working ON the business!
Since you stuck with me through this rambling little story, I give you a pretty picture to admire on your screen. It is Mt. Rainier peeking through the clouds on a recent trip to Seattle. This shot was taken with my trusty cell phone and un-edited.
Let's go back to where this started. It was way back in the, uh, last night. I went to a Meetup called "Coffee with Entrepreneurs". We had lots of great conversations. The E-Myth book was highly recommended. Since I went full time photography last week, I am really focusing all energy on building my business and doing it the right way, whatever that may be. Something I heard throughout the night was the question, "Are you working AT your business or ON your business?" I knew what they were getting at, I just wasn't sure how to answer the question. It's just me and my camera. I am the business. Of course I am working At it. I had created a JOB for me not a business.
So how do I change this?
Back to tonight. I'm reading in the cozy corner this E-myth. I get to thinking about a conversation I had with my last boss. This guy is a boss of bosses, a manager of managers. He was a very higher up at Kraft foods for years and had 100's of people under him. He was telling me one night over a couple of beers about a mid level manager, named Bob, that used to work for him. Bob's job was to hire people to stock shelves with Kraft products in the stores. Bob was struggling to keep good employees and found himself stocking the shelves himself. My old boss goes to Bob and tells him that he is not doing his job. His job is to build a team, not stock shelves. He goes on to tell him that he should stop what he is doing and go find someone to stock the shelves, and train them to do it well.
I still haven't said what this AHA! moment was. I also haven't answered, "How do I change this?". As all this is rushing through my head, I remembered from way back somewhere basic business 101 stuff - Do what what you do best and hire out the rest.
I have never been a good door to door salesman or outside sales guy. That is not my expertise and quite honestly, I abhor it. So how am I going to build my business if I don't go find customers? Hire an outside sales person that does thrive in that environment - DUH!
That, my friends, is working ON the business!
Since you stuck with me through this rambling little story, I give you a pretty picture to admire on your screen. It is Mt. Rainier peeking through the clouds on a recent trip to Seattle. This shot was taken with my trusty cell phone and un-edited.
RSS Feed