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The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
 
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The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It [Paperback]

Michael E. Gerber (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews) |

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Book Description

Publication Date: 1988
The E-Myth, or Entrepreneurial Myth, says that most new businesses are not started by entrepreneurs who set out to build a strong business but by technicians who enjoy the hands-on work themselves. Because of that natural bias, most business owners focus on working in their business when really they should be working on their business. There is, however, a simple and effective way to offset the E-Myth tendency. Instead of looking at the business as a one-off operation, the owner should consider the business to be a prototype for a large number of franchises that will be added at a later stage. By adopting that mindset, the business owner will not only participate in the business as a technician but will also act as a manager (putting systems in place and controls) and as an entrepreneur (having a vision of how the business can create sustainable added-value for all key stakeholders). A business that is built and managed by someone who combines the approach of the technician, the manager and the entrepreneur will have a far greater chance of future success than one guided by someone thinking like a technician alone.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 162 pages
  • Publisher: Ballinger Publishing (1988)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0887303625
  • ISBN-13: 978-0887303623
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #410,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Michael E. Gerber Page
Michael E. Gerber
Michael E. Gerber is a true legend of entrepreneurship. Inc. Magazine
called him "the World's #1 Small Business Guru." He started over 40 years
ago addressing a significant need in the small business market: businesses
owned primarily by people with technical skills but few business skills, and
no place to go to get meaningful help. Over the years, Michael E. Gerber's
companies have helped tens of thousands of small business owner-clients
to successfully transform their businesses into world-class operations.

Mr. Gerber's latest books are The Most Successful Small Business in the
World, Awakening the Entrepreneur Within, The E-Myth Enterprise, The E-Myth
Mastery, The E-Myth Manager, along with co-authored E-Myth Vertical books
The E-Myth Attorney, The E-Myth Accountant, The E-Myth Optometrist, The
E-Myth Chiropractor, The E-Myth Financial Advisor and soon to be released
The E-Myth Landscape Contractor and The E-Myth Architect.

Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Everyone that starts a business is a technician that suffers from an Entrepreneurship seizure, hence the E Myth. Small businesses do not work the way intended because the technician only works in the business and can not also have the foresight to work on the business at the same time. This book will open an individuals eyes to what is the reality of owning/operating a business. I wish I had the knowledge of this book when my real estate brokerage exploded with growth in 2005 and I hired my first person. Its not enough to know your business; you need to get others to run it while you focus on growing the operation.

The book will demonstrate and shall the reader how to install systems in the business so anyone can run it, then you will have a business, until then the owner/technician will only have a job. The systems, not the people will run the business and the business will do what it was designed to do. If anyone can run the business because of the systems then anyone can own it and it still will produce income for the owner and his employees. McDonalds is a great example of systems put in place will determine the desired outcome(not the people).

The book will change the way you think of your small business and how to organize the business so you can attain a level of success and freedom. There are only two reasons to own a business to have freedom and to sell it one day.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read Gerber's "E-Myth" many years ago. It's probably the book that most influenced my thinking. It's a fast and easy read. The first time I read it I said to myself "this is a great book but I don't think it will work for my business". As soon as I said that, I thought "what a dumb way to read a book!", so I immediately read it again, this time thinking about all of the ways I could apply and adapt his principles to my business. It helped me elevate my business. I created a mission statement, everyone that came to work for me had to sign on it. After reading this book I created a system that allowed me to standardize nearly all of the processes I used to produce an outstanding product. That process allowed me to move ahead of the pack in my chosen field and that never hurts. The standardization process allowed me and those that came to work for me to uncover 99.9% of the problems that might arise in a given situation and uncovering the flaws in a transaction means that you have the opportunity to deal with them or eliminate them. This time I bought it as a gift for someone wanting to improve their business.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
that doesn't make it as easy to follow as it is to read; but you owe it to yourself to try.

Worth its weight in gold. Sound advice. Requires mental discipline.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The second half is great
Apparently this is a "classic" for entrepreneurs. The first half is a bit tedious. The author has a vaguely-goofy theory about the "types" of people who start businesses, and he... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mac
Well worth the time and money.
This book is certainly worth your investment in time and money. It will help you understand that there are ways to organize your business and develop a culture that will create... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kevin
The E Myth
this is a must read for anyone who thinks they own a business, but in reality they own a job! All business owners who want to move to the next level in their business while getting... Read more
Published 5 months ago by william d. young
BUY THIS BOOK!!!!
This book came highly recommended to me from a client that owns multiple pizza establishments, international check cashing establishments and several other businesses. Read more
Published 15 months ago by touchattvideoproductions
helpful book
I received the book in good condition, as advertised. It came directly from the seller in a timely manner and has been helpful and informative.
Published 19 months ago by C.N.
Critical Fundamental Reading
The original. While E-Myth Revisited is updated for the current environment, the original contains the purest form of wisdom that Gerber wrote 25 years ago - and the principles... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Edward J. Barton
e-myth great
it is a great look at running a business. It is not a how-to but more of a why-to. It isn't a checklist for starting and running a business but it discusses the things that make... Read more
Published on August 16, 2009 by Mont Dutson
My Review
A good book that starts very fast, maintains its momentum but slows down at the end. The staff organization discussion was not up to the quality of the preceding knowledge... Read more
Published on June 12, 2009 by P. Wincup
Just what I asked for
I ordered a used soft-cover copy of the book The E Myth and received it in an acceptable amount of time. As the description said, it was slightly worn. Read more
Published on October 31, 2008 by Diane Autey
The Big Picture on how to run a business
I am retiring as an insurance adjuster in 90 days and will run my skincare business fulltime. The information in this book puts EVERYTHING in focus. Read more
Published on March 4, 2008 by P. D. Olson
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