On a day when I was feeling particularly entrepreneurially overwhelmed, my coach suggested I reread Michael Gerber’s E-Myth Revisited. Of course I love this book! But what jumped out at me this time was–are you working on your business or in your business? For entrepreneurs, both are important.
If you are working in your business, you are doing the day-to-day tasks of keeping the business humming. This may include, but is not limited to, order taking and fulfillment, inventory control, manufacturing, customer service–you get the idea. Yes, absolutely, all these things need to be done. Do they all need to be done by you? Are they the best use of your time?
When you are working on your business, you are looking at the big, strategic issues–where do you want your business to go? What will it take to get there? These are the executive type of questions that determine the future of your enterprise. They are vitally important, yet often get short shrift because you are busy being an employee.
Take a minute and think about how you are spending your time. Are you spending too much time on the urgent issues at the expense of the important ones?
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm and is filed under Marketing, Personal Growth, General Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.6 Responses to “What Are You Doing?”
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May 29th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
You are absolutely right, I feel like i am spending so much time in my business that I dont put emphasis on the logistics to grow my business. I need to work on my advertising, bringing more revenue, getting additional funding to grow my business, etc etc, how can one begin to outsource when we have just started? It sometimes feels like and endless circle in order to start one thing i need another any pointers? I’ll pick up a copy of the E-Myth as your coach suggested. Oh and one more thing where do I find a coach receptive to instructing me? thanks for your time and help!
Eva Rosa
www.EvaRosa.com
May 30th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Eva,
You have asked a ton of good questions! I think you will find insights in the books that will be of help, and I will continue to write on these topics. Let me answer your last question clearly because it is one many would like to know the answer to. There are many people hanging out shingles as business or life coaches now that do not have any certification, and this is one area in which I think it is very important to have well-trained counsel. You can find qualified coaches through the International Coach Federation (ICF) or The Coaches Training Institute (CTI). Check out their websites and interview more than one coach until you find one you feel a connection with. They expect this process and will not be put off by a exploratory conversation. Good luck!
May 31st, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Bonnie,
Thank you for your advice on seeking out coaches. I picked up a copy of the E- Myth by Michael Gerber today at the library I am anxious to read it and understand it. I’m excited! Thank You again and I’ll let you know how everything is going from time to time if you don’t mind. Take care
June 9th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Eva,
We are all interested in how you are doing! Keep us up to date.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Bonnie,
I have been glued to the E-myth I have finished it and started re reading it! I am flabbergasted at the amount of information it contains! Its true everything is, I need to set my business as a franchise, while it may not be something to do right now, I need to run it as if it already was a franchise. The systems in place, the training, personnel, marketing, public relations, etc… I need to setup my business as a franchise. Sure I am currently established as an LLC but I need to treat it as a Corporation as a McDonalds or an Wal-Mart. I am enthused to do it. I need help but I will setup the steps so I can be part of the 96% of franchises that win. I don’t know how I will do it but I know I have to and will. Opportunities have been coming my way to expand my business, as you recall I am a flower shop but I love to do Weddings, Sweet sixteens etc.. social occasions in general. Today I have three offers of purchasing other businesses 1 is a decoration business that includes tents, pillars, candelabra etc.. 2. is a Dress and Tuxedo shop, and 3. A hotel with its own ballroom for social event venues. I have all the requirements at my fingertips to be the household name I want to be but I choose to grow my business safely and in a manner where it will continue 100 years from now.
I see the possibilities right at my fingertips and know that I am not too far away from success if I establish and coordinate myself right. In the past month I have registered to be a Minority/Woman owned business in the State of Missouri, Registered for the Hub Zone Certification, and started the leg work for government contracting. Im pretty proud of myself because I feel that I am taking the necessary steps to gain the assistance of the federal and state governments. Not to mention SBA!
I continue head on to improve my business and strive to be the next Martha Stewart! minus the whole jail thing. I would like to invite you to my blog, I have officially made a blog now! I’m very excited about it as well. Maybe I can have you as a guest writer there. I haven’t spoken to you in a while but I am still here and I continue with my light at the end of tunnel with a focus on the big picture! To you my friend I will continue and keep you updated as I accomplish these great little accomplishments of mine!
Always cheerful and proud,
Eva Rosa
www.EvaRosa.com
June 26th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Eva,
What a fabulous update! Isn’t it wonderful when you find something or someone who brings such clarity and solid information to your life? Your enthusiasm and excitement fairly leap off the page and I have no doubt you will make great strides. Please keep me — and all of us who are cheering you on — updated!
Bonnie