E Myth Revisited Michael Gerber Review

The E Myth Revisited by Michael E Gerber
Book Review - 5 Stars

Michael Gerber's "The E Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work And What To Do About It" is one of the most profound and far-reaching of books aimed at the small business owner and entrepreneur.

I make sure that my small business clients are aware of the E Myth book and I've even given clients and prospects a copy if I think that they will read it because it really can change your life.

It is that powerful and I am pleased to bring you my E Myth Revisited book review.

What Is All The Fuss About With The E Myth Revisited?

Several people recommended "The E Myth Revisited" to me and when I first read it I didn't get it.

Michael Gerber's style of writing didn't suit me.

I couldn't empathise with the story of Sarah and her business All About Pies because much of my work experience was with larger small businesses.

I didn't want to turn a client's business into the McDonald's of their industry.

The writing seemed soppy and sentimental and I was used to hard nosed, content rich business books. The E Myth Revisited didn't tell me "how" to change a business.

I now totally get the E Myth Revisited.

I read the book about once a year and I know it so well that I'm saying to clients "You need to read Chapter 12 in the E Myth about Your Primary Aim again. You must get this core idea that your business is there to serve your life and not the other way around."

Give The E Myth Revisited A Try

Buy The E Myth Revisited, read it and if you are like me and still don't get it, then come back to the book after three months and read it again.

The lessons the E Myth book contains are that important.

Key Insights From The E Myth Revisited

The first insight has to be the entrepreneurial myth itself.

Just because you know how to do the technical work - an accountant, a printer, a hairdresser - does not mean that you also know how to build a business.

You probably don't because nobody has taught you how to do it and you probably haven't experienced all the different areas that you now have to master.

The second revelation in the E Myth concerns the three distinct roles that Michael Gerber has identified - the technician who does the work, the manager who monitors and organises the work and the entrepreneur who, led by a vision, builds the business.

Michael Gerber then goes on to take the reader through a typical life-cycle of a small business which is sure to ring a few bells in your mind.

The solution recommended in The E Myth Revisited is to build a franchise prototype.

The E Myth Says "Build Systems"

What you don't want to franchise your business?

That's OK because you don't have to.

Michael Gerber's idea in the E Myth is to design the business to such a high standard that it could be franchised because through careful design, the business can work without you.

With the right systems, processes, policies and procedures your business will run like a well-oiled machine. The aim is to build a business which depends on your systems and not your people.

Don't Become People Dependent

The E Myth Revisited does not say that people aren't important because they are.

But you can't allow yourself to be in the situation where your business depends on, for example,one master salesperson. Just stop and imagine the negotiation power that person has over you when it comes to pay rises and remember, they will be skilled negotiators.

The Core Of The E Myth

Two of the chapters that I get people to go back and read again in "The E Myth Revisited" are Chapter 12 on Your Primary Aim (what is your life about - you've only got the one and it is a finite period) and Chapter 13 on Your Strategic Objective (what does the business have to do to play its part in your Primary Aim).

These two chapters very much start defining the issue of work/life balance - do you live to work or work to live?

You Need The E Myth Revisited

Just writing the review of "The E Myth Revisited" has made me want to start reading the book again. It is central to everything I do as a business coach and is required reading for anyone who wants to advise small businesses.

Even more important, it is essential reading for any small business owner. Just click on the link to pick up your copy of The E Myth Revisited from Amazon UK or USA.

If you like the sound of The E Myth Revisited but you don't think that you have the time to read it then I recommend a book summary service that produces 8 to 12 page summaries of the most popular business books - Business Summaries

Have you read this book? If so, I'd love to read your opinion of "The E Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber and see whether you agree with my book review.

E Myth Mastery Review - the follow up to the E Myth Revisited

Awakening The Entrepreneur Within - published in 2008, I believe Michael Gerber backs away from some of the central ideas of The E Myth in this book.

Comments

[Shallie Bey]

Paul, this is an excellent review. I find myself doing some of the same things that you mention. I have read the E Myth book numerous times. I find myself encouraging people to read chapters 12 and 13.

We share one other thing. I didn’t get it the first time either.

I have talked about this book so much, I made a squidoo.com lens (free directory) so I can point people to it. Your review is so great, I am establishing a link from the directory to your blog. The directory is called Michael Gerber and the book The E-Myth Revisited. You can find it through the search.

Thanks for such a great job of sharing.

Shallie Bey

[Paul Simister]

Shallie thanks for your comments about my review of The E Myth Revisited.

And thank you for including a link from your Michael Gerber and The E Myth Revisited Squidoo page - I find that Squidoo is a great resource. I would have left a comment but the blurb didn't come up so I just voted http://www.squidoo.com/Entrepreneurship_The_E_Myth_Revisited

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on Michael Gerber's other books as well.

[Paul Simister]

If you are looking for a summary of The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber, then I can recommend Business Summaries.

I also found this available on the Internet

http://www.carrollbiz.org/SBDC/resources/E_MythRevised.pdf

It says that you shouldn't use the E Myth summary as an excuse for not reading the book.

Although I criticise the writing style, I really do see The E Myth Revisited as a must read book for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

[Paul]

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