The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

I love reading business books, and I try to get something out of each one, so I read the entire thing. It's very dated and hasn't been revised, one chapter is devoted to the author's subjective autobiography as "iinspiration," to an eager and admiring young woman and it's definitely an advert fur his company. Long winded, jargon relating to his version of business, and he seems to enjoy the sound of his own voice. There are a couple of concepts, such as envisioning your business as a franchise to streamline systems and create consistent results, but a much better book for this is Built to Sell. This book probably had an impact when it was first written, but it's a dinosaur now, sadly. Also, inn this day and age, the title E Myth implied e commerce, but it's simply about a way to see business.

This book has some genuinely good ideas and advice in it. But the problem is, you could fit all of that into maybe a two page essay, and you'd be done ... if you weren't Michael Gerber. Gerber feels the need to stretch everything out beyond the point of being painful, to insulting your intelligence, and while many business books do this to some extent, but Gerber is particularly bad about it.But what finally made me give up, roughly halfway through, was when he had just finished talking about the importance of value and consistency. He told a story about how he left a barber who gave him three great haircuts in a row ... but dared to offer wine instead of refilling his coffee on the third visit.IN THE EXACT SAME CHAPTER Gerber sees nothing wrong with interrupting the book to insert an advertisement(!) for another of his books. After spending the whole book, noxiously repeating how this book would give you everything you needed ... it turns out it's got a giant hole, that you can conveniently fill by buying another book.Gerber doesn't even see the hypocrisy of saying you have to give your customer consistent value, and then saying in the exact same chapter "I lied earlier, both about this book having what you need and just in general when I claimed I wanted to help and give you information: I really just will say anything to sell books."

This book literally changed my life. I own a small service business with around 15 employees. I had been struggling for years doing all managerial work myself so that it was done up to my standards. We did great work but at the expense of my sanity!A mentor told me to read this book. The E-Myth was the driving factor that took my small business which had been controlling my life and transformed it into a business I could run remotely. Before I read this book I was working on site 9 hours a day 6 days a week. Less than a year after reading this I was able to take a six-month vacation around the world while my business ran itself. If you own a small business you need to read this book as soon as possible.

I love this book. I read it first two years ago, when I'd barely started my business. I re-read it again, and the richness of it all is amazing. I've come so far (we've expanded tho London, Los Angeles and Atlanta), and so much of that is owed to this book.Is it perfect? No - it's seriously cringy when the author talks about how beautiful and youthful his protege is. Ugh. But other than that, I love it and recommended it to all small business owners. Read it.

I owned my own successful retail business for 12 years and this was the Resource Book that helped the most. While I was managing for someone else, they gifted me a copy of the original E-myth. This newer Revisited version is even better. Here's the core message - it's easy to spend time working IN your business, but If you want it to grow, you need to block out critical time to work ON your business. IN is ordering and waiting on customers - the day to day stuff. ON is closing your door and planning how you're going to grow to the next level - learning how to be the best at what you do - understanding your competition and carving out your Unique Selling Proposition that will help you win. I keep a couple of copies around to share with new business friends. What a gift!!

This is the most important book I've read in the last four years. And it's amazing that it was written over twenty years ago. If you're a small business owner or thinking of starting a business of your own, you MUST read this book. Don't listen to the clowns on Facebook who will have you earning a million dollars your first year in the business. That's B.S. and you'll waste thousands of dollars like I did. READ THIS BOOK FIRST! It's changing my life!

More play on the original book. This version contains some great general guide-lines for systemizing your business, however, the author is more interested in guiding you to his website to purchase a variety of courses and his "dream room" seminar series. The book is heavy on concept but short on detail. If you've read the original E-Myth, you would probably be safe to pass on this book. It's pretty much the same information re-framed.

Easily worth the time to read. Being self-employed for 10 years, the author struck a chord with me time and again. I knew of the struggle between the inner technician, manager and entrepreneur but never had the framework to understand it. If you're a person who has marketable, technical talent and is self-employed or thinking of being self-employed, I'd say invest in this book and save yourself some inner turmoil.Somebody gave this book 4 stars because of how long-winded the author can be... which is definitely something he does. It feels like 3 pages could be condensed to 2 paragraphs sometimes. That said, I felt that half the time it was just annoying and half the time it really helped the point of the story he was telling. It's long-winded, but that often plays into the lesson that he's retelling. So I'd give it a 4.5 stars if I'm really being critical. That said, it's about the insights and lessons you draw from it. Worth the read.

As a lifelong entrepreneur, I’ve learned a ton from personal experience and failed a ton as well along the way. I stumbled onto the E-Myth early on in the process of launching side-hustle #3 and it was so powerful that I wish I had found it years earlier.The E-Myth or “Entrepreneurial Myth” unpacks the myth many of us have where because we are really good at some sort of technical skill (baking cakes, for example) then we must also be really good at running our own business leveraging that skill (running a bakery, for example). The skills required to “do the thing” (like baking) are very different than the skills required to create and run a business.The E-Myth helped me to identify the 3 facets of a business owner—The Entrepreneur, The Manager, and The Technician—And figure out how to balance those facets. The E-Myth can help any entrepreneur to better work “on their business” instead of “in their business”.I have since gone on to recommend this as the first book anyone in my network “with a great idea for a business” read before they get too far along in their process. If you’re someone who falls into this camp, I’ll recommend this as the next book you read as well.

I love that it makes a "crunching" sound just like squeezing snow! I love that, when you squeeze it, the stuff on the inside can be seen and it looks just like snow! It's fun and satisfying. However, i do not beleive it is durable enough to expect it to stay intact long - with a young child! The two layers seem to be a bit fragile. It is perfect as an adult or older child's fidgit.

I purchased this item to use with the children that I work with that have mental health disorders. This is an awesome size for a child or adult, it sounds just like crunching snow, it does put off a little bit of a chemical smell however you have to stick it in your nose in order to smell it and it does not leave a smell on your hands. Overall satisfied with the products! And I missed that it was a two pack so two for one !

I got these as Christmas gifts and one for myself I play with it quite often as at night when I'm watching TV if I don't occupy my hands/mouth I'll bite my cuticles apart (gross I know!) I love the sound and although it's just has baking powder inside I love the feel and the sound just like a boot in the fluffy snow! I don't know what people are doing to pop these but they're made to be played with not beat to hell...just an idea mines has lasted for several months with nightly play I just don't rip it apart so be a bit more gentle! It's worth it if you love the snow and that boot in snow sound minus the cold GET IT!

Loved them. Idk why people get all put out, like kids pop these things, it’s what they do. If they were made of any more durable material they wouldn’t be squishy. They’re fun while they last & perfect “snowball” stocking stuffers.

This is our second time buying these. My son as autism and loves them. The first one we had for a very long time before it popped. Made a mess but non toxic and easily swept with vacuum.

Glittery white surface is smooth and cool to the touch. Inner squishy material does have a little bit of a crunch feeling to it. It does look like white powdery snow inside. My daughter (6 y.o.) pops these kinds of toys quickly, but as an adult who uses it a good deal daily, it lasted months before it broke. To me, the quality and life of the product is worth it.

I have a couple of attention issues and I got this so I would have one at the office and one for when I work remote. It has helped me the last couple of days! stress relief and distraction, helps me keep a steady pace. 10/10 would not recommend throwing these though

Satisfying crunch when you squeeze this stress ball. The ball is very pliant and squishey. It has white "snow" inside it that feels just like the real thing when you squeeze! Love it. Very addictive

On April 8, 1999, I discovered a book that changed the way I view business; a book that helped me to realize that running a successful architecture firm required so much more than designing great architecture. It taught me that inside the owner of every small firm exists a battle among The Entrepreneur, The Manager and The Technician, and that if we don’t attend to the needs of each, our firms are destined for failure.The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It inspired me to build Fivecat Studio as a Franchise Prototype, even though we knew selling our business systems as a franchise was never a planned goal. The systems we created for the firm have allowed us to thrive and have given us the freedom we need to balance the requirements of our firm with the responsibilities of our family. It is the book that inspired me to begin to work “on my business, rather than in my business.”This book, written by Michael E. Gerber, had a major influence in the success of our firm and continues to guide many of our business decisions to this day. Fivecat Studio has been in business for 15 years. Annmarie and I experienced the startup pains of “infancy”, the hard earned success of “adolescence” and recently, with our return to the home studio and the launch of our new virtual business model, we are surprisingly “getting small again”.As I re-read the words of this inspirational how-to guide for successful small business, it is shocking to me how accurate Mr. Gerber is as he describes the different stages of the typical small business. As I read it, I can follow the path of Fivecat Studio through good decisions and bad, through ups and downs and I can see the next steps we need to take.I’ve read The E-Myth so many times that I have lost count. A quick peek at my Amazon order history documents that I have given this book to no fewer than 10 friends and acquaintances as a gift from one business owner to another, struggling to find a life of fulfillment and freedom.Michael Gerber breaks his book into three sections.In Part I, The E-Myth and the American Small Business, he defines the E-Myth as the Entrepreneurial Myth and discusses how most small businesses are the result of an Entrepreneurial Seizure. He says,“The technician suffering from an Entrepreneurial Seizure takes the work he loves to do and turns it into a job.”Does that sound familiar? How many architects do you know who have launched their own firms, with dreams of “doing it better” than their former employer and found themselves way over their heads in all the responsibilities of running a small business?Gerber describes the three phases of business; Infancy, Adolescence and Maturity. He explains why it is so important to build a Mature company from the start.“A Mature company is founded on a broader perspective, an entrepreneurial perspective, a more intelligent point of view. About building a business that works not because of you but without you. And because it starts that way, it is more likely to continue that way. And therein the true difference between an Adolescent company, where everything is left up to chance, and a Mature company, where there is a vision against which the present is shaped.”“Successful companies don’t end up as Mature companies. They start that way.”In Part II, The Turn-Key Revolution: A New View of Business, Mr. Gerber introduces the concept of the Franchise Prototype and the concept of “working on your business, not in it.”He encourages us to create systems which allow for predictable results and happy clients.“The system runs the business. The people run the system. The system integrates all the elements required to make a business work. It transforms a business into an organism, driven by integrity of its parts, all working in concert toward a realized objective. And, with its Prototype as its progenitor, it works like nothing else before it.”Many architects I know, including Annmarie at first, reject the thought of building systems for their firms. They feel that the routines and consistency of such will limit their creativity, that they will lose their flexibility to create amazing works of architecture. When, in fact, systems will do just the opposite. When everything else required to run a successful business is set to run on “autopilot”, an architect will actually have more time and flexibility to be an architect.Gerber continues,“Great businesses are not built by extraordinary people, but by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. But for ordinary people to do extraordinary things, a system – ‘a way of doing things’ – is absolutely essential in order to compensate for the disparity between the skills your people have and the skills your business needs if it is to produce consistent results.”This is also the section where some readers become frustrated with Gerber’s example of McDonald’s as a model for small business success. I know, as an architect, it is difficult to see the connection between the home of the Big Mac and our aspiring high-end residential design firms. Please trust me and read the book to the end. You will not regret learning the lessons he teaches using the examples of this successful business franchise.Here is some of what Gerber says about McDonald’s;“It delivers exactly what we have come to expect of it every single time. So that’s why I look upon McDonalds as a model for every small business. Because it can do in its more than 14,000 stores what most of can’t do in one! And to me, that’s what integrity is all about. It’s about doing what you say you will do, and, if you can’t, learning how. If that’s the measure of an incredible business – and I believe it is – then there is no more incredible business than McDonalds. Who among us small business owners can say we do things as well?”Part III, Building a Small Business That Works is a step by step, how-to guide for a successful small business. He leads us through a fully developed Business Development Program and describes the many strategies required for small business success.The E-Myth Revisited is not only your answer to building a successful small business, it’s also very entertaining. Gerber structures the information around a narrative about a woman named Sarah struggling with her small business named All About Pies. Many readers will see ourselves in Sarah as she evolves from frustrated Technician into a successful small business owner.When I posted recently that The E-Myth was my favorite business book of all time, many from the Entrepreneur Architect Community reached out and asked me why.In short… If you take action to implement the lessons Michael Gerber teaches, The E-Myth Revisited will take your firm to places you only imagined. I know it will work for you, because it has already worked for me.

This books has some much importance for small business owner. Your idea of owning a business is completely reshaped with tips and strategies that work!!! I recommend this book to any small business owner that’s the CEO, employee, accountant, marketing or any titles they solely take on. Huge wake up call to reframe your mindset on how to successfully run a business.

It was very well written and highlights the problems of small business and how to correct them.

Love the story and the main idea behind it. Easy to read, a lot of info to think about! Highly recommend.

easy read, great book for a diff way of thinking about your sm biz as system rather than product based

Loved the combination of an interesting story with golden lessons that will shape your success in creating successful small businesses. A must read for everyone!

I got these for my husband to try. All his work buddies raved about wanting to check them out. My husband felt they were no different feeling that his usual underwear.I guess these would work well for those with low hanging, stretchy bubble gums-like sacklings. 😜

Purchased these in February and it is now August and the seams are coming apart. For the price one would think they would last a little longer. Other than that no complaints.

I used to see ads for these and think incredulously “who the hell is spending that much money on underwear?” Now I know the answer; me, I spend that much money on underwear. I work in a machine shop with no A/C, and bought these when the summer started. Saxx not only solved the issues that I knew I had, but also solved comfort-related issues that I didn’t realize were issues. Do your D & Bs a favor and try these out.

my underwear journey..... i bought some basic inexpensive undies from walmart and it felt as if i was just going commando, very very displeased and i ended up donated that pack of 6 into the donation box. sure when i was younger i would not care, but now i am older and support matters. i haul mail and have to get in and out of the truck a lot and realized that the right underwear can really provide comfort all day long. this pair of saxx seems ok as far as support goes. as some mentioned it does fit rather tight and i have never worn speedos before but i am guessing this probably has a similar tight feeling and i got a medium. some mentioned that the back of the underwear falls down and while i will half agree that they probably bought the wrong size, i will say that the front seems to pull up higher than the back. not sure if that is by design or not, but it did not bother me. the material is nice and comfy. now the reason why this underwear is not for me is because it squeezes the scrotum in really tight and because i get in and out of the seat and walk around a lot things get pushed down and when i get back into the seat it feels like everything is crammed down and i have to reach inside and down to pull things up so i can sit comfortably. yes it does prevent things from moving left and right but as far as doing the things that matter, there are other brands that are more cost effective and do just as well. i will still use it, until i find the one with the support i really need, but i will not buy this model again.

Very comfortable and proper fit as expected. Recommend.

My husband has other versions of the Saxx that he used to wear when working out, so I decided to get these for him to try. My husband works out pretty strenuously daily and tends to sweat a lot. These Saxx are much more lightweight and breathable compared to other types of Saxx, so he has been very happy with them for his workouts. They have held up through multiple rounds of washing so far and still look new. I would definitely recommend these for anyone who works out and tends to sweat a lot. The other types of Saxx are better suited for lower intensity workouts, such as yoga.

The ball pouch is amazing!

Doesn't chafe. Best he has ever tired. Would recommend to any one that has issues finding a good pair.

Great book

I have owned a small business for over 1.5 years now, as a one-man web development shop. For the past few months I have come to the realization that my current way of doing things will lead down one of two paths: frustration at working all the time for not a lot of money, or closing shop and finding a job. A couple of business partners recommended this book to me within the last two months, and so I bought it. I can only say that what happened next was the best part of owning a business for me so far ... reality checks and awakenings to what could be.As I read through the book, Gerber pointed out things about how most small business owners are "technicians" turned business owners; the problem, we may be skilled in what we do, but now we take on multiple jobs that we do NOT know how to do. The problem continues as we immerse ourselves in the "technician" work, but never actually work ON the business, so many aspects of the business suffer (sales, marketing, finances, operations) or just plain don't exist.In the first part of the E-Myth, Gerber discusses finding the balance of our inner selves: the Entrepreneur, the Manager, and the Technician, and the responsibilities that each of these roles must take on to drive the business toward success, as well as some pitfalls that each face unless there is a cooperative effort by each within you to work ON, not IN, the business.The second part of the E-Myth talks about the Franchise Prototype. While this sounds like Gerber is going to talk about how to build a franchise, it's not! What he discusses here is the importance of setting up your initial (and perhaps for many, the only) company the right way ... YOUR way. This will inevitably lead to the "prototype" company, so that, in theory, you can take that business system and replicate once, twice, 5000 times ... always running the "system" the same way in each business.The third, and final, part of the book guides you through the system that you will think through, the business processes that make up your business system, so that the business can run ... even without you in it! It talks about this becoming your own turn-key solution so that you have a business model in place that your system can effectively reproduce, as you need to.I took about a week to read through the book and soak in much of what Gerber has to say in it. Gerber includes interesting examples, and the book is very easy to read and understand ... and most importantly, incredibly enjoyable. While some of the text in describing his interaction with a particular business owner is a bit over the top, it doesn't detract from the primary message of the book. I will read it again, and have already begun to get my (new) business system in place. I now have plans to grow my company, and have the vision of what my company will look like. The fog has already started to lift, and the steps are being put into place to reach the success that I have been longing to reach.If you have, or are planning to start, a small business, this really is a fantastic book, and should be manditory reading. If you have a successful business in place, and don't agree with this book, please remember one thing before you post a negative review ... you are in the absolute minority of small business owners due to the fact that most small businesses fail within the first 3-5 years; due in large part to NOT having a system in place that helps drive the business. Most small business owners would most definitely benefit from reading this book, if for no other reason than the awareness of where they are and where they could be.Thanks to Michael Gerber for such an eye-opening experience, and a viable blueprint. I'm looking forward to the journey!

Grill cover won't close completely, if they were 1/4 inch lower it would be fine. they are nicely constructed out of stainless steel and every piece is tack welded.