“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” – Alexander Graham Bell
People often believe that anyone who’s good at something can run a successful business around it. It’s one of those ideas that sounds good on the surface. For example, if you’re an amazing baker, you should open a bakery. Or if you’re a fitness guru, why not start a gym?
Well, as much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, it’s not always that straightforward. Don’t get me wrong, having a skill or passion is a great starting point. But turning it into a profitable and sustainable business – that’s a whole different game.
So, what does it take to run a successful business? It’s about much more than just being good at what you do. You’ve got to wear a lot of different hats. In his book, “The E-Myth Revisited“, Michael Gerber talks about how you’ve got to be a technician, a manager, and an entrepreneur all rolled into one.
As a technician, you’re the expert, the one who’s passionate about your craft. You’re the one who loves to get their hands dirty, to dive into the details and solve problems.
As a manager, you’re the one who keeps everything running smoothly. You’re the planner, the organizer, the one who makes sure that every ‘t’ is crossed and every ‘i’ is dotted. You’re the one who keeps track of deadlines, who delegates tasks, who ensures that everything is done on time and to the highest standard.
And as an entrepreneur, you’re the visionary. You’re the one who sees opportunities where others see obstacles. You’re the one who dreams big, who isn’t afraid to take risks, who believes in the potential of your business to make a difference in the world.
Juggling these roles might sound daunting, but remember, no one is born knowing how to do all this. It’s a learning process, and it’s okay to stumble along the way. In fact, that’s how we grow.
Which of the 3 roles, do you spend the most time on? What can you do to grow, and improve, in one of the other roles?
If you’re ready to dive deeper and learn a framework for running a successful business, along with plenty of real-world examples and practical tips, check out Michael Gerbers book “The E-Myth Revisited“. (Voted #1 business book by Inc. 500 CEOs)
According to Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies, “You don’t have to be a genius or a visionary or even a college graduate to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.”
You’ve already got the dream. Now it’s time to build your framework!