How to Profitably Grow Your Business With Less Stress

Do You Have A Business Or A Job?

Michael Gerber is a business consulting “guru” whose observations concerning small businesses have had a profound impact on how his students see their businesses and their role as a business owner.

Gerber observed that most people go into business for the wrong reason. They are skilled technicians. They do a good job of what the business provides to the customer. They believe they can earn more by doing it in their own business than for someone else. They leave and open their own shop. This is what Gerber calls an “entrepreneurial seizure.”

These technicians believe they will find more freedom in their business but they discover it is the hardest job in the world. There is no escape. They are the ones who are doing the work! They are the “business!” But if they are the business, they haven’t really created a business at all. They have only created a job for themselves!

According to Gerber, the role of the owner is quite different. The role of the business owner is to create a business that works independently of him or herself. There is an “end point” where the business functions independently of the owner. At this point, the business owner may choose to sell it or not. By then, he or she will have created a ready-to-sell “money making machine” and may choose whether to devote effort to it or not. The business can also be duplicated from place to place.

The model for this effort is the “turnkey franchise,” such as McDonalds. The franchise creator, by establishing, documenting, and testing detailed systems, Ray Kroc made a uniform business with a certain look, providing a consistent experience to the customer. Ray controlled the

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Developing An Advertising Program: A Basic Review
Referrals: The Secret to Building a Better Business Faster
How To Get Your Customers To Trust You
The Nicest Way To Build Your Business
Developing a Unique Selling Proposition
Uncover Your Business’s Most Valuable Hidden Asset
Raising Capital: How To Get Money For a Small Business
Marketing and Pricing: Frequently Asked Questions
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