Are you working in your business, or on your business? This simple question strikes at the heart of Michael E. Gerber’s philosophy on entrepreneurship. In the video below, the 80-year-old author of The E-Myth Revisited gives advice that could revolutionize how you approach your business.
Gerber challenges the common notion of what it means to be an entrepreneur. It’s not just about owning a business—it’s about dreaming big and creating systems that allow your vision to scale. He uses Ray Kroc and McDonald’s as a prime example. Kroc didn’t flip burgers; he created a system that could replicate the perfect burger experience worldwide.
This approach is particularly relevant in today’s economic climate. As businesses face unprecedented challenges, the ability to create standardized, repeatable systems—what Gerber calls a “franchise prototype”—can be the difference between thriving and merely surviving.
“The company you own today is your franchise prototype,” Gerber states. This mindset shift encourages you to think beyond day-to-day operations and focus on building a business that could potentially run without you. It’s about creating value that exists independently of your personal involvement.
Curious to learn more about Gerber’s four-stage framework for business growth and how it could apply to your enterprise? Watch the full presentation below. You might be surprised at how his ideas challenge and inspire your entrepreneurial thinking.
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