Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Business guru


This is the man I have been spending the past couple of days with (well in print anyway) - he is Michael Gerber, author of the book The E Myth Revisited.

As I have explained before I tend to lose books, sending them home with people and then never getting them back again. This happened last summer with my copy of the E Myth and I have finally cracked and picked up another copy.

The reason is, besides my compulsive book buying habit, is that it is quite simply an inspirational book. It shows how small businesses, particularly ones like mine founded on the fact that I can technically do things (sewing, gardening), fail because you are so busy, busy, busy doing the day to day stuff - the making, the selling, the invoicing, the packing, the meetings with clients, the floor sweeping, the weeding- that you forget to give any time over to actually building the business itself.

This is one of those books that pinpoint all your faults, make you accept them and THEN shows you how to change them.

It takes a lot of discipline though - it is a lot of hard work of a different kind, working on and not in your business - and I am just at the beginning.

But the change is in my brain - all day it has been fizzing fizzing, fizzing with ideas and plans and concrete ways forward to have the kind of integrated life and business that I want. And it does physically feel as though I am fizzing - peculiar.

Now I just need to carry it all through and create this wonderful thing that is Snapdragon.

I would also like to point out that I am not a self-help book kind of person - I phoned the only other person I know of who has systematically gone through the whole E-myth process (rather than just read the book and say "that's a good idea") and she was even more effusive - even though I was phoning out of the blue - it has completely changed her life and business. Well that is some recommendation.

I'll let you know how I get on. Fizzz, fizzzzz, fizzzzz

7 comments:

Gretel said...

I'm going to get that, as it comes so highly recommended, I am not one for business books either, but the reviews on that Amazon link are glowing, and of course, your experience of it.

blueberry hill said...

Will have to look that book up.

I know that fizzing feeling - I had it today after I attended a women's network group for the first time.

Fifi & Ally's - such a cool place!!! It will always be the place where I decided upon The Dress for my wedding! I think the wine and the cheese board helped the decision...

Jane said...

I am not sure that I have ever actually bought anything in Fifi & Ally's apart from cards and wrapping paper - but I have had lots and lots of very good cups of coffee while admiring their flower arrangements.

J
x

Still fizzing

Nonnie said...

Sounds like a very interesting book. Like you I'm not normally one for those types of books but I think I'll definitely check this one out.

Gigibird said...

I remember when I first starting reading Snapdragon you mentioned this book.
I have to confess I'm a sucker for a self help book, so I will look out for this one:)

alice c said...

Hold on to that buzzing feeling, Jane. A burst of creative energy is very precious and can easily get lost in everyday life.

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

great reveiw, I think another trip to the book store is in order, Like I need an excue.
Suzie Sews