I:30:J We have been huge enthusiasts of the Book, "The E-Myth" by Michael Gerber. There is so much insight that can really guide small business owners to better fully grasp their business and why they do what they do.
Early in the book, he describes about The Entrepreneur, The Manager and The Technician. These are three totally different personas which can be inside every small business owner. The reason this is such a compelling principle for Couple Entrepreneurs, is that it more shows that a couple may be more lucrative operating their business together than alone. We certainly have described about understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your partner to make your business more efficient. However it is also important to further designate which of the personality traits is more robust in each of you:
The Entrepreneur - this is the Thinker and the Visionary. In our case, this is Scott. The quantity of ideas that he comes up with is astonishing! Many dinner discussions with friends, he is conjuring up a new goods and services to take to market. Each small business requires this kind of thinker since otherwise the business will get stale and not develop and mature with new thoughts, suggestions and technologies. Remember to make sure that The Entrepreneur discusses the ideas with The Manager before acting on them. The most illogical business we ventured into was owning a restaurant - The Manager of us, Heidi, expressed the perils associated with that business, however we pursued it anyway. We had a hard time and eventually shut it down and sold it.
The Manager - this is the proverbial organizer. This person wants to visualize the actual business running. Making sure that everything has a place, that every job is detailed and can see the beginning and the end of the whole process. In our case, this is Heidi. Scott comes up with an idea for a business or a new system that we should try to improve our current businesses and Heidi critiques it. She asks all the hard questions, some people might infer this as being a downer, but Scott, The Entrepreneur understands that these questions should be asked and appreciates the "Devil's Advocate" approach. But she also respects that some of the visionary concepts need to be tried, even if every detail is not figured out in advance.
The Technician - this is the doer. Successful couple entrepreneurs share this part. If only one partner is the Technician, then that partner works himself or herself to the bone which enables you to resent the The Entrepreneur and The Manager. But you have to be mindful not to do the same tasks. For example, Scott operates with our web designer to create our Site, but I manage the content. Scott goes onto the home sites to meet with Subs; I talk to the different departments to ensure the process is moving forward. We often remind couple entrepreneurs to not duplicate efforts. A great analogy is mowing the lawn - you don't both have to push the mower, one can push the mower, the other can bag up the clippings.
As Michael Gerber describes in his book, in order for a small business to become successful, all 3 of these personalities needs to be included in every day actions. It is simple to get involved with the doing or the managing and forget to have perspective. It is good to read and learn and see vision, yet there has to be real creation. As couple entrepreneurs, you have got the fortune of spreading these personality traits with your partner. You will probably understand that you handle the other parts of your life in the same ways too.
Identify these types of personality traits in you and your partner and be thankful for the incredible value they collectively provide for your small business.
Early in the book, he describes about The Entrepreneur, The Manager and The Technician. These are three totally different personas which can be inside every small business owner. The reason this is such a compelling principle for Couple Entrepreneurs, is that it more shows that a couple may be more lucrative operating their business together than alone. We certainly have described about understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your partner to make your business more efficient. However it is also important to further designate which of the personality traits is more robust in each of you:
The Entrepreneur - this is the Thinker and the Visionary. In our case, this is Scott. The quantity of ideas that he comes up with is astonishing! Many dinner discussions with friends, he is conjuring up a new goods and services to take to market. Each small business requires this kind of thinker since otherwise the business will get stale and not develop and mature with new thoughts, suggestions and technologies. Remember to make sure that The Entrepreneur discusses the ideas with The Manager before acting on them. The most illogical business we ventured into was owning a restaurant - The Manager of us, Heidi, expressed the perils associated with that business, however we pursued it anyway. We had a hard time and eventually shut it down and sold it.
The Manager - this is the proverbial organizer. This person wants to visualize the actual business running. Making sure that everything has a place, that every job is detailed and can see the beginning and the end of the whole process. In our case, this is Heidi. Scott comes up with an idea for a business or a new system that we should try to improve our current businesses and Heidi critiques it. She asks all the hard questions, some people might infer this as being a downer, but Scott, The Entrepreneur understands that these questions should be asked and appreciates the "Devil's Advocate" approach. But she also respects that some of the visionary concepts need to be tried, even if every detail is not figured out in advance.
The Technician - this is the doer. Successful couple entrepreneurs share this part. If only one partner is the Technician, then that partner works himself or herself to the bone which enables you to resent the The Entrepreneur and The Manager. But you have to be mindful not to do the same tasks. For example, Scott operates with our web designer to create our Site, but I manage the content. Scott goes onto the home sites to meet with Subs; I talk to the different departments to ensure the process is moving forward. We often remind couple entrepreneurs to not duplicate efforts. A great analogy is mowing the lawn - you don't both have to push the mower, one can push the mower, the other can bag up the clippings.
As Michael Gerber describes in his book, in order for a small business to become successful, all 3 of these personalities needs to be included in every day actions. It is simple to get involved with the doing or the managing and forget to have perspective. It is good to read and learn and see vision, yet there has to be real creation. As couple entrepreneurs, you have got the fortune of spreading these personality traits with your partner. You will probably understand that you handle the other parts of your life in the same ways too.
Identify these types of personality traits in you and your partner and be thankful for the incredible value they collectively provide for your small business.
About the Author:
Scott and Heidi Shimberg are Serial Entrepreneurs who are keenly studying business opportunities in the online/offline marketplace. Know Numis, and tell your friends, family and begin to have Hope too.
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