Are you working in your business—or on it?
Reading The E-Myth Revisited helped me shift from being burned out to building with purpose. In The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber breaks down this common mistake with brutal honesty and practical wisdom.
He reveals why talented professionals often burn out when they try to do everything themselves—and how the real path to freedom lies in building systems, not just working harder.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a sales leader, or a mid-career professional with dreams of scaling up, this book shifts your mindset from “Doer” to “Designer.” It’s not just a business book—it’s a wake-up call.
All About E-Myth
Gerber dispels the “Entrepreneurial Myth” that some might consider, meaning that if you are good at the technical side of things (be it baking, designing, or selling), you could start a business.
Spoiler: It doesn’t!
Most small businesses fail not because the owner isn’t talented, but because the owner never learns to think like a business owner instead of just a technician.
“The fatal assumption is: if you understand the technical work of a business, you understand a business that does that technical work.”
That line alone made me pause. It explained years of frustration I’d seen in myself and my peers.
Big Takeaways:
1. You Are Three People:
Gerber introduces the Entrepreneur, the Manager, and the Technician—and you have all three in you.
The Entrepreneur dreams.
The Manager organizes.
The Technician does the work.
Most people build businesses stuck in “Technician” mode—doing, doing, doing—until they burn out. This concept helped me understand my blind spots as a leader.
2. Build Systems That Work Without You
Gerber’s message is clear:
“The system is the solution.”
If your business (or career) depends on you doing everything, it’s not a business—it’s a job you own.
Now, I ask:
Can someone else run this process without me?
Have I documented what I do well?
Is there a repeatable way to train others?
3. Think Franchise-Ready
Even if you never plan to franchise, run your business as you will. Why? It forces you to create scalable, replicable systems that deliver consistent value, with or without you.
Practical Questions I Asked Myself After Reading:
- Am I spending most of my time in or on the business?
- Where am I being the “Technician” when I should be delegating?
- What systems or SOPs could I create to scale or train faster?
Quotes That Changed My Thinking:
“Your business is not your life. Your business and your life are two separate things.”
Game-changer. We forget this. Your business should support your life, not consume it.
“If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business—you have a job. And it’s the worst job in the world because you’re working for a lunatic.”
This line was both hilarious and painfully true. I had to admit—I was the lunatic in my own company.
Real-Life Impact:
After applying the principles:
- I created onboarding systems for new sales hires, reducing training time by 50%.
- I started tracking tasks I could delegate, freeing time to plan growth.
- I stopped thinking “How can I do this?” and started asking “How can this be done without me?”
Who Should Read This?
- Entrepreneurs stuck in the grind and ready to scale
- Sales professionals thinking about launching a team or business
Mid-career leaders who want to shift from doing to designing systems
Why It’s Worth Reading (and Rereading):
This book isn’t a theory. It’s a blueprint. You’ll walk away with:
- A clearer vision of what your business should be doing
- Tools to build systems instead of chaos
- Freedom—from burnout, overwhelm, and “doing it all yourself”
Final Thought:
The E-Myth Revisited speaks to more than just new business owners; it’s valuable for anyone looking to create something beyond their efforts.
This book is essential if you want to stop holding things up and begin designing your business or career path.
Reading it prompted me to take a step back, reconsider my position, and begin to construct more, rather than putting in more hours.
