How to Build a Business that Serves Your Life and Frees You from Being the Glue The Business Owner Mindset If you are familiar with Michael Gerber’s E-Myth Revisited, you know the importance of not only working in your business to deliver the products and/or services you offer, but working “on it” as well. The ‘working on it’ is focused on your strategy and how to go about doing business in the most effective way to get the results you want. Many business owners are comfortable working in their business because they have the expertise to do the ‘work’ of the business. Often, owners of small businesses are not aware of the opportunity that working ‘on the business gives them. Working on the business includes things like building the vision and the organizational structure that is needed to achieve that vision and the desired outcomes. It also includes building systems with standards that provide a consistent customer experience and profitable outcomes. These essential aspects of the soft business infrastructure, when missing, often cause frustrations and lack of shared expectations. And since shared expectations are the foundation for building accountability, respect and trust into any organization, the lack of this type of documentation inevitably results in less than optimal results. Working 'On' It, Not 'In' It In his book, Michael Gerber lays out the distinction of working on it vs. working in it. Many thousands of business owners have been inspired by this book and understand the value of his approach to building a business that serves your life and the lives of your employees. But how to build and implement those essential pieces of missing business infrastructure is often a challenge that business owners don’t address due to lack of time and know-how.  As a business coach, I have offered the E-Myth approach to building a business that works to serve your life for more than 25 years. For decades, I have collaborated with my clients to build those essential pieces of business infrastructure that ensure shared expectations and therefore accountability. Meeting the Current Challenge Especially now, during these challenging times, it is important to take a strategic look at your business to determine the best path forward. Many business owners are rethinking how to do business differently and what it would take to do that. As part of that strategy, it is a very good time to put the systems in place to implement that strategy as we move forward. Implementation is always the challenge in any business. This is the first in a series of blogs that will explain what those key pieces of business infrastructure are and their importance. We have been forced to slow down, and that gives us the opportunity to strengthen our business strategy and foundation by taking this time to work “on” the business. I spent 13 years working for Michael Gerber’s E-Myth Organization and have worked with hundreds of business owners to help free them from being the glue that holds their business together and restore their quality of life. I would love to hear your comments and questions. I am available by phone and video chat to help you through your current strategic and tactical challenges. I offer a complimentary conversation called a GAP Analysis on my website, www.Intentionalleaders.com . You are welcome to fill it out if you would like an objective conversation from the perspective I’ve described. You will leave that conversation with solutions that will move you forward. Here’s a link: http://www.intentionalleaders.com/worksheet.html Janice Drescher Owner, Intentional Leaders janice@intentionalleaders.com 408-884-8861