3 Steps and the E-Myth by Michael Gerber

Sunday, 25 April 2010 07:40

The E-Myth is a must read book for those thinking of starting a small business.  The author Michael E Gerber described how essential it is to build a core operating system into your business.  He describes the process of creating this system as a simple, three step approach - an approach that has some symmetry with our Three Steps to Success (on the web).

The E-Myth system creation approach (summarized):

• Step One: Intentional Dreaming – describe what the dream, the vision, the purpose, and the mission. 
• Step Two: Intentional Organization – conceiving, building and perfecting the client fulfillment systems
• Step Three: Intentional Growth – conceiving, building, and perfecting the lead generation and lead conversion operating systems of the company.

Our three steps:

• Plan - Define your online business strategy including stakeholders/target audience, buying behaviours, content strategy etc.  This is about being very clear about what you are trying to achieve, for who and how - so all about vision and purpose.  Dreaming helps.
• Build - the design and build of your site and it's content is all about fulfilling the purpose you came up with - focusing on your customer or clients' needs.  Small difference here in that lead conversion happens here (rather than in the next step)
• Promote - this step focuses on getting traffic.  In other words leads.  Quality ones.  

By the way, this book is a great read - in fact it should be on the must-read list for anyone thinking about starting their own business! 

It covers concepts beyond the system creation one described above.