Are you working on the business or in the business?

Quint Studer cites Michael E. Gerber’s The E-Myth Revisited to distinguish day-to-day operational work from system- and talent-building work, and he emphasizes standard operating procedures and staff development as ways to make operations more independent.

Quint Studer draws on Michael E. Gerber’s The E-Myth Revisited to discuss the difference between working in a business and working on it. He says the idea reached him after a roundtable where the book was recommended. Studer recalls starting his own company at age 48 and learning that building talent is essential. He also credits required development opportunities earlier in his career with forcing him to spend time on the business side of leadership. Key points: - The E-Myth Revisited (published 1995) is the book Studer recommends for understanding the distinction between working in a business and working on it. - Working in the business refers to routine operational tasks such as staffing shifts, ordering supplies, and doing payroll. - Working on the business involves creating tools, processes and standard operating procedures and developing staff so operations need less direct supervision. - Standard operating procedures are presented as vital for consistency and for enabling employees to act without always asking a supervisor. - Studer notes that part of working on the business includes attention to self-care and ongoing skill development for leaders. Summary: Studer argues that shifting effort from day-to-day tasks to system-building and staff development can make operations run more independently and reduce leader dependence. He highlights standard operating procedures as central to achieving consistency. He says he will share practical ways to begin making that shift in a future column.