The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

by Michael E. Gerber

“What you’re saying is that I need to create an Organization Chart for All About Pies as it will look when it’s done, seven years from now, rather than the way it is now?” “Yes,” I responded. “And that once I’ve created that Organization Chart, I need to put my name in all the positions I currently fill?” “Right again,” I answered. “And that I need to create very detailed descriptions of each one of those positions, and then sign the Position Contracts for each, as though I were an employee taking responsibility for each job? Do you mean I actually need to sign each Position Contract, exactly as though I were that employee?” “Yes,” I said, “exactly as though you were that employee. Because if your business is going to work, you are each one of those employees! Until you replace yourself with someone else, that is.” She continued to press forward, her eyes shining like diamonds, intense, awake, engaged. “And the reason for that is,” Sarah said, “that unless I act as I expect my employees to act, unless I work in my business exactly as I wish them to, I will never be able to create a system for doing it exactly the way I expect them to do it.