©1955, 2001, 2003, 2004 Michael E. Gerber; (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
"Gerber loves to exhort people to develop powerful visions for their companies." (Fortune)
"Life Changing, I Gotta Say"
I had heard about this book for years, but Gerber's writing style, with its endless dependent clauses, bothered me. However, when I got the audio book, and heard him reading it, and got the way it was meant to be taken in, I got it.
This book has radically helped me in the past month and a half since I read it, and dramatically changed how I look at my (*CURRENTLY*) one-person business. I cannot recommend this book enough to those of you who started a small business without any entrepreneurial training or experience.
"Ideas to build a life, not just a business"
This book is helping me understand how a clear vision for my life and new business will help me accommodate changing markets, staff roll over, and evolving partnerships. E-Myth has changd my perspective and goal -- to develop an enterprise with a clear mission, and to plan this business to thrive without me.
"This book is for beginners"
This book is about standardizing the processes of your business. If you know enough about that, you'll find the book underwhelming.
This book is for beginners. If you're an advanced business person, look else where.
"E-Myth Revisited Review"
Excellent read and recommend listening to it once a year. Challenges small business owners to work yourself out of your job and to delegate. In order to build a self sufficient company with total freedom, one must develop systems that the "least" qualified employee in your organization can follow. It's all about the SYSTEMS in your company.
"Must listen for would be entrepreneurs"
The audiobook is a bit too long. The stories about Sara's problems are a bit too long and too emotional at the first sight. However, when you look closer, you realize the story is about someone like you. If you try to think like Sara, the main character, it is about life and meaning of life. Then, you understand the real substance of what the author is transmiting using an emotional story. There is knowledge inside: how to start a business; how to not be consumed by your business; how to balance business with life; how to grow; how to be successful etc.
It is the true substance of the book that made me to upgrade from 3 to 4 stars.
"Saved my Life"
I am a small business owner just like the woman he describes in the book. After listening for 20 minutes I felt hope for my business, by the end of the book I had a plan in action to turn that hope into prosperity. This book saved my business and my sanity.
"Well worth the download"
I cannot understand why there are negative comments for this book - it is one of the better foundational books for any small business person who wants their life back. I highly recommend it.
"A novel about advice given to a pie lady"
The author clearly wanted to write a novel. The book is complete with descriptions of thoughts, fantasies and even detailed descriptions of smiles and sighs of the pie lady. It takes an eternity for the author to make a point. The whole book can be summed up by saying: If you start a business because you are good at and enjoy something; in order to be successful you will need to hire someone else to do that something so you can focus on management and growing the business. The goal is to make a business that runs so well that it can run without you and be franchised like McDonalds.
"Must have/Life changing book"
This book was *very* good. It's perfect for people who want to start a business. The author's narration was easy to listen to and really made the listening experience enjoyable.
"A must have business book."
I was going into this book with apprehension, a fear that this was yet another "I'll show you how it is done and you will live a great life forever". But I decided to buck the critic on audible who said it was awful and got it. Well I was surprised. It gives you the basics on running a business, a department, or anything...really. It shows you some of the obvious things that you never think about and then allows you to expand on them for yourself. It's a book that I have read a number of times...well listened to, but the first that I took notes on. E-Myth Mastery is next.