[guido]

I bought this E-Myth for contractors book and it finally got here. I read it yesterday. Has anyone else read this one? I never really got into the E-Myth thing when it first came out, and this is the first book I've read from the series or whatever it is.

I wasn't super impressed by the content of the book. It was worth reading though because its one of those books that makes you think and explore.

I guess the best 2 points in brought up was running a business like its a business and not like its a job. How a business should be something you could walk away from and it can still function. Your business isn't worth anything when your dead if you need to be there for it to work.

And all the emphasis on systems and continuity. I can relate a lot to that being in the military. Like right now, we're rotating back to Germany and a new team is falling right in and because we use certain systems that are outlined to do the things we do, the next guys could jump in with minimal training and make our shop function the same way it has for the 6 months we've been here.

The beginning and the end of the book really made me think about a lot of different things, the middle was a litte boring, but I'm going to read it again to see what I missed.

So, what I'm getting at in this thread is a couple of things.....

It all makes sense (although I didn't agree a lot with the chapter on estimating) to build a business that is self sufficient and to have systems in place to make processes more predictable and easier to teach. It also gives guidelines for employees to follow and something to judge quality against.

So, 3 questions that I would appreciate an answer to:

1. What did you guys think of the book and the "idea" it conveys?

2. Would it be worth it to get any of the other books? Are they any better?

3. What systems and processes does your company use to build continuity and help with training and quality control. What are you doing to help seperate your business from your job?

I don't have a lot more time to type right now, but I'll throw in some of the systems that we use as a military operation that I think would work great in the green industry too later on when I have some more time.

[guido]

I guess I'm the only one that read this one...... In that case....

What have you guys and gals added to your bookshelves in the past year or so and what do you think about them?

[Stonehenge]

I've only read the original E-myth (thanks to Diginahole), and didn't realize there was a series. I think the message he sends is to build a business that could become ISO certified. Taking that path would lead to the same result (which is in part what you suggested in VoodooChile's thread about job descriptions).

I think it's a valid idea, and one that, even if not adopted in whole, adopting it for some of your operations can help you to run better operations.

How does the contractor version biffer from the original?

[guido]

I haven't read the first one, so I have nothing to compare it to I guess.......I may have to go backwards and read the original to see.........its probobly the same info, just funneled into construction type stories to make it from the point of view of a contractor.

[Nebraska]

I think Stonehenge nailed the entire premise precisely with the comparison of becoming ISO certified...