Have you ever wondered why some businesses never seem to be able to
grow, no matter how much effort the owner puts into it?
At the same time, I am sure you have also seen many examples of
entrepreneurs who started small and ending up building hundreds of
outlets/ offices in so many countries, returning millions of
dollars in sales every year.
The difference lies in the kind of work the entrepreneur is focused
on.
The biggest mistake that entrepreneurs make is to focus all of
their time working IN the business and not enough time working ON
the business.
Working IN the business involves doing the tactical work necessary
for the business to operate day to day. This work is usually the
urgent stuff that must be done immediately to keep the business
running.
It involves selling the product, making the product/providing the
service, delivering the service or product, administration and
accounting.
On the other hand, working ON the business involves the strategic
work of creating a successful business system and then replicating
this system by opening up multiple branches/outlets.
The entrepreneur knows that once the business system is created,
anyone can be hired to work in the system to produce the same level
of service/product quality in any subsequent branch/outlet - and
that is to generate profits and income.
Is it by accident that every McDonald's server will greet you with a
warm smile and a "Welcome to McDonald's" everywhere in the world?
No, it is because Ray Kroc created a system of standards where
every server in every one of their 200,000 restaurants will deliver
the exact same greeting.
The Lesson here is that if you don't plan to focus on the strategic
work of building your business system, you will find yourself being
consumed with day-to-day tactical work and that will keep your
business forever small, and dependent on you.
