Book Review: "E-Myth Revisited"

Owning your own business might be the American dream, but all too often it becomes the all American nightmare. Michael Gerber’s “The E-Myth Revisited”, the Business Book Club’s second book, examines the fallacies in most entrepreneurs’ optimism, reasons why they fail in their business and how to create a successful business. “E-Myth Revisited” is a classic business book and must read for anyone thinking of starting a business.

“E-Myth Revisited” is written in three distinct parts. “The E-Myth and American Small Business” examines the infancy, adolescence and maturity phases of starting a business. The “Turn Key Revolution” discusses the necessity of creating uniform systems for the business. The final section, “Building a Small Business That Works,” lays out the author’s philosophy of how an entrepreneur should build a successful business. A common element throughout the book is the author’s example of Sarah, a pie baker, who learns how her business habits resulted in poor results. By the end of the book, she’s learned how to overcome the problems and build a successful business.

Here are some other resources:
E-Myth Revisited on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/E-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254721177&sr=8-1
Review #1: http://businesscoaching.typepad.com/the_business_coaching_blo/2007/09/michael-gerber-.html
Review #2: http://ezinearticles.com/?Book-Summary:-The-E-Myth-Revisited&id=12930
Interview with Michael Gerber: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/02/27/escaping-the-entrepreneurial-seizure-interview-with-michael-gerber-plus-tim-speaking/
E-Myth Worldwide (Michael Gerber’s Website): http://www.e-myth.com/

“E-Myth Revisited” has become more relevant lately because of the adversity in our economy. Entrepreneurs are responding to new market dynamics by developing new systems to address the new problems. Understanding the concepts in “E-Myth Revisited” can empower an entrepreneur to build a business instead of just a job without boundaries.

We welcome you to discuss Michael Gerber’s “E-Myth Revisited” at the Green Valley Library on October 6, 2009 at 6 p.m.. To RSVP for email Megan Lane.

William Crozer is a strategic advisor for Entrepreneur Advisors and can be email directly at wcrozer@entadvisors.com.

Oct. 2009: Suggested Reading List

Below is a working list of books that we have developed either from books we have read, want to read or have been recommended to us. Some of them are specific business books, but there are a few that tell a story with a lesson that can be applied to business. Please feel free to click through the links and provide feedback on the books on this list in the comment section. Also, feel free to add to the list, be sure to include a link as well.

• “Broken Windows, Broken Business” by Michael Levine (2006)
• “Buyology: Truths and Lies About Why We Buy” by Martin Lindstrom and Paco Underhill (2008)
• “E-Myth: Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber (1995)
• “Free!” by Chris Anderson (2009)
• “First, Break All the Rules” by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman (1999)
• “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff (2008)
• “Idea Spotting” by Sam Harrison (2006)
• “Juicing the Orange: How to Turn Creativity Into a Powerful Business Advantage” by Pat Fallon and Fred Senn (2006)
• “In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules” by Stacy Perman (2009)
• “Made to Stick” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath (2007)
• “Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions” by John Kotter, Holger Rathgeber, Peter Mueller, and Spencer Johnson
• “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell (2008)
• “Nuts! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success” by Kevin Freiberg and Jackie Freiberg (1998)
• “Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money” by Robert Kiyosaki (2009)
• “Simple Truths of Service: Inspired By Johnny the Bagger” by Ken Blanchard & Barbara Glanz
• “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (2009)
• “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni (2002)
• “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss (2007)
  “The Experience Economy: Work Is Theater & Every Business a Stage” by B. Joseph Pine and James H. Gilmore (1999)
• “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” by Malcolm Gladwell (2002)
• “What Got You Here Won't Get You There” by Marshall Goldsmith (2007)
• “What Would Google Do?” by Jeff Jarvis (2009)
• “Powerlines: Words That Sell Brands, Grip Fans and Sometimes Change History” by Steve Cone (2008)

Meeting Day Clarification

The Business Book Club will now meet on the first Tuesday of every month instead of the second Tuesday of every month. The dates have been changed in all Business Book Club communication, but please make sure you have the correct information written down. Below are the dates planned through the end of the year:
Tuesday, Oct. 6

Tuesday, Nov. 3

Tuesday, Dec. 1

All meetings will continue to be held at the Green Valley Library at 6 to 7:15 p.m.

Upcoming Book Club Choices

The first meeting of The Business Book Club was a great success. Several business professionals showed up to the Green Valley Library on Tuesday, Sept. 8 to discuss Scott Ginsberg's book "Get Them to Come to You." Great conversation were had about marketing tactics in the new economy and strategies of how to become the target instead of the arrow.

As a group we chose the titles through the end of the year, here they are:

October 6 -- "E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber

November 3 -- "Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success" by Kevin Freiberg and Jackie Freiberg

December 1 -- "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" by Malcolm Gladwell

Books can be reserved through the Henderson Libraries by contacting Rachelle Smith or purchased online at the Henderson Libraries bookstore.

If you have suggestions of books you would like us to read or if you would like to RSVP for the next book club, email Megan Lane.

The Business Book Club is born

Several months ago my friend William and I were standing outside of the Paseo Verde Library in Henderson after a meeting discussing various networking groups and professional organizations we are both part of. We both agreed that these types of groups are important and bring value to us as professionals as well as the companies we work for, but it would be nice to find something different that would allow for engaging in in-depth conversations with like minded people. Not to say these groups don't do these things, but there seemed to be something we were both searching for.

As we both gazed back at the library behind us, it was as if the writing was literally on the wall. At that moment William asked me, "What if we started a business book club? Is anyone doing that?" And, so the idea was born. Once back at work I told my boss what we had discussed, and he, too, agreed that it was a great idea. After a discussion with Henderson Libraries, we had a location for the club set and an entire team to promote it.

Much brainstorming and planning later, we are ready to host our first meeting in September. The vision is to bring people together to discuss a new book every month and meet new friends and business contacts in the process. We realize people are busier than ever, and we don't want The Business Book Club to ever become a burden. For that reason we have created this blog where we will be posting updates about the group and, more importantly, a synopsis of each month's book will be posted a week or two before each meeting. Don't get me wrong, we encourage you to read the books each month, but we feel getting together for interesting conversations and relationship building is the most important piece of the puzzle.

We hope you will join us for our first meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 6-7:15 p.m. at the Green Valley Library – located at 2797 N. Green Valley Pkwy in Henderson, just off Sunset Road. We will kick off the first meeting by reading "Get Them to Come to You" by Scott Ginsberg. Books can be purchased at Amazon.com.

If you have any questions about The Business Book Club, or to RSVP, e-mail me, Megan Lane, at mlane@imnv.com.

Megan Lane is an account executive at Imagine Marketing.