Product Description

With The E-Myth Contractor, Michael E. Gerber launches a series of books that apply the E-Myth to specific types of small businesses. The first is aimed at contractors.

This book reveals a radical new mind-set that will free contractors from the tyranny of an unprofitable, unproductive routine. With specific tips on topics as crucial as planning, money and personnel management, The E-Myth Contractor teaches readers how to:

• Implement the ingenious turnkey system of management—a means of creating a business prototype that reflects the business owner's unique set of talents and replicating and distributing them among employees and customers.
• Recognise and manage the four forms of money—income, profit, flow and equity.
• Harness the power of change to expand the company.

The book also provides help on a larger level, leading readers towards becoming business visionaries by relinquishing tactical work and embracing strategic work, by letting go to gain control. Once put into action, Gerber's revolutionary ideas promise not only to help contractors build successful businesses, but successful lives as well.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15121 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-01
• Released on: 2003-06-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Amazon.com Review
Despite the single letter at the heart of its hyphenated title, The E-Myth Contractor isn't another book about e-commerce. Instead, like previous entries in Michael E. Gerber's popular series, it focuses on a different e-word--entrepreneur--and the fact that most of us who go into business for ourselves are doomed to fail because we really don't understand business. This time, Gerber lays out the basics for starry-eyed newly self-employed contractors who know everything about their trade but precious little about being a boss. "I don't try to tell you how to do the work you do," he writes at the outset. "Rather, I share with you some profound insights into how great businesspeople think." In his easy-to-understand manner, Gerber explains the concept of Strategic Thinking and how it "will enable you to create a business that works apart from you instead of because of you." He addresses key topics like money, people, management and growth with an eye toward making related functions run seamlessly and effectively as we build our independent enterprises into true companies that have inherent value whether we stay involved or ultimately hand them off to eager buyers. Taken to heart, it could save more than a few worthy ventures as well as the people behind them. --Howard Rothman

From Publishers Weekly
In a work that is slight in both size and content, consultant Gerber (The E-Myth; The E-Myth Revisited) makes one compelling point: entrepreneurs (the "E" in his title) need to draw a clear distinction between the work they do and the business they have created and are in charge of. If they don't, all they will have is a job and not a company. As Gerber correctly puts it, "The value of your equity is directly proportional to how well your business works. And how well your business works is directly proportional to the effectiveness of the systems you have put into place." Had he then talked specifically about how readers can create and implement those systems how to hire, price, subcontract and the like his book could have been an extremely valuable tool. Instead, he gives contractors of all sizes general advice concerning the need to create turnkey systems and manage their time with few real suggestions about how to do it. The overall tone is supportive of entrepreneur contractors, and the book may be of some help to contractors just starting out.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gerber, who developed the E-myth principles for small businesses, now applies them to contractors. Using what he calls Strategic Thinking (or Systems Thinking), he counsels contractors to consider the broad scope of business and focus on strategic rather than tactical efforts, emphasizing the importance of thinking properly. Readers are advised to take action by creating an idealized version of the business and what it takes to become a preeminent contractor and then organize the business to bring that vision into reality. Steps for doing this include identifying the key functions of the business, the essential processes that link those functions, and the results projected for the business, and then clearly stating in writing how each phase will work. This small book contains a wealth of good ideas and information, and although it is clearly an infomercial for Gerber's consulting activities, it is also an excellent road map for entrepreneurial contractors. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Quick Read, Simplistic Lessons that are often overlooked
I finished this book in less than a week and learned some lessons that I have often overlooked. That's the premise of the book, why make everything so complicated, just work on the simple issues and that will usually resolve most of the complicated issues. Since it was a quick read I was happy to complete the book even though it is directed at the Construction industry instead of the general contracting term that I was expecting. With that said, it was still well written and didn't waste a lot of time getting to the point.

Grade School Lessons & E-Myth Acadamy Advertisement
This is, at best the beginning part of a working business solution. Yes, Gerber makes a valid point about the E-myth concept (read other reviews if you don't know the concept) but it's really for beginners (newbs). All his books are really just advertisements,for his E-Myth Academy consulting business in the back of all his books. There is nearly no practical information. He makes his point about the E-Myth, then masterbates it endlesly, re-making that point six ways to Sunday, add nausium and leaves you wondering, well, but what should I do? Well, little lost lamb (newb), go to E-Myth web site or call the 800 number where they have a fast talking sales crew and sign up for 2 years of 700 plus a month (I haven't checked lately) consultation/classes.

After you get the point that to make your technical skill pay/function as a business you need to have business skills/know how. You can sign up for the 700 plus per month for 2 years advertised in the back of his books. Start looking elsewhere for actual practical information. Because there are no E-myth books or tapes that have that information. You can do a lot for your business with that kind of money. I'm always shocked at how newbs starting businesses throw money around. Something to buy and a place to buy it, no matter how pretty it all is, doesn't make a successful business, In my observations, it's the major reason new businesses fail. I'm sure some of you with deep pockets or You corperate types who have never had to find the guts or earn the money to build a small business without Sugar Daddy Warbucks help will think I'm wrong. This E-Myth stuff is valid but it it's grade school lessons made to look like some kind of super-profound truth/solution. Well, it is, grade school true, now what Mr. Gerber, where's the solutions, spend, what, nearly 17,000 Sign up for what I thought I was getting when I bought the Books and tapes? What a greedy little tight wad! When are you going to write a book with substance? Hey Newbs! Trust me, yes you need real business skills, there are plenty of great business books out there, take some of that 17,000 and buy some and be careful with the rest you're going to need it.

Excellent small business framework
Michael Gerber does a very good job outlining a basic approach to small business development. His approach may give some readers an enlightened perspective on their current small business dilemas. He has an insightful understanding of how typical contractors think and the challenges we all deal with everyday. This book won't solve your problems - you have to do that - but it will give you the basic groundwork needed to change the way you think about your business and how you run it.