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Business Owners: Are you an entrepreneur? Or just a technician?
Andrew Stubbs • Oct 17, 2016

"You need to work on your business, not just in your business."

Made popular by The E-Myth Revisited author Michael Gerber, it's advice I'm sure you've heard dozens of times over the years (I certainly have). But despite being told over and over again, many small business owners still don't seem to truly understand what it means.

Let's look at a common scenario.

Bill is into making things out of wood. He loved woodwork at high school, and was pretty good at it too. And while Bill has a 'regular' job during the week, he also does quite well selling his wares at the weekend markets.

If fact, he's been thinking about making a career of it for a while. And after a particularly bad day at work (which ends with him giving his boss some directions about "where he should go"), Bill decides to give it a go. He finds a place to set up shop, hires someone to deal with all the paperwork and other business stuff, and soon after Good with Wood is open for business.

At last Bill is 'living the dream' and 'following his passion'. He's earning a living doing something he enjoys and gets to be his own boss, which he loves. He doesn't have to fill out timesheets or attend boring meetings. He can just spend his days sawing, hammering, planning and sanding to his heart's content.

It's perfect, right?

Unfortunately, no.

Bill's situation is a classic example of what Gerber calls 'an entrepreneurial seizure'. Someone gets the urge to 'be their own boss' but then (to quote Gerber) "goes to work for a maniac"-themselves.

The business owner ends up spending all their time working in their business. Now in Bill's case he gets to do what he loves. But it isn't long before he realises there's a lot more to business than just making and selling products.

And unless Bill effectively deals with those other aspects of running a business as well, he won't have a business for much longer.

In his classic book The E-Myth Revisited (the 'E' stands for 'Entrepreneurial') , Gerber describes this type of person as the technician of the business. They're an expert in their craft, and love doing what they do. Unfortunately, it's often at the expense of everything else associated with running a business.

Gerber describes three archetypes when it comes to business owners:

  • Technicians love doing the technical work.
  • Managers manage the technicians to ensure the work gets done.
  • Entrepreneurs design a business that can work without them, and then hire managers to run it, who in turn hire technicians to deliver the work.

In Bill's Good with Wood scenario:

  • The Technician does the woodwork to create the products.
  • The Manager does all the 'stuff' the technician sees as 'necessary evils', such as:
    • ordering materials
    • entering orders and doing the bookkeeping
    • tracking the work-in-progress
    • handling customer payments and banking
    • paying the bills
    • ensuring they comply with tax and other compliance matters.
  • The Entrepreneur looks at the big picture, and makes strategic decisions about things such as:
    • what the business should sell
    • who they should target as customers
    • how they should price their products
    • what their business model should be
    • how the business should be structured.

As you can see, technicians and managers work in the business and an entrepreneur works on the business.

An entrepreneur's focus is to design a business that can work without their own personal exertion on a daily basis. Their objective is not to be 'self-employed', or to create a job for themselves. They think of a business as a machine that can be designed, built and eventually sold.

That doesn't mean all entrepreneurs aim to sell their business in the short term. Some like to build and then hold onto their 'cash cow' businesses over the long term.

Ask yourself:

  • Does your business rely on your personal daily work at the technician and/or manager level?
  • Do you believe only you are capable of doing that work to the level required?

If so, you're chained to your business. And it's unlikely to become one you can sell when it comes time to move on or retire.

Let's think about Bill's Good with Wood business. What happens if he's sick or injured for a month or more? Sure, some insurances will replace income and pay lump sums in certain circumstances. But what about the business? Orders need to be delivered. Customers need to be satisfied. The business would grind to a halt, and its reputation would be tarnished.

Clearly, being your business' operational linchpin isn't so great.

In fact, it's the opposite of what you want. You want a business that isn't 'key person dependent'. You don't want your business to rely on any one person- especially not you.

In Bill's case, he needs to step away from the hands-on work. (He can still do some of it, but the business shouldn't rely on him as a key technician.)

What are some of the things Bill could do?

  • He could bring an apprentice on board, and get them up to speed on how everything is made.
  • He could write procedures manuals and create training videos to explain the details of every item the business produces.
  • He could document all the processes for managing the business.

By doing these things, Bill could get to a point where his business produces the same goods to the same quality whether he's there or not. And quite profitably.

Bill would be working on his business, not just in it. He'd be an entrepreneur.

Other things Bill could focus on to build his business include:

  • Marketing: Researching trends, looking at what competitors are doing, attending trade shows, speaking with customers and prospective customers, exploring ideas for new markets and new products.
  • Operations: Looking at ways processes could be made more efficient, negotiating deals with suppliers, researching new technology, looking at what can be eliminated, automated or further delegated.
  • Leadership: Mentoring the technicians and managers within the business, attracting high-quality employees to the business, ensuring new staff members are inducted and well trained, making sure team members have career paths and incentives that retain them long term.
  • Financial Control: Understanding the business' cash cycle, knowing which are the most profitable products and areas of the business, understanding which expenses are worthwhile and produce a worthwhile return, identifying areas of waste to be reduced or eliminated, managing debtors and improving processes for collecting payments.

As you can see, the things Good with Wood needs to do as a business go far beyond 'making things out of wood'-the thing that motivated Bill to start his business in the first place.

This entrepreneurial perspective doesn't mean Bill won't get to enjoy the sweet smell of sawdust. On the contrary, by learning how to build a business-and a team-to create his products, he'll enjoy success and satisfaction on a scale far more rewarding than (to quote Gerber again) simply "doing it, doing it, doing it" as the business' main technician.

So, what about you? Are you still 'on the tools'? Or are you designing and building a business that can eventually work without you so you don't have to keep "doing it, doing it, doing it"?

If you want to build something great with your business, let's talk. Make a time to sit down with us to map out your plan for working on your business so you don't get trapped in it.

Why Your Business Needs to Invoice Using the New Peppol Network

By Andrew Stubbs • 05 Jun, 2022
Here's some good news if your business sends invoices to business or government customers. Peppol* is on its way. (That's Peppol, not Peppa .) Ever had this conversation in your business? You or one of your team: "Hello, I'm calling to follow up the invoice we emailed to you last month. It hasn't been paid yet." Customer: "Really? We didn't receive that invoice?" In addition to the time and expense of following up, the cash flow delays create stress for you and they hurt your business. Thankfully, the adoption of Peppol will solve this problem. What is Peppol? Peppol is an obscure acronym for Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line. What's more important than what it stands for, is what it enables. Peppol is an international 'eProcurement' framework for the electronic exchange of information. It creates a standard approach for governments and businesses to structure and exchange information such as invoices and other documents. What Peppol means for you and your business Peppol makes electronic ordering, invoicing and shipping between governments and private companies faster, simpler and more secure. This means your business will get paid faster when dealing with government and larger businesses. In 2019, Australia and New Zealand adopted this platform for e-invoicing which, when implemented, will make 'we never received your invoice' issues virtually impossible. The new e-invoicing system is more secure than email and provides many other benefits. Which countries are adopting Peppol? There are currently 40 OpenPeppol member countries: 32 countries in Europe plus Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and Singapore. Each country has a Peppol authority. For example, in Australia that's the Australian Tax Office (ATO). Is Peppol already in use? Yes it is. For example, the SuperStream system in Australia-which many businesses are currently using to automate the payment of employee superannuation contributions-is based on the Peppol protocol. How does e-invoicing work? The system connects the accounting systems of all businesses and government departments via the secure Peppol network.  Suppliers generate sales invoices in their accounting systems which are sent to Peppol.

Company Director? Why You Need to Apply for Your DIN

By Andrew Stubbs • 04 May, 2022
If you're a director of an Australian company-or you plan to be-take 5 minutes now to read this article. All existing directors (and intending directors) of Australian companies need to be aware that the Australian Government has announced the introduction of a new mandatory Director Identification Number (DIN) system. (You'll notice the term director ID is also used for DIN.) This system is the initial step in the Modernising Business Registry (MBR) Program which has been established under the Treasury Laws Amendment Act which was legislated by the Australian Government in 2020. More information on the MBR program can be found here . What is the DIN system trying to achieve? The DIN aims to provide accountability and traceability of a director's relationships over time, across all companies and will provide information on a director's involvement in what may be repeated unlawful activity, including illegal phoenix activity. It should also solve the problem of false or fraudulent director identities. What are the key features? It is mandatory for all directors, foreign directors and alternate directors of Australian companies to hold a DIN. The DIN is a unique 15 digit number. The first 3 digits will be 036 which is the identifier for Australia. The last digit is a check digit to help with accuracy when quoting your DIN. Like your tax file number, you will only be issued with one DIN which you will hold for life - even if you cease acting as a director for any period. To obtain a DIN, you will need to prove your identity so you will not be able to hold multiple DINs. Other office holders (e.g. company secretaries) are not required to register. The director is responsible for updating the DIN records for any changes in personal information within 7 days of the change. The director must apply personally. The process cannot be completed by your accountant, lawyer, spouse or executive assistant. There are significant penalties for non-compliance. How do you apply for a DIN? Directors have 3 options for applying. You can apply online from 1 November 2021. To use this method, you must first establish your identity via myGovID (an app you download on your smart device which is different from myGov). Once set up, your myGovID will make accessing a wide range of government services easier. (It's not just for your DIN application). For information on how to set up a myGovID please go to https://www.mygovid.gov.au/set-up During the DIN application process, you will need additional information such as your tax file number (TFN) and your residential address as per ATO records. It would also be advisable to have other personal details such as bank account details, medicare card or a recent income tax assessment available in case these are required. You can also apply by phone ( 13 62 50 ). During the call, the operator will ask for the identity documents you would have used to obtain your myGovID (passport and driver licence) as well as the additional information listed above. These details will be confirmed with the records held on existing government databases and, assuming the details agree, your DIN will be issued. Or you can apply by mail, but this is not recommended because the process for doing this seems vague ("Write to us") which means you can probably expect a lengthy process of certifying documents and coping with the vagaries of the postal system. One of the other two methods would be a better choice. When will you need to apply for a DIN? Transitional arrangements will allow directors to become familiar with the new requirement. When you need to have a director ID will depend on when you were appointed as a director.

7 Best Practices for Setting Your Small Business on the Success Track

By Andrew Stubbs • 07 Apr, 2022
If you're a small business owner, you're always on the lookout for better ways to go about routine tasks to boost growth and underpin reliability. So, yes, you have the will; now, what are the ways? What are those consistent routines you can instill that will have the most benefits? This article looks at the top 6 things you can do to help your business thrive. We're going to cover finances, goals, marketing, technology and you ! So, let's take a look… 1. Your finances are a scorecard … and a predictor Boil it all down and dollars in the bank are the report card on the health of your business operations. Surprising then that so many people don't really pay much attention to how much they've earned, nor how much they're likely to earn. As much as it might feel like a chore, reviewing your sales and financial projections and then using them to ascertain if you need business financing is a discipline worth cultivating . If you suspect that your cash flow is precarious, you should be checking out your options today. First metric to check: your credit score. If it is too low, you need to take steps to shore it up. Next, check in with your bank or finance broker about what loans are available. 2. Goal setting, goal achieving, goal celebrating So, if you're using current and future dollars in the bank to keep score, the next thing is to do something about it. This is where goal setting comes in. If thoughtfully set and persistently pursued, goals help you orientate your willpower and your energy at each moment of the business day. This is the hidden power of goals: giving you a good sense of direction and a way to channel your instincts towards wise objectives. Constantly checking in with your goals makes them a benchmarking tool to keep your business pointed in the right direction. Yes, just having goals helps. Actually achieving a goal helps too, of course! 3. Increasing the impact of your marketing Marketing is not magic. It is not a mystery. It is not an art. However, many less-than-reputable marketers will try to claim that it is. They do so to gain wiggle room to pad their invoices and cover up their lack of skill. What this means is that it is easy to waste money on ineffective marketing. The good news is that there are many low-budget marketing strategies that actually work to help grow your brand and reputation. Scout around on the internet and choose one or two new tactics. Deploy them and test them. If they work, double down. If they don't, try something else. If you can't tell if they're working, also try something else. Social media is the obvious starting place for these low-stakes experiments and the old classics of LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are where to trial them. 4. Bringing your business up to date technologically The ability of modern productivity and project-management tools to give small players the same capabilities as the big boys simply cannot be ignored. Harness them properly and they'll let your small businesses operate with the same productivity as the titans of your sector. And, if your business is in the services sector, the increased controls that business technologies can yield also lets you be highly agile - that's something the big boys can't do. So, ask yourself: are you taking full advantage of what's out there? Don't worry, the answer to this question is always 'no' - the field is simply moving too fast for anyone to be able to take full advantage. However, if you have a realistic view of your needs, then you have a yardstick to help assess all the solutions out there. When you know what you need the technology to do, then you can wisely choose what hardware, software, platforms and techniques to introduce. 5. SEO has changed and it is going to change again Google - indeed all platforms offering broad search functions, from Youtube to Facebook - are constantly altering and optimising their algorithms. This, in turn, means SEO practice must constantly evolve to keep pace. So, if your SEO approach hasn't been overhauled in a few years, the time has come to give it some attention. Do a review of best practice and score how you cater to SEO in your online presences. Yet, because the underlying concept of SEO has not changed, the corrective actions you need to take may not be major. Then again, they might be! It is better to know unpleasant news sooner than outright bad news later. 6. Download the right new apps The remote work trend has gone mega and this means mobile productivity apps are very much of-the-moment. See, you can get a surprising amount done with just your phone and tablet. And apps are how it all happens … plus connectivity and a full battery, of course! Usually, apps are best for keeping an eye on things, boosting effectiveness on the "busy" tasks and enabling you to give your stamp of approval to work that needs your say-so to progress. In general, these are not value-adding tasks, just the value-neutral tasks that get in the way of the value-adding tasks. Now, there is no end of apps out there. So, as always, don't bother looking until you have some idea of what you need. 7. You are the ultimate business tool Health is the single most important aspect to consider for anyone running a business. It's the non-negotiable factor that governs everything else you are capable of. To adapt a quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger, being fit and healthy is "a status symbol. It reflects you worked hard for it; no money can buy it. You cannot borrow it, you cannot inherit it, you cannot steal it". This means that you must get enough sleep every night (most people need 7 hours or more). This means a healthy diet must become your preferred way of eating. This means that you should exercise every single day (except when sick). This means you must give your mind a rest too . Meditation isn't some mystic monkish thing, it's simply the practice of letting your thoughts come and go while you - the observer - stay peaceful and undisturbed by them. Think of it like this, meditating is mediating your mind. Take stock, choose wisely, make small steps in the right direction In this article, we've talked about some improvements you can make to what you're already doing. You don't have to do all of these at once. Start with the one that seems easiest and then stick with it to see if it works. Remember, it's not always about big changes. Often, you can make major improvements in outcome by making small changes to input. Doing the little things better. So take stock, choose wisely and be sure to make those small steps in the right direction for success today, tomorrow and the next day.
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