When I was a kid, I instinctively knew I did not like vegetables. I didn’t even have to try some of them to know—like broccoli, cauliflower, and peppers. However, my mother wouldn’t let me leave the dinner table until they were gone. She always said, “Eat your vegetables. They will make you healthy.”
When I became a pot-bellied adult, I knew I didn’t like exercise because I tried it once. However, my doctor said, “You’re getting too fat. You need to exercise if you want to stay healthy.”
When I became a half-baked business owner, I read Michael Gerber’s book, E-Myth Revisited, and knew I needed better business systems. I was lazy at first, but couldn’t shake Michael’s persuasive argument for having a healthy company: “Let systems run the business and people run the systems,” he said.
Vegetables, exercise, and business systems are all things we know are good for us, even vital to our health—but oh, the torture!
Wouldn’t It Be Nice?
How great would it be if you could just pay someone a few dollars to eat your vegetables, and YOU would become healthy? Or pay someone to go through a grueling exercise program for you, and YOU would become the physical specimen?
Sadly, this is not possible!
However, there is good news. While eating vegetables and doing exercise can’t be hired out, creating effective business systems and processes can—and at a very low cost!
The truth is that most system-building is pick-and-shovel work. You need to get some inspiration in The Zone to identify problems, set priorities, and hatch the big ideas, but YOU don’t have to do all the detail work yourself. You should lead the charge and provide oversight, but let lower-cost individuals hammer out those pesky details. Box Theory™ Software for small and midsize businesses makes this a snap.
Works Like a Charm!
The best solution I have found is to hire one or more college students—usually business majors—to work under my direction. Students are bright, eager to learn, and inexpensive. Of course, they must learn the underlying principles of system development, but that isn’t difficult.
I’ve employed dozens of college students over the years with great success. Some high-schoolers are also capable. Learning the Master Skill of system development can be an invaluable experience for these future business leaders! Even secretaries or assistants with a little time on their hands can get involved.
Look, I’m amazed that they don’t teach high school kids all about managing money, one of life’s fundamental skills. I am also amazed that business schools don’t teach the art and science of system development; the principles are profound, and they govern all business activities.
In my humble opinion, every company should have someone focused on the vital task of creating and improving business systems and processes. It takes daily discipline and persistence, but WOW, the payoff is enormous!
This morning I did an hour of exercise and munched on a bowl of raw vegetables. There is no other way to be healthy. However, I’ll let one of my eager-beaver students—using Box Theory™ Software, of course—build the systems that will make my business shine! I recommend you do the same.
