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The entrepreneur as a systems thinker: A revolution in the making

Countless institutions, organizations, business pundits and media have posed the question: What makes an entrepreneur an entrepreneur; what are the traits and characteristics that best describe that unique person who successfully starts and grows a business enterprise?

By Michael Gerber, E-Myth Worldwide
Reprinted courtesy of EntreWorld.org
USA Today

There have been as many answers as there have been inquirers.

Some say entrepreneurship cannot be taught. Some say it can. Some say you’re born with it; some say you acquire it. Some define entrepreneurs as artists; others as scientists. Some see entrepreneurs through a prism of words: Passion — Leadership — Tunnel Vision — Clarity of Mind — Focused — Disciplined — Charismatic — Creative — Competitive. Some see entrepreneurs through a prism of feelings: Possessed — Obsessed — Intense — Consumed — Rigid — Insatiable — Driven.

Some describe entrepreneurs as obsessive compulsives; others as control freaks. Some describe entrepreneurs as insiders; others as outsiders. Some describe entrepreneurs as risk takers; others as risk averse.

And yet, while all of these words describe some entrepreneurs, they do not describe all entrepreneurs; at least not those who are preeminently successful.

Which is the purpose of this article.

It is my position that all successful entrepreneurs possess one fundamental ability, one fundamental quality, one fundamental skill, one fundamental interest, without which they would never be successful…entrepreneurs possess the ability to perceive the world as a system.

Without a doubt, every entrepreneur worth his or her salt is a Systems Thinker.

They could not do what they do without it.

Systems thinking: The critical component of entrepreneurship

What is a Systems Thinker?

A Systems Thinker is one who intuits and sees the whole of a thing, the entirety of it, the one-ness of it, the integrated unity of it, as opposed to merely the sum of its parts.

A Systems Thinker transcends the world in order to transform it.

A Systems Thinker is an inventor as opposed to an engineer.

A Systems Thinker sees purpose in everything, and sees the system as the realization of the purpose.

A Systems Thinker sees meaning in everything, and if not, pursues everything until the meaning becomes clear, until the System reveals itself in all its glory.

A Systems Thinker is possessed by the meaning of things.

All great entrepreneurs are Systems Thinkers.

All who wish to become great entrepreneurs need to learn how to become a Systems Thinker. Or, more accurately, need to develop their innate passion for seeing things whole.

For transcending the world. Their world. Our world. All worlds.

And the good news for all of you who are called to it is that Systems Thinking can be learned.

In fact, it’s easy.

Here is a simple 7-step strategy for turning your frustrations into systems. At E-Myth Worldwide, we call it The Key Frustrations Process, and it is part of our comprehensive E-Myth Mastery consulting program.

1. Identify a single frustration— What is driving you crazy? What about your business is bothering you? Identify something that is bothering you (a messy desk for example) and write it down.

2. Restate your frustration as a systems-directed frustration— Determine what the primary cause of your frustration is. In the case of a messy desk, you could be the source of your frustration because you keep making a mess! But, it’s not useful to get angry with yourself because you can’t seem to keep your desk clean. Rather, you should determine that the underlying problem is the absence of a system for keeping your desk tidy.

3. Uncover and quantify the true frustrating condition— Think about how your frustration is impacting your business. A messy desk, for example, could cause you to lose valuable sales because you don’t have ready access to prospect contact information, etc.

4. Identify the generic system solution— Ask yourself what kind of system would eliminate the frustrating condition you’re experiencing. What result would be produced by a system designed to eliminate this frustration? In the case of a messy desk, a filing system could easily have a positive impact on the frustration. Also, consider a system by which you routinely—every evening for example—sort through your papers and file what you need and throw away what you don’t.

5. Affirm your commitment to solve the problem — Ask yourself if you’re really committed to resolving the frustration, or if you’d rather simply live with it.

6. Define the specific system solution— Use a separate sheet of paper to outline the system design elements that are needed:

Who will be accountable for designing the system?

What are the main steps that need to be included in the system?

What forms and documents will be needed to execute the system?

What training will have to take place?

What materials are required?

7. Implement the system — A system is useless if you’re not using it. So, put it to work for you! Be sure to test it and modify it if necessary.

This approach to systems development can be used to solve problems as simple as a messy desk, or as complicated as lead conversion problems!

Systems Thinking. It’s a revolution in the making.

If you would like to become a Systems Thinker just email me at and I’ll send you your own copy of The Key Frustrations Process (LD-0060) to get you started.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2003-10-08-entre-systems_x.htm

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