Position Contracts

I'd say this sounds interresting too.

I'm saddened by the lack of movement on this thread, because it's an incredibly difficult topic that also happens to be among the most important first steps. I've spent a few hours reading through Chapter 4 of Emyth Mastery, and here's a simple template I came up with. Happy to hear other's ideas, and critiques of it.

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Role Name


Goals
Why this position exists, how it integrates with other teams for the bigger picture, and what it should accomplish and why.


Regular Tasks (Structure)
In order to achieve the goals, what tasks are required to fulfill those goals? Why does each task help?


Systems & Tools Used
In order to achieve goals and complete tasks with the least effort, what systems and tools should be used by the person in this role?


Training Required
What job skills and tool usage are required to be taught before someone can start carrying out the role?


Subordinate Roles
What roles have to be fulfilled smoothly to make this role possible? Why?


Measuring Success
How is the current implementation of this role measured against its goals, by roles above and around?


Improvement
How can this role's tasks, tools, and training be improved for tomorrow, where it wasn't as good today?

My employer wants to use the e-myth model for his start-up business. He has asked me to prepare position contract but having a hard time getting started. I noticed this post from 2006 but did not see responses. Does anyone have samples I can see to get me moving in the right direction?

 DBrizzi

I too would like a sample of a Position Contract if available.

Hello Community Members,

The idea of sharing best practices and systems is a core element of the value of this business community site. In the 3rd quarter of 2006 the Embark Development will open a new section of the community site to enable the sharing of systems, action plans, and other management documents. We will allow members with these systems in place to either email them to us or post them directly to the community, so that other business owners can see live examples and apply the structure to their business.

A short business profile document will need to be completed by the member posting their work so that other members can quickly identify the industry, and background of the business.

Please stay tuned to Embark Community over the next few months for more information about this exciting new feature. If members want to start sharing their documents right away please email me at communityservice@e-myth.com for further information and a copy of the business profile form.

Thanks to the members who have graciously accepted to share their valuable systems with other members; this type of interaction is what will make the community an exceptionally valuable resource for the global business owner community.

Best Wishes,

Hasan Luongo
Community Leader
E-Myth Worldwide Inc.
communityservice@e-myth.com

Over the years, I’ve observed one of the largest keys to failure among small to medium size businesses- ack of market diversity. The FP article is a classic lesson in assuring your business doesn't suffer from a fatal entrepreneurial disease called 'singular market demise'. This metric positions business owners of any kind to establish stability and diversity necessary to endure the ebb and flow of isolated markets, providing the climate to keep the proverbial eggs in multiple baskets.

The Franchise Prototype is not about McDonalds!

One of the most common things were hear at E-Myth is, "My businesses is not like McDonalds we do complicated stuff, so it does not apply." We respond by pointing to the Franchise Prototype, which is not really about turning your business into a franchise, you can if you want, but that is not the real value.

What is amazing about this model is how it changes the way people look at their business and the work they do. Instead of looking at a project and asking yourself and your team, "how are we going to flawlessly execute this project for the client?" They ask, "what is our system for achieving this result in a consistent and predictable manner?"

The work on the front end is more difficult, not only do you need to satisfy the immediate needs of the client, you are also designing a business process / systems in parallel.

The difference is remarkable, the Franchise Prototype approach adds to the value of the business and expands the opportunities it has in the marketplace. When the next big project rolls around you have a process in place the deliver on your promise, and this time you do it a little faster, earning a few extra profit margin points. You are building efficiency, influencing customer satisfaction, and fortifying your business against competitive threats.

This is the mindset that sets successful businesses apart from those who invest tons of time and money into sweat equity and at the end it still depends on them. If they were to sell the business it would only be worth the hard assets they could sell off. What a shame that would be to end up with no-added value to your business when all is said and done. Brilliant article! I love it!
Carrie Beal

I couldn't find a way to actually post an example here, but if you email me offline, I'll be happy to send you one.

Bob Beachy
rbeachy@foxcrafthomes.com

I read the book immediately and thought it was just what I was looking for to grow my business. Read it again, but the second time I took a highlighter and notepad and blocked out 1.5 hours everyday, left the the office and went to Barnes & Noble, had coffee and worked on all the different development sections. You really have to commit the time to this and you will be surprised how the creative juices start to flow after some contemplation. I really had to ask myself why I was doing what I was doing and after awhile I had my Business purpose answered. What a benchmark!!!

Thanks E-myth

Thomas,

 

You are on the right track, and the process can be quite difficult.  Try to keep in mind that your Primary Aim is not something you do or achieve, but a state of being that allows you to achieve great things. 

The actual Primary Aim statement is a short, concise description of that state of being, which you can reference as a benchmark when you are at your best and when you are not quite where you need to be.

Let us know when you have a draft and I would be happy to provide some additional feedback. 

I have been in business for almost 20 years, and I have struggled through the whole thing! It is absolutely amazing I have survived.  There has been times I made enough money to take my wife to Europe for a couple of fantastic weeks, and times when i lost 20 pounds of weight in just a few weeks because of the unbelievable stress I allowed myself to get under.

I have no clue what my primary aim is or should be.  I was so confused the first time I read the book I gave up for a year and just kept plodding along in my business.  The only thing I can think of is "make a ton of money."  I gues what I really want is freedom.  I am happiest when I am creating things or figuring out how to overcome obstacles.  The greater the challenge the more excited I get.  

Anyway, this time I am not giving up.  I will figure out what my primary aim is, and it won't be "make a ton of money!"   

I think that everyone deals with this, maybe they don't identify it for what it is, it's still there. There is a void in all of us that needs to be filled with our unique primary aim.

I've had success after many years of looking.
The answers came for me by.

Getting away from everything for a while and just relaxing.

Next I read the book "Now Discover Your Strengths"

Lastly we are built to serve others. Find something you can get excited in and help others.

Hope this helps.

Leo

Yes, I struggled finding my Primary Aim. When I began working on identifying my Primary Aim, it did not jump out at me. I worried. Why was this not self-evident to me? Was I without any purpose, goal or intent in my life?

That an answer is not readily apparent, does not mean you are stupid, insensitive or devoid of feeling or purpose. You just have not thought this way before. (I never had a course in school that ever asked a question like that). Again, I guessing, but I do not think the answers will not come to you through hard thought.

The answer came to me when I stopped trying hard to think of an answer. Frustrated by the question, my mind began to wander into day dreaming and random thought.

I was thinking about my early life with my family and I realized that the aspect of my parents and adults I admired most, was their volunteer service in politics, social organizatons or religous institutions.

I suggest you think back to your early life and look for values or actions their you remember admiring. What was it about the people you liked? Did you have any local heros or strong positive influencers? Did you have a favorite comic book hero, a favorite story?

So my Primary Aim is: to be of service. And the purpose of my business is to support that aim. And so I design my business to give me the time and money to do that. And that helped me move away from long days and nights of work, to normal business hours. To progress from my work as my whole life, to work to support a fulfilling personal life.

Your primary aim is discovered by realizing it is a place to come from, not to get to. Think about those times when you are at your best, then ask yourself "what was present for you?". Think about the times when things were not so great - what was missing? This will begin to open up some possibilities for you.

Craig: Just after starting with E Myth, I had a similiar need. My coach suggested writing to E-Myth Brain Bank for assistance. They were extremely helpful.I haven't noticed references to Brain Bank lately, you might ask your coach.

Robby Reynolds