2- The Three Roles Every Entrepreneur Must Master

In our first post we talked about the “entrepreneur myth” and how many business owners get stuck in the role of the technician. Today we will delve into the three essential roles that Michael E. Gerber describes in The Entrepreneur Myth and why they are key to the success of any business.

What Are the Three Fundamental Roles?

The Entrepreneur: The Visionary
This is the person who dreams, who imagines the future and sees opportunities before others spot them. Without the entrepreneur, the business lacks direction and purpose.
The Manager: The Organizer
The manager is the one who brings order out of chaos. This role is responsible for planning, organizing and keeping operations running efficiently. Without the manager, projects do not come to fruition and resources are wasted.
The Technician: The Doer
This is the expert in the trade, the person who produces the product or service. Although crucial, this role cannot be the only pillar of the business. Without the technician, there is no execution, but if he or she dominates too much, the business stagnates.

Peter and Martha: Where is the Imbalance?

Let’s look at the case of Pedro and Marta, two entrepreneurs with talent, but different challenges:

Peter, owner of a roofing business, is an exceptional technician. However, his role as manager and entrepreneur is absent. As a result, he spends more time on the roof than planning growth strategies. He doesn’t know how to delegate or automate processes, which leaves him exhausted and no time to innovate.
Martha, who opened her bakery, fell in love with the idea of running her own business, but quickly realized that organizing orders and serving customers was more difficult than baking bread. As a manager, he tries to keep the books in order, but lacks the entrepreneurial vision to expand.

Both face the same problem: role imbalance. Do you identify with either of them?

Success Stories: How to Do It Right

A client of our firm, who started a small landscaping business, faced a similar challenge. He was excellent at his job, but neglected management and planning. With our help, he developed a system to organize clients and payments, automated processes and began delegating tasks. Today, he has doubled his client portfolio and spends more time pursuing new opportunities. This balance of roles led to his success.

Final Reflection: What is Your Predominant Role?

Are you more entrepreneurial, managerial or technical? Recognizing your predominant role is the first step to achieving balance. Reflect on the following:

Do you have a clear vision for your business?
Are your operations organized and running smoothly?
Are you too involved in the technical work and neglecting the other aspects?

The road to a successful business begins when you recognize your strengths and work on the areas you need to improve. In our next post, we will talk about the importance of systems and how they can help you scale your business. Don’t miss it!