E-Myth Part 2: The Entrepreneur, The Manager, The Technician

“Entrepreneurship is neither a science nor an art. It is a practice.” — Peter Drucker

If you run a business, you probably feel like three different people in one body.

One moment you’re dreaming up bold new ideas.

The next, you’re managing people and putting out fires.
And by the afternoon, you’re back on the tools, doing the work yourself because no one else can do it quite right.

Sound familiar? That’s the E-Myth triangle at work: the Entrepreneur, the Manager, and the Technician — three competing personalities living inside every business owner.

The goal isn’t to silence any of them. It’s to balance them.

The Entrepreneur — The Visionary

The Entrepreneur thinks in possibilities.
They see the business as the product — something to design, improve, and scale.

Entrepreneurs dream big, create the vision, and infuse energy and imagination into everyone around them.
They’re the ones who ask, “What if…?”

Without the Entrepreneur, there’s no innovation, no growth, no “why.”

The Manager — The Builder

The Manager turns vision into movement.
They design systems, develop people, and translate ideas into consistent execution.

Managers bring order to chaos. They set goals, plan the work, and make sure the team has what it needs to succeed.

Without the Manager, the Entrepreneur’s ideas stay ideas.

The Technician — The Doer

The Technician is hands-on — the craftsperson, the producer, the one who makes things happen.

Most businesses start here.
Hairdressers open salons. Builders start construction firms. Chefs open restaurants.

But staying here too long traps you in the day-to-day.
You’re so busy doing the work that you never have time to build the business.

And the Technician inside you keeps saying, “Just one more job, then I’ll work on systems.”

That day never comes.

Why Most Owners Get Stuck

Most entrepreneurs are Technicians who had an entrepreneurial seizure — they started a business because they were good at something.

But technical skill isn’t the same as entrepreneurial skill.
Without systems (the Manager) and vision (the Entrepreneur), the business becomes a job you can’t quit.

Breaking free starts with changing how you think.

“Go to the dreaming room,” Walt Disney said.

That’s where every new chapter begins.

Ask yourself:

What is my true vision for this business?
What do I want my legacy to be?
How could this company run without depending entirely on me?

The Power of Systems

Here’s the truth: your job isn’t to manage people.
It’s to manage systems that enable people to manage themselves.

As The E-Myth Manager says:

“The system runs the business. The people run the system.”

Systems allow ordinary people to deliver extraordinary results predictably.
They’re how your vision scales beyond your presence.

From Burnout to Freedom — A Real Example

A few years ago, I worked with a landscape contractor whose business was “eating him alive.”
He worked long hours, saw little of his family, and couldn’t see a way out.

Three years later, after adopting E-Myth principles, his company grew from $500K to nearly $3 million in revenue — and, more importantly, he got his life back.

“My true profit,” he told me, “wasn’t just the money. It was time with my wife, my son, and my life.”

That’s what systemization does — it buys back your freedom.

Final Thought

The Entrepreneur dreams it.
The Manager builds it.
The Technician delivers it.

But only when these three are balanced can your business scale without breaking you.

So pause and ask:

Which one of these three voices is running your business right now?

Want help creating systems that free you from the daily grind?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

To Scale Up your business! Take our Scaling Up/Four Decisions Needs Assessment to discover how your business measures against other Scaled Up companies. We’ll contact you.

TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS

Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.

My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.

Want help creating systems that free you from the daily grind?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION

For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.

Using proven methodologies like Scaling Up, E-Myth Mastery, Outthinker, and more, we challenge conventional thinking and equip organisations with the tools to accelerate growth. Our approach is dynamic—combining deep business experience with practical execution. We don’t just advise; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make strategy happen.

If you’re preparing for a strategy development or execution challenge and are committed to creating real value, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about our work or upcoming workshops

Ted Bonel