Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less (Revised 3rd Edition, 2019) Hardcover – October 1, 2011

I've owned a small business for over 10 years, and have struggled since day 1. I'm even a graduate from a top business school and have read well over 200 business books on my own(I'm a bit of a marketing junkie). While I've learned a lot from reading other books, I'm actually become quite proficient at gaining new customers and driving the top line...over the years growth has only seemed to amplify my problems with cash flow, managing staff, and all the other constant headaches that many small business owners suffer from. This book single handedly changed EVERYTHING for me. It's truely been the missing puzzle piece that I've been looking for all these years.If you're into reading about marketing or small business you've probably come across the book The E-Myth. While that is also a wonderful read, "Work the System" is the E-Myth on crack! (In a good way). While the E-Myth may inspire you to build you business around systems and working "ON your business, not just IN your business", for me it stopped short of teaching me HOW to accomplish that exactly. "Work the System" will guide you step-by-step in learning how to systemize and document LITERALLY every single task, job, or activity that goes on in your business. Initially, that may sound like a really un-natural and unrealistic way to run a business...too robotic right? That's what I thought too, until I started doing it and it's not that way at all. Instead, systemization of your business will yeild you (and your staff if you have one) more peace of mind, better results, more consitant results and best of all MORE MONEY because you'll be operating at maximum efficiency at all times.While "Work the System" will very clearly paint a picture of how amazing your business will be once run by systems, and exactly step-by-step HOW to create those systems....the downside is that it will require some time time and effort to actually create those systems. It can be done for ZERO dollars though and the return on investment (of time) will be EXPONENTIAL to say the least.My results:I read this book exactly 1 year ago. It took me about 3 months to systemize the major "tasks" in my business and another 3 months to fine-tune and create many smaller systems BUT I went from working 60 hours a week working on location at my business, making less than 100K per year to 100% being freed from day-to-day hassles at my business. Now, I only work about 2 hours a day from my home office, take weekends off completely, and only go in to my actual business for a 1-hour weekly staff meeting. My profits have also doubled, the craziest part of brining systemization to my life is that it has allowed me to actually apply all the different strategies I've been learning about (remember those 200 busiess/marketing books I've read in the past). I will be making over $200K this year and I have plenty of room for growth in the future.This book has allowed me to turn my business into what feels like my own "printing press" for cash. I'm only 30 years old, have a businss that nets over $200K per year while I work from home less than 10 hours per week. I feel like I have found ultimate freedom and joy in my business and my life...and I owe it all to "Work The System".Oh, and you might be wondering about the sort of business I own. I own a dance school in a small town with a population less than 80,000 people. Dance studio's are historically known as poorly run, money-pit "hobby" businesses. So if "Work the System" can yeild such amazing results for a small town dance studio...what could it do for your business?Do yourself a favor and "Work the System"!Cheers,Megan

I think everybody who's read a few business books has heard about "working ON your business instead of just working IN your business." However Sam Carpenter drives the point home in a way I've not seen done before. Most importantly, he shifted the questions I ask myself.Because of this book, now every time I find myself putting out a fire or reacting to a painful situation... being confronted by an unhappy customer about a ball that's been dropped... I ask, "What broken or non-existent system allowed this to happen?"The most persuasive part of this book is the contrast between Carpenter's frenetic life before vs. the serenity after. And the efficiency.Temperamentally, I'm not the type of person who is going to spend hours and hours perfecting logistical details and documenting things. I am a creative person, a visionary and an alchemist. But it still must be done. What that means for me is that *I* of all people need to craft the core manifestos, the guiding documents that comprise Sam Carpenter's system. Then I can see to it that the more methodical people on my team are in fact working the system.Most business owners don't fully appreciate how many of their employees will, so to speak, mount the toilet paper roll with the front side facing back until the very end of time. Stupidly and unthinkingly. UNLESS AND UNTIL SOMEONE MAKES THEM DO IT RIGHT. Most employees will stumble and bumble through broken systems and it will never, ever occur to them to stop and fix them, let alone create new ones.Only an enlightened owner will ever see to it that that happens. Carpenter does what so few other books had ever done, which was SELL ME on the benefits of giving this my attention.Carpenter also expresses the proper philosophy of an engineer, which is that everything in the world is operating exactly as it was designed to operate, with 100% efficiency... so if you don't like how it's operating, change the design. What a rare attitude.Now the question I'm asking myself is:"What broken or non-existent system, once repaired and fully in place, will relieve me from having to suffer with my other broken and non-existent systems?"

Most recently, a dear, trusted friend recommended Work the System - as she had just started reading it and applying the strategies to her business. I am a believer that we are "led to that which we we need next" - and, personally, this could not be more true for me. I found Sam Carpenter's personal story very "real", genuine, practical and perfectly simple/smart -- and something that I could relate to. His insight and lessons are applicable to both my home and work - and I am definitely seeing results from my initial efforts so far. Writing out and committing to Purpose, Methods/Values and Processes (in the most literal sense) are just what I needed to do - and it WORKS. It will be an ongoing road, but I enthusiastically see a path of productivity and satisfaction. I credit this this book (and perfect timing) to a new way of seeing things, applying myself, making progress/changes/growth and being better and happier for it. I recommend this book very highly.

So many of us in small business are overwhelmed on a daily basis with our work. Something we start because we love it ends up being something we no longer even enjoy after a few years.Usually the problem is that we become the hardest working employee and the Mr.Fix-it who ends up constantly putting out fires instead of managing our business. This book put me back on track, helping develop systems that let the business be operated by my employees and leaves me the time and energy to develop the business and increase my profits while reducing the stress I was under. A must read for all small business owners!