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Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself
Do you worry that your business will collapse without your constant presence? Are you sacrificing your family, friendships, and freedom to keep your business alive? What if instead your business could run itself, freeing you to do what you love when you want, while it continues to grow and turn a profit?
It’s possible. And it's easier than you think.
If you're like most entrepreneurs, you started your business so you could be your own boss, make the money you deserve, and live life on your own terms. In reality, you're bogged down in the daily grind, constantly putting out fires, answering an endless stream of questions, and continually hunting for cash.
Now, Mike Michalowicz, the author of Profit First and other small-business bestsellers, offers a straightforward step-by-step path out of this dilemma. In Clockwork , he draws on more than six years of research and real life examples to explain his simple approach to making your business ultra-efficient.
Among other powerful strategies, you will discover how
Whether you have a staff of one, one hundred, or somewhere in between, whether you're a new entrepreneur or have been overworked and overstressed for years, Clockwork is your path to finally making your business work for you.
It’s possible. And it's easier than you think.
If you're like most entrepreneurs, you started your business so you could be your own boss, make the money you deserve, and live life on your own terms. In reality, you're bogged down in the daily grind, constantly putting out fires, answering an endless stream of questions, and continually hunting for cash.
Now, Mike Michalowicz, the author of Profit First and other small-business bestsellers, offers a straightforward step-by-step path out of this dilemma. In Clockwork , he draws on more than six years of research and real life examples to explain his simple approach to making your business ultra-efficient.
Among other powerful strategies, you will discover how
Whether you have a staff of one, one hundred, or somewhere in between, whether you're a new entrepreneur or have been overworked and overstressed for years, Clockwork is your path to finally making your business work for you.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published August 21, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
December 3, 2018
Here is the entire book in one sentence: decide what the most important thing your business does/should be doing is and then find really good people to do it for you.
In spite of flippant comments throughout that say, "Oh, if you're a solopreneur, this works for you, too," it's not true. It all boils down to hiring other people and then delegating to them.
I can't help but wonder about all of the high reviews because not only are the ideas not new (some even directly lifted from others like Jim Collins), the writing style is so flippant ("Come closer to the book, no closer, SLAM! now I've slapped you with my leather glove") and sometimes even offensive (joke about suicide I found in poor taste), but it's so much longer than it needs to be. Surely this could have been a pamphlet.
I am not someone who knows him or was given a copy of this book. I paid for it with my own money and I wish I had it back. I liked his Profit First book and used it. It had a similar writing style, but I don't think it was as bad as this. The Pumpkin Plan book wasn't as good as Profit First, but this one is nowhere near the value the others are. Do not buy this expecting it to teach you how to do anything other than tell other people to do your work. If those other people don't exist, this book will be of no/very little use to you.
In spite of flippant comments throughout that say, "Oh, if you're a solopreneur, this works for you, too," it's not true. It all boils down to hiring other people and then delegating to them.
I can't help but wonder about all of the high reviews because not only are the ideas not new (some even directly lifted from others like Jim Collins), the writing style is so flippant ("Come closer to the book, no closer, SLAM! now I've slapped you with my leather glove") and sometimes even offensive (joke about suicide I found in poor taste), but it's so much longer than it needs to be. Surely this could have been a pamphlet.
I am not someone who knows him or was given a copy of this book. I paid for it with my own money and I wish I had it back. I liked his Profit First book and used it. It had a similar writing style, but I don't think it was as bad as this. The Pumpkin Plan book wasn't as good as Profit First, but this one is nowhere near the value the others are. Do not buy this expecting it to teach you how to do anything other than tell other people to do your work. If those other people don't exist, this book will be of no/very little use to you.
February 3, 2020
I actually prefer Mike's other book, Profit First, which deals with money in business. This book deals with time, i.e. designing a business that can run without you.
The book basically covers the ideal 4D mix (for the 4 sets of activities that entrepreneurs must undertake: Doing, Deciding, Delegating and Designing) and the 7 phases to help you get there:
1. Analyze Your 4D Mix
2. Define Your Organization’s Queen Bee Role
3. Defend and Support the Queen Bee Role
4. Record your Systems
5. Develop a Balanced Team
6. Commit to your Ideal Customers
7. Monitor Your Business
Some of my major takeaways from Clockwork include:
(i) The idea of recording tasks as you complete them to create training videos (then assigning people to update and refine the processes) vs having rigorous SOPs
(ii) The difference between Primary Role for each staff vs Queen Bee Role for the company
(iii) Looking at congregation points instead of psychographics for ideal customers
(iv) The 4D mix as a concept (I don't really buy into the ideal mix, as it obviously varies from role to role, and with the phase of your "Clockworkation" but the book doesn't really examine that in detail)
It's a good book. But as a guidebook, Clockwork has quite a lot of gaps and some ambiguity/inconsistency. I personally prefer other books on business systems (e.g. Traction EOS and The 4 Disciplines of Execution) which are more comprehensive.
Still, I believe in reading widely and then combining and synthesizing what works for you. So this is definitely worth a read.
https://readingraphics.com/book-summa...
The book basically covers the ideal 4D mix (for the 4 sets of activities that entrepreneurs must undertake: Doing, Deciding, Delegating and Designing) and the 7 phases to help you get there:
1. Analyze Your 4D Mix
2. Define Your Organization’s Queen Bee Role
3. Defend and Support the Queen Bee Role
4. Record your Systems
5. Develop a Balanced Team
6. Commit to your Ideal Customers
7. Monitor Your Business
Some of my major takeaways from Clockwork include:
(i) The idea of recording tasks as you complete them to create training videos (then assigning people to update and refine the processes) vs having rigorous SOPs
(ii) The difference between Primary Role for each staff vs Queen Bee Role for the company
(iii) Looking at congregation points instead of psychographics for ideal customers
(iv) The 4D mix as a concept (I don't really buy into the ideal mix, as it obviously varies from role to role, and with the phase of your "Clockworkation" but the book doesn't really examine that in detail)
It's a good book. But as a guidebook, Clockwork has quite a lot of gaps and some ambiguity/inconsistency. I personally prefer other books on business systems (e.g. Traction EOS and The 4 Disciplines of Execution) which are more comprehensive.
Still, I believe in reading widely and then combining and synthesizing what works for you. So this is definitely worth a read.
https://readingraphics.com/book-summa...
August 27, 2018
Mike has a way of conceptualizing business methods that make you wonder why you never thought of that. This book is no exception. Full of TONS of practical advice, but more importantly you will view your role as a business owner differently after reading this.
I love Mike's method of writing where he shares case studies and shows you how to apply the new knowledge. This isn't a book that gets you pumped then dumps you out. This is one you want to read over and over and make everyone you know read too.
I love Mike's method of writing where he shares case studies and shows you how to apply the new knowledge. This isn't a book that gets you pumped then dumps you out. This is one you want to read over and over and make everyone you know read too.
August 11, 2018
As usual, Mike Michalowicz knocked it outta the park. He walks his talk too. Mike implements and lives the principles he writes about. Whether it’s Profit First or Pumpkin Plan or his newest book Clockwork.
Parkinson’s Law applies not just to your bank account (ala Profit First) but also to your time. In Clockwork, the law is applied by restricting time. It’s all about selective efficiency, not mass productivity and not working yourself to death.
The key first step to getting your business to operate like Clockwork is to analyze your mix of Doing, Deciding, Delegating and Designing. How much time is spent in each category? Then identify the core function that is the biggest determinate of success aka the Queen Bee Role. Protect that role. Balance the team. Capture systems. For the business to truly run itself, the ideal 4D mix is 80% Doing, 2% Deciding, 8% Delegating and 10% Designing. Mike presents very practical ways to analyze the current percentages and then he moves you through the steps to get where you need to be.
With his trademark humor and storytelling, Mike balances concrete and practical steps with down home examples of the principles in action. There are chapters on hiring, goals, finding your niche market, and keeping your eye on the metrics. He ends the book with a step by step call to action.
Make the commitment to take a four week vacation. Implement the seven steps to make that possible. Shoot Mike an email with your intent to take that vacation. Don’t sit on the sidelines while others enjoy the fruits of their labors. You CAN design your business to run itself!
Parkinson’s Law applies not just to your bank account (ala Profit First) but also to your time. In Clockwork, the law is applied by restricting time. It’s all about selective efficiency, not mass productivity and not working yourself to death.
The key first step to getting your business to operate like Clockwork is to analyze your mix of Doing, Deciding, Delegating and Designing. How much time is spent in each category? Then identify the core function that is the biggest determinate of success aka the Queen Bee Role. Protect that role. Balance the team. Capture systems. For the business to truly run itself, the ideal 4D mix is 80% Doing, 2% Deciding, 8% Delegating and 10% Designing. Mike presents very practical ways to analyze the current percentages and then he moves you through the steps to get where you need to be.
With his trademark humor and storytelling, Mike balances concrete and practical steps with down home examples of the principles in action. There are chapters on hiring, goals, finding your niche market, and keeping your eye on the metrics. He ends the book with a step by step call to action.
Make the commitment to take a four week vacation. Implement the seven steps to make that possible. Shoot Mike an email with your intent to take that vacation. Don’t sit on the sidelines while others enjoy the fruits of their labors. You CAN design your business to run itself!
March 23, 2024
For me, Mr. Michalowicz had a tall order to fill competing for my attention with The 4-Hour Work Week, which is like crack for the lifestyle entrepreneur. But Clockwork was a solid business book with a solid, marketable concept and design. All owners seek to run independently running operations. I know I do. I run a small law firm and relish the idea of stepping away to pursue bigger dreams. The author has definitely helped push that idea.
The author has credibility because of his successful past in business, which is always nice. I like his 4D Mix (Doing, Deciding, Designing, and Delegating) to analyze business operations. He fortified the idea that if you delegate, you should NOT later make decisions about what you delegated. That defeats the purpose. But it's easy to fall into that trap. But based on this insight, this week I encouraged my employee to make important decisions by "empowering" her. It worked beautifully.
Doing maintains a business; Designing elevates it. As I review my notes, I see that I made some breakthrough, strategic ideas to implement in my practice, which I appreciate. I am trying his suggested 4-week vacation in February 2019 but that will kick off with Grant Cardone's "Growth Con." in Miami, which is a business seminar on steroids. So even the "vacation" will morph into something wildly more valuable than would have otherwise occurred in that 30-day period. For that, I sincerely thank the author.
The author has credibility because of his successful past in business, which is always nice. I like his 4D Mix (Doing, Deciding, Designing, and Delegating) to analyze business operations. He fortified the idea that if you delegate, you should NOT later make decisions about what you delegated. That defeats the purpose. But it's easy to fall into that trap. But based on this insight, this week I encouraged my employee to make important decisions by "empowering" her. It worked beautifully.
Doing maintains a business; Designing elevates it. As I review my notes, I see that I made some breakthrough, strategic ideas to implement in my practice, which I appreciate. I am trying his suggested 4-week vacation in February 2019 but that will kick off with Grant Cardone's "Growth Con." in Miami, which is a business seminar on steroids. So even the "vacation" will morph into something wildly more valuable than would have otherwise occurred in that 30-day period. For that, I sincerely thank the author.
July 10, 2019
Loved it!!
Finally a new business book that is not just 10% idea and 90% padding :)
This book is no-nonsense and describes very actionable steps to grow your business into a machine that runs without your daily intervention.
If your goal is to work ON the business, this book is totally for you.
Finally a new business book that is not just 10% idea and 90% padding :)
This book is no-nonsense and describes very actionable steps to grow your business into a machine that runs without your daily intervention.
If your goal is to work ON the business, this book is totally for you.
January 23, 2023
ACER
1. Sistematizar
2. Detectar el PAR de cada puesto
3. Que el dueño diseñe, no opere
1. Sistematizar
2. Detectar el PAR de cada puesto
3. Que el dueño diseñe, no opere
November 24, 2023
Very useful information with helpful examples and case studies. I appreciate how he outlines the plan for execution. So many business books are all theory; this one provides the application as well.
September 26, 2020
Tuy sách là dành cho nhà quản lý điều hành doanh nghiệp nhưng mà nếu coi bạn là quản lý của chính cuộc đời thì cũng sẽ có một số tips để sống thảnh thơi hơn.
Ý tưởng thì cũng tương tự Ma trận eisenhower, cơ mà có idea để khắc phục các nhược điểm của ma trận này. Con bé em cùng chỗ làm bảo là khi xếp công việc của nó vào eisenhower thì nó vẫn bị ngộp vì công việc vẫn sẽ dồn hàng vào đè nó, chỉ là nó biết xếp cái hàng đấy trước sau thôi chứ về mặt cảm giác thì vẫn khó đỡ.
Với clockwork thì sau khi xếp công việc vào 4D Matrix (Doing-Deciding-Delegating-Designing) thì cần có một sự mạnh dạn khi quyết định xem đâu là dạng công việc sống còn (Queen Bee Role) và cắt-lược-luân chuyển (trim, transfer, trash) những phần còn lại.
Mình thì từ hồi đọc cuốn này đã mạnh dạn quăng việc đi cho các cháu, mà cái gì quăng được thì quăng hẳn (delegate) chứ không giao rồi vẫn nhận việc review (decide) nữa.
Viết hơi self help đọc nhiều chỗ hơi ghét cái văn phong chút kiểu hợm hĩnh (đọc cứ cảm giác một ông cầm mic đang gào vào mặt bảo Mày sai rồi tao mới đúng để tao kể cho mà nghe đây này) nhưng thôi chắc cũng đúng thời điểm nên cho qua.
Ý tưởng thì cũng tương tự Ma trận eisenhower, cơ mà có idea để khắc phục các nhược điểm của ma trận này. Con bé em cùng chỗ làm bảo là khi xếp công việc của nó vào eisenhower thì nó vẫn bị ngộp vì công việc vẫn sẽ dồn hàng vào đè nó, chỉ là nó biết xếp cái hàng đấy trước sau thôi chứ về mặt cảm giác thì vẫn khó đỡ.
Với clockwork thì sau khi xếp công việc vào 4D Matrix (Doing-Deciding-Delegating-Designing) thì cần có một sự mạnh dạn khi quyết định xem đâu là dạng công việc sống còn (Queen Bee Role) và cắt-lược-luân chuyển (trim, transfer, trash) những phần còn lại.
Mình thì từ hồi đọc cuốn này đã mạnh dạn quăng việc đi cho các cháu, mà cái gì quăng được thì quăng hẳn (delegate) chứ không giao rồi vẫn nhận việc review (decide) nữa.
Viết hơi self help đọc nhiều chỗ hơi ghét cái văn phong chút kiểu hợm hĩnh (đọc cứ cảm giác một ông cầm mic đang gào vào mặt bảo Mày sai rồi tao mới đúng để tao kể cho mà nghe đây này) nhưng thôi chắc cũng đúng thời điểm nên cho qua.
December 29, 2020
Lots of great systems and principles for small businesses. Boils down some complex organizational efficiency concepts into easily to digest and apply to nearly any business.
September 24, 2018
I read Profit First by Mike last year and implementing the strategy has had a HUGE impact on the profitability and cash flow in my business. So much so, that tomorrow I'm heading off on a one week holiday to Italy, my first holiday in four years, and it's been funded by the profits from my business.
When I heard that Mike had another book coming out, Clockwork, it was a no brainer to buy the book on audible and start listening. I also signed up for the Clockwork book club and worked through the book last week with the facebook support.
I'm 60% through so far, in terms of reading it, and I am so inspired by what Mike is sharing. I am sure that this is going to be another fabulous resource, that I tell everyone about, because I can see it having a further HUGE impact on running my business. So much so, that I'm even considering where I'll be going for my 4 week holiday in 2020. You'll have to read the book to see how that seed was sown in my mind.
I highly recommend this book, and will be recommending to all my clients and friends.
When I heard that Mike had another book coming out, Clockwork, it was a no brainer to buy the book on audible and start listening. I also signed up for the Clockwork book club and worked through the book last week with the facebook support.
I'm 60% through so far, in terms of reading it, and I am so inspired by what Mike is sharing. I am sure that this is going to be another fabulous resource, that I tell everyone about, because I can see it having a further HUGE impact on running my business. So much so, that I'm even considering where I'll be going for my 4 week holiday in 2020. You'll have to read the book to see how that seed was sown in my mind.
I highly recommend this book, and will be recommending to all my clients and friends.
September 10, 2018
This book is really radical and mind-blowing. It introduces possibilities that you never thought would be possible as a small business owner and also gives a step-by-step process on getting there. The book promises that after putting into practice all the 7 steps of streamlining and automating your business operations it's possible to have a 4-week vacation without doing any of your businesses work. It's a fascinating idea that puts things in a different perspective. Also the book is full of practical steps to make those radical goals possible, which really sets it apart from many business books.
I highly recommend this book if you feel like your business takes all your time of that you need to do everything on your own. Or if you just want a way to get more focus on what's important.
I highly recommend this book if you feel like your business takes all your time of that you need to do everything on your own. Or if you just want a way to get more focus on what's important.
May 13, 2020
Read the book at the perfect time for the takeaways to be actionable. The book helped me (1) focus on the opportunity that has by far the highest potential for my business and (2) started delegating some of the responsibilities I've been unnecessarily hogging. That was huge for me.
That said, the book leaves you with an impression that everything can and should be delegated (I'm sure the author hedges against this statement at some point in the book, but that is the general impression of the book). Often enough in business, that's not true.
Also, the book is way too long. The same idea could be conveyed much more effectively.
That said, the book leaves you with an impression that everything can and should be delegated (I'm sure the author hedges against this statement at some point in the book, but that is the general impression of the book). Often enough in business, that's not true.
Also, the book is way too long. The same idea could be conveyed much more effectively.
September 18, 2022
A fine primer for overcoming workaholism
An easy reading book that provides an explanation of why a small business owner needs to make the investment to switch their role from Chief Employeee to Chief Shareholders. There are several practical exercises which are not as easy to do as they appear, and the book offers access to additional resources on the author's website. It does a great job of pointing out the general directions, but you will probably need other resources to help figure out what exactly you should do with specific situations.
An easy reading book that provides an explanation of why a small business owner needs to make the investment to switch their role from Chief Employeee to Chief Shareholders. There are several practical exercises which are not as easy to do as they appear, and the book offers access to additional resources on the author's website. It does a great job of pointing out the general directions, but you will probably need other resources to help figure out what exactly you should do with specific situations.
November 15, 2022
Book in a sentence: a great framework to learn how to create a business that runs by itself, great for small and medium businesses.
Key Lesson Learned: a business owner's job is to create jobs. Your role is to produce the opportunity for people who want a good job with a good company. If you are doing the work, you are not creating jobs; you are stealing them
Key Lesson Learned: a business owner's job is to create jobs. Your role is to produce the opportunity for people who want a good job with a good company. If you are doing the work, you are not creating jobs; you are stealing them
November 29, 2018
I am not a businesswoman, so that probably taints my opinion. There were a few really helpful principals (the 4D’s and the QBR) but the book started feeling repetitive to me.
December 30, 2022
Great business book on how leaders can optimize their operations and step out of places where they aren't needed in order to create a more efficient business.
Rating: 4.0 Stars (Very Good).
Rating: 4.0 Stars (Very Good).
August 30, 2023
I had to read this book for work and, although it's written for people who own their own business, it had some helpful concepts for people who end up working for those folks. I couldn't decide between 3 or 4 stars so I bumped it up to 4 because, for its category, I thought it was very useful.
The book was very approachable and I particularly liked the audio version which was read by the author. He has a great tone/energy and it was enjoyable to listen to.
One of the things that this book does well is including a section for the employees in each section. He acknowledges that not everyone reading the book will be the entrepreneur/business owner and it can feel like books about how to "free up your time and enjoy your wealth" are tone deaf about the fact that most people won't be in that situation. The author writes specifically to the employee who may be reading this book and does a good job acknowledging this fact and explaining how these concepts are not meant to just benefit the business owner, but the company as a whole (including all the employees). Is that what the author and business owner would want the employees to think? Sure. But I appreciate the upfront-ness of the author in this area and as a mid-level manager at my small company, I did see a lot of ways that these concepts would be helpful to me even though I'm not going to be reaping the benefits the way the founders of our company would.
Side note: I've come to really appreciate the fact that not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur/business owner. I, for one, don't (at least not at this stage of my life). I enjoy working for someone and not taking on all the risk of starting a company, sacrificing my time and money to try to keep it going, dealing with all the legal regulations, etc. It's good that we have people that are entrepreneurial and people who want to work for those people. We need both. This book does a good job acknowledging that and presenting the benefits for both.
I had two big takeaways from this book. One was the concept that, if you want to free up time, you need to empower the people on your team to not only do the work, but make the decisions about the doing of the work. While I may not be working toward the month-long vacation that the author encourages business owners to take when they get their business to "run like clockwork," I do take time away from work and I want it to go smoothly when I do. I also want things to run smoothly even when I'm at work.
The author talks about the 4 D's (Doing, Deciding, Delegating and Designing). His main point is that the business owner should work toward spending as much time Designing as possible - that's the thing that they're probably best at and the thing that started the idea of the business to begin with. It's where the growth is and where they can make the most unique impact.
Business owners, however, often get stuck in the doing or deciding. Even if they've extricated themselves from doing all the work, they often create a situation in which their employees are so reliant on them for making decisions that they can't really get away or get time for higher level planning (designing). The author argues that, "You must transition from doing the work (or making all the decisions for others doing the work) to true delegation - the assignment of outcomes."
If you're always making the decisions, your team will always come to you and it's a win-win when they do - the author explains: "if you make the decisions for them, they can do no wrong. If you give them an answer and it works, they're rewarded for following your instructions. If you give them an answer and it doesn't work, it's not their fault. Either outcome, as long as you make the decision, is safe for them. And bonus, they don't have to think. They just have to do. And you already know that doing is your preference, so why wouldn't it be theirs too? The natural tendency of people is to defer decisions." This cycle makes it impossible for your team to work without you. If you meet with resistance as you equip them to do more of the deciding, encourage them by asking them what they would do and assure them that you trust them to make a good decision.
That may sound scary, and it is, but you can give your team increasing levels of decision making power over time. It doesn't have to be all at once. You do, however, need to stand by their decision even if it's not the decision you would make, and even if it doesn't go well! If they are going to learn to make decisions, they need to freedom to do so and not have you go over their head or get mad when it's not what you would do. The author goes on to say, "You need to design the vision for the company and orchestrate all your resources to get there. Then you must get over yourself and let your team carry that vision to reality."
As a team lead, I realized immediately while reading this book that I had been enabling and even sometimes encouraging my team to come to me about decisions they can and should make on their own. It was so helpful to change my perspective in this area and to look for ways to empower my team to use their judgement and make the call. And if they do something differently than how I would do it, I try not to say anything unless it's critical.
Here's an excerpt from the author about this: "Even when they offer up ideas that you disagree with, bite your tongue and support them. Then, after the decisions and actions have been carried out, for anything with significant outcomes, either positive or negative, do a debrief and have the employee share what they have learned and what they would do differently the next time. Always do the debrief after they make and execute the decision. The only time to intervene is if you see them make a decision that will have dire consequences. If you spot severe danger, make your team immediately aware. Now you are mentoring them, not deciding for them. And remember: there's a big difference between the right decision and your decision. We all process in our own way so when observing an employee's decision, rather than comparing it to the decision you might have made, ask yourself if it is a decision that serves the company."
This shift in mindset has been so helpful!
The second big takeaway was about the Queen Bee Role (QBR). The author talks about identifying the most important thing your company does and then learning how to protect and serve that thing. All the individuals and departments in a company should be able to say how their job is related to the QBR, even if it's indirect. And the QBR is the filter through which all decisions about the company should be made, from where to spend money, to which products to develop next, etc.
There are, of course, lots of practical chapters in the book about how to identify the QBR and how to move toward true delegation, but those two ideas had the highest impact for me.
I recommend reading the book for these two concepts alone, and for the casual/funny/non condescending tone in which these and other concepts are presented.
The book was very approachable and I particularly liked the audio version which was read by the author. He has a great tone/energy and it was enjoyable to listen to.
One of the things that this book does well is including a section for the employees in each section. He acknowledges that not everyone reading the book will be the entrepreneur/business owner and it can feel like books about how to "free up your time and enjoy your wealth" are tone deaf about the fact that most people won't be in that situation. The author writes specifically to the employee who may be reading this book and does a good job acknowledging this fact and explaining how these concepts are not meant to just benefit the business owner, but the company as a whole (including all the employees). Is that what the author and business owner would want the employees to think? Sure. But I appreciate the upfront-ness of the author in this area and as a mid-level manager at my small company, I did see a lot of ways that these concepts would be helpful to me even though I'm not going to be reaping the benefits the way the founders of our company would.
Side note: I've come to really appreciate the fact that not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur/business owner. I, for one, don't (at least not at this stage of my life). I enjoy working for someone and not taking on all the risk of starting a company, sacrificing my time and money to try to keep it going, dealing with all the legal regulations, etc. It's good that we have people that are entrepreneurial and people who want to work for those people. We need both. This book does a good job acknowledging that and presenting the benefits for both.
I had two big takeaways from this book. One was the concept that, if you want to free up time, you need to empower the people on your team to not only do the work, but make the decisions about the doing of the work. While I may not be working toward the month-long vacation that the author encourages business owners to take when they get their business to "run like clockwork," I do take time away from work and I want it to go smoothly when I do. I also want things to run smoothly even when I'm at work.
The author talks about the 4 D's (Doing, Deciding, Delegating and Designing). His main point is that the business owner should work toward spending as much time Designing as possible - that's the thing that they're probably best at and the thing that started the idea of the business to begin with. It's where the growth is and where they can make the most unique impact.
Business owners, however, often get stuck in the doing or deciding. Even if they've extricated themselves from doing all the work, they often create a situation in which their employees are so reliant on them for making decisions that they can't really get away or get time for higher level planning (designing). The author argues that, "You must transition from doing the work (or making all the decisions for others doing the work) to true delegation - the assignment of outcomes."
If you're always making the decisions, your team will always come to you and it's a win-win when they do - the author explains: "if you make the decisions for them, they can do no wrong. If you give them an answer and it works, they're rewarded for following your instructions. If you give them an answer and it doesn't work, it's not their fault. Either outcome, as long as you make the decision, is safe for them. And bonus, they don't have to think. They just have to do. And you already know that doing is your preference, so why wouldn't it be theirs too? The natural tendency of people is to defer decisions." This cycle makes it impossible for your team to work without you. If you meet with resistance as you equip them to do more of the deciding, encourage them by asking them what they would do and assure them that you trust them to make a good decision.
That may sound scary, and it is, but you can give your team increasing levels of decision making power over time. It doesn't have to be all at once. You do, however, need to stand by their decision even if it's not the decision you would make, and even if it doesn't go well! If they are going to learn to make decisions, they need to freedom to do so and not have you go over their head or get mad when it's not what you would do. The author goes on to say, "You need to design the vision for the company and orchestrate all your resources to get there. Then you must get over yourself and let your team carry that vision to reality."
As a team lead, I realized immediately while reading this book that I had been enabling and even sometimes encouraging my team to come to me about decisions they can and should make on their own. It was so helpful to change my perspective in this area and to look for ways to empower my team to use their judgement and make the call. And if they do something differently than how I would do it, I try not to say anything unless it's critical.
Here's an excerpt from the author about this: "Even when they offer up ideas that you disagree with, bite your tongue and support them. Then, after the decisions and actions have been carried out, for anything with significant outcomes, either positive or negative, do a debrief and have the employee share what they have learned and what they would do differently the next time. Always do the debrief after they make and execute the decision. The only time to intervene is if you see them make a decision that will have dire consequences. If you spot severe danger, make your team immediately aware. Now you are mentoring them, not deciding for them. And remember: there's a big difference between the right decision and your decision. We all process in our own way so when observing an employee's decision, rather than comparing it to the decision you might have made, ask yourself if it is a decision that serves the company."
This shift in mindset has been so helpful!
The second big takeaway was about the Queen Bee Role (QBR). The author talks about identifying the most important thing your company does and then learning how to protect and serve that thing. All the individuals and departments in a company should be able to say how their job is related to the QBR, even if it's indirect. And the QBR is the filter through which all decisions about the company should be made, from where to spend money, to which products to develop next, etc.
There are, of course, lots of practical chapters in the book about how to identify the QBR and how to move toward true delegation, but those two ideas had the highest impact for me.
I recommend reading the book for these two concepts alone, and for the casual/funny/non condescending tone in which these and other concepts are presented.
December 28, 2020
🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences
1. You're business is a collection of systems that need to be quantified and delegated
2. Every business has a QBR (The Queen Bee Role), which is the singular task you would base your future success on, and should be protected at all costs
3. A Clockwork Business—Free the business from dependency on you, and free yourself from dependency on the business.
🎨 Impressions
Mike took the [The E-Myth Revisited](https://www.notion.so/The-E-Myth-Revi...) concept and made it more tactile. Essentially, turning the E-Myth into a how-to guide. This book helps put things into perspective for a business owner; that your business is a collection of systems that can be delegated, and helps you to uncover what your QBR should be.
How I Discovered It
I've read Mike's previous books Profit First and The Pumpkin Plan, as well as interview him on my previous podcast "Wholesale Made Easy".
Who Should Read It?
Any business owner wanting to shift away from doing all of the day-to-day work and into the "design" phase of actually building a business.
☘️ How the Book Changed Me
How my life / behaviour / thoughts / ideas have changed as a result of reading the book.
- This book gave me clarity on how someone could more easily design a business to not only exist on its own but continue to grow without much input from the owner
- Shifting from operator to owner is very difficult for many founders but Mike introduces 7 steps to make it so, which seem to be quite easy to approach
✍️ My Top 3 Quotes
- "'Work harder' is the mantra of both the growing and the collapsing business."
- "A business that runs like clockwork is about selective efficiency, not mass productivity."
- "A Clockwork Business—Free the business from dependency on you, and free yourself from dependency on the business."
1. You're business is a collection of systems that need to be quantified and delegated
2. Every business has a QBR (The Queen Bee Role), which is the singular task you would base your future success on, and should be protected at all costs
3. A Clockwork Business—Free the business from dependency on you, and free yourself from dependency on the business.
🎨 Impressions
Mike took the [The E-Myth Revisited](https://www.notion.so/The-E-Myth-Revi...) concept and made it more tactile. Essentially, turning the E-Myth into a how-to guide. This book helps put things into perspective for a business owner; that your business is a collection of systems that can be delegated, and helps you to uncover what your QBR should be.
How I Discovered It
I've read Mike's previous books Profit First and The Pumpkin Plan, as well as interview him on my previous podcast "Wholesale Made Easy".
Who Should Read It?
Any business owner wanting to shift away from doing all of the day-to-day work and into the "design" phase of actually building a business.
☘️ How the Book Changed Me
How my life / behaviour / thoughts / ideas have changed as a result of reading the book.
- This book gave me clarity on how someone could more easily design a business to not only exist on its own but continue to grow without much input from the owner
- Shifting from operator to owner is very difficult for many founders but Mike introduces 7 steps to make it so, which seem to be quite easy to approach
✍️ My Top 3 Quotes
- "'Work harder' is the mantra of both the growing and the collapsing business."
- "A business that runs like clockwork is about selective efficiency, not mass productivity."
- "A Clockwork Business—Free the business from dependency on you, and free yourself from dependency on the business."
June 1, 2023
É um livro com escrita enérgica. A tradução tá excelente!! Só não gostei da encadernação (essa folha grande e branca é normal no Brasil e acho horrível de ler).
Bom aqui, tem muitos casos e orientações sobre delegar atividades e atenção sobre criação de sistemas. No entanto, em termos de criação de sistemas achei bem medíocre. Mas pra quem não faz nada, algo medíocre já é bastante também. Isso também não é fator eliminatório para leitura. Mike tem ótimos argumentos sobre atenção a gestão do tempo e ajuste de objetivos. Ele traz visões práticas e simples.
Acho que é um leitura excelente pra ler em sequência do livro “o mito do empreendedor”. Já que um estimula se enxergar e desestimula fazer e cumprir vários papéis e este outro fala sobre o que acontece depois, quando você consegue se desfazer de vários papéis , contrata pessoas e recebe o inferno de demandas dessas pessoas porque delegou mal - por fim, o autor tem argumentos sobre como se livrar dessa segunda etapa.
Pra quem já tem experiência em gestão de conhecimento, desenhos de processos de sistemas, etc, este livro talvez seja vantajoso pelo fato de entrar na psique de um empreendedor falando coisas práticas. Em termos ferramentais é pobre.
Mike dá algumas dicas inesperadas e fora do objetivo central do que de propõe o livro (ex.: marketing, vendas, etc). Tem hora que é meio confuso, uma hora tá falando em gestão de tempo e outra de criar comunidades pra vender mais, reorientar vendedores e usa exemplos de gente que escalou negócios complexos como franquia sem dar detalhes importantes.
Bom aqui, tem muitos casos e orientações sobre delegar atividades e atenção sobre criação de sistemas. No entanto, em termos de criação de sistemas achei bem medíocre. Mas pra quem não faz nada, algo medíocre já é bastante também. Isso também não é fator eliminatório para leitura. Mike tem ótimos argumentos sobre atenção a gestão do tempo e ajuste de objetivos. Ele traz visões práticas e simples.
Acho que é um leitura excelente pra ler em sequência do livro “o mito do empreendedor”. Já que um estimula se enxergar e desestimula fazer e cumprir vários papéis e este outro fala sobre o que acontece depois, quando você consegue se desfazer de vários papéis , contrata pessoas e recebe o inferno de demandas dessas pessoas porque delegou mal - por fim, o autor tem argumentos sobre como se livrar dessa segunda etapa.
Pra quem já tem experiência em gestão de conhecimento, desenhos de processos de sistemas, etc, este livro talvez seja vantajoso pelo fato de entrar na psique de um empreendedor falando coisas práticas. Em termos ferramentais é pobre.
Mike dá algumas dicas inesperadas e fora do objetivo central do que de propõe o livro (ex.: marketing, vendas, etc). Tem hora que é meio confuso, uma hora tá falando em gestão de tempo e outra de criar comunidades pra vender mais, reorientar vendedores e usa exemplos de gente que escalou negócios complexos como franquia sem dar detalhes importantes.
March 27, 2019
I really loved Mike's first book, Profit First. I found the advice in that book easy to understand and seemingly applicable to any size business. I felt like this book is definitely geared more toward businesses that have employees. I'm still currently the only employee of my business and I didn't gain a good understanding of the path to my first hire from this book
There is plenty of practical, useful advice in here for business that have employees, are ready to hire, or have part-time contractors they can delegate work to. I am considering ways I can hire part time help for small tasks that I would like to take off my plate, which I've already considered, I just don't feel like I can afford to pay someone to do that work yet. I feel like I still need baby steps at this point in my business.
This book did help my understand that part of what is holding me back is that I still feel somewhat unsure about the type of work I'm doing. I have doubts about what I'm doing and therefore I'm reluctant to put significant effort into growing my business.
If you love what your business does, and you're ready to grow, give this book a shot. Otherwise, if you're like me, start with Profit First, get your finances in order, then figure out what type of business you really want to focus on.
There is plenty of practical, useful advice in here for business that have employees, are ready to hire, or have part-time contractors they can delegate work to. I am considering ways I can hire part time help for small tasks that I would like to take off my plate, which I've already considered, I just don't feel like I can afford to pay someone to do that work yet. I feel like I still need baby steps at this point in my business.
This book did help my understand that part of what is holding me back is that I still feel somewhat unsure about the type of work I'm doing. I have doubts about what I'm doing and therefore I'm reluctant to put significant effort into growing my business.
If you love what your business does, and you're ready to grow, give this book a shot. Otherwise, if you're like me, start with Profit First, get your finances in order, then figure out what type of business you really want to focus on.
September 17, 2018
I'm not dwelling on thoughts of wishing I had this book 10, 20 years ago and what a difference it would have made. The fact is I have it now and it is the game changer for me. This is not a surface level book with theory about how to create a business that runs without me so that maybe, if I figure out the actual steps beyond the theory, I have some chance of achieving that distance dream of entrepreneurial freedom of time, money with purpose which is why I choose to be in business for myself in the first place. Instead, Mike Micacholowicz has provided a clear road map for creating that dream NOW. The depth and breadth of research and trial that has gone into defining the actual steps to take is evident, which explains why this book didn't exist 10, 20 years ago. At the root, the golden ticket is organizational efficiency and I am guilty as any other business owner of believing I simply need to be more productive. I can clearly see now how productivity mindset is a vicious unending time suck trap. Already, I have implemented several practices and am discovering a saving grace to knowing what true delegation is as well as accomplishing more by giving myself less time and getting crystal clear on what matters in my actions and probably more importantly, what does not.
August 15, 2019
Wow! Just wow! I mean this book as well as the others by Mike that I have had the pleasure of reading/listening to in the last few days are complete game changers for me. I mean if I had read these books and applied what I learned from them a few years ago I would probably be the proud owner of at least one of the two businesses I started and subsequently either closed down or stepped down from due to Entrepreneurial burnout brought on by the entrepreneur poverty he spoke about. I had no time or money and couldn't afford to keep working for myself because I had found myself in the Survival trap! I have recently been considering starting yet another venture having learned what I have from what I have read here I believe not only could I start something that will succeed but I can do so knowing that using these principles I can set myself up for success!
*Yes I am copying and pasting this same review to more than one book. In time I will update them to be specific to each book but right now I wanted to ensure that the review was posted ASAP!*
*Yes I am copying and pasting this same review to more than one book. In time I will update them to be specific to each book but right now I wanted to ensure that the review was posted ASAP!*
June 3, 2021
Super clear simple message. Which is you need to progressively move away from doing the work of your business and move towards designing your business to run without you. There are serveral mantras in the book such as Committing to your ideal customer and booking a 4 week holiday as a way to get you thinking more long term.
It's great in it's simplicity, careful use of anecdotes and the exercises seem pretty easy to follow, although I must admit I didn't do any of them yet I'm kind of chugging business books at the moment before I plan to come back and read what I need more carefully.
This book is good for if your business is going well but you just want a way to step out of it more, or if you think it could grow better without you at the helm, or if you feel stuck in a rut and your business isn't doing so good. I'd say it's not really a book for someone who hasn't run their business with some degree of success already. It's no 100 dollar startup or four hour work week. Read this once you know the basic ins and outs of your business.
It's great in it's simplicity, careful use of anecdotes and the exercises seem pretty easy to follow, although I must admit I didn't do any of them yet I'm kind of chugging business books at the moment before I plan to come back and read what I need more carefully.
This book is good for if your business is going well but you just want a way to step out of it more, or if you think it could grow better without you at the helm, or if you feel stuck in a rut and your business isn't doing so good. I'd say it's not really a book for someone who hasn't run their business with some degree of success already. It's no 100 dollar startup or four hour work week. Read this once you know the basic ins and outs of your business.
December 15, 2019
This is another how to business book for creating a business you own instead of one you run. If you run a small business I would imagine you would like most everything Mike Michalowicz puts out. I keep running into people who ask me, have you heard of So they are resonating.
Clockwork is about creating a step by step path to putting your business on automatic so you can spend your time on growing it instead of running it. I would start with Profit First before this one, and shortly follow it with Clockwork. I have put the profit first principles to work in my business which has given me a great piece of mind. Now I am working on applying the principles in this book. Ask me in 2021 how they worked out. It will be here before I know it.
Thanks Motorbike Mike
Clockwork is about creating a step by step path to putting your business on automatic so you can spend your time on growing it instead of running it. I would start with Profit First before this one, and shortly follow it with Clockwork. I have put the profit first principles to work in my business which has given me a great piece of mind. Now I am working on applying the principles in this book. Ask me in 2021 how they worked out. It will be here before I know it.
Thanks Motorbike Mike
August 24, 2018
I will read anything that Mike writes even though sometimes the over the top humor drives me crazy. Why? Because his strategies actually work in real life. Nothing theoretical here. Put clockwork into practice and you will enjoy your business again. How many times have you heard the need to work on your business instead of in it? I love the way Mike puts it: Rather than doing things in your business you should be spending your time designing your business. That is a much clearer way of understanding the role of the owner/visionary role. Queen Bee Role will join Profit First and Pumpkin Plan as the clearest and most helpful illustrations ever used in any business book. And that is why I read everything that Mike writes.
October 8, 2018
Another instant classic for entrepreneurs. Thanks Mike! I love your goal: ending with entrepreneurial poverty. It’s working with me. I’ve read and applied Profit First and the Pumpkin Plan. I started in April and you know what? It works. It’s impressive. Now Clockwork is another masterpiece. Full of humor and surprisingly simply and applicable steps, I’m ready to get my business to work like clockwork. I won’t reveal any of the steps, but I should say the philosophy behind the book is amazing: you don’t have to kill yourself working to have a thriving business. You don’t have to put ALL of your time into your company to make it successful. If you’re doing that, you’re probably keeping your company from growing at a faster pace.
October 26, 2018
I am absolutely loving this book! I learned about this book through Tina Forsyth, and I have been glued to the content since I started reading it. It is my goal and dream to build a business that runs itself and the concepts in this book are helping me do just that! There so many little gems in this book, but what I really love is Mike's writing style. His storytelling is masterful, and it draws you in immediately. Throughout this book, you can really tell how much Mike cares about helping people. I highly recommend reading this book if you are ready to run an amazing business while you travel the world on vacation! :0)
August 12, 2019
Clockwork is a book about systemizing your business. The author walks you through identifying the most important thing in your business. The book pays special attention to the mindset side of things and not only explains what to do but also why. There are plenty of great gems and nuggets of wisdom throughout the pages. There is nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary here, but a lot of really good practical advice. The one criticism I have is that there are several short stories that are really superfluous and just take up unnecessary space. That aside, it's an entertaining read and was far better than I expected it to be. A must-read for entrepreneurs.
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