Is There An Example of Working On Your Business Rather Than Working In Your Business?
While there are a number of examples of working on versus working in your business, perhaps one of the easiest ways to grasp the idea is by looking at a company that just about everyone in the world is familiar with: the McDonald's Corporation.
Most people have heard the story of the beginning of McDonald's, how a single restaurant became one of the most efficiently ran franchises in the world. What many people don't think about is how the business system developed by McDonald's has made all the difference in how quickly the company was able to expand while still maintaining consistent quality everywhere.
Without getting into a lot of detail, here are a few examples of what proper systemization has done for this one company:
- There is clear and concise process for earning the right to become a franchisee in the McDonald's chain. Not everyone can do it.
- Continuing education programs for people who want to stay in the business. Yes, folks who enjoy food service really can make a career out of working at McDonald's, not just pick up some money after school or during summer vacation.
- Consistent standards in dining room and kitchen hygiene. No matter where you go, a franchise must meet the same standards as any restaurant owned directly by the corporation. If a restaurant fails to meet those standards, the franchise can be revoked.
- Consistent quality in the food served at each restaurant. No matter where you go in the world, you can still get the same signature dishes that you've known and loved for years.
- Room for experimentation. Above and beyond the core menu, McDonald's has practical and systemized procedures for serving items of special interest in a given region, often using this tool to experiment on possible additions to the core menu. All through the process, the quality of the food served remains high.
By digging deeper into the history and current operating structure of McDonald's, you can find plenty of other examples of how a sound and working system have made this one of the more stable companies in the world today. For now, these will suffice to illustrate just what can be done by developing a strong system that allows you to work on your business rather than work in your business.