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Inspired by The E-Myth Revisited
Many Kenyan businesses start with passion and hustle. You’re the founder, the marketer, the accountant, and even the cleaner. But somewhere along the way, growth hits a ceiling. The business stalls. Why? Because passion without structure can only go so far.
That’s where Michael E. Gerber’s classic book The E-Myth Revisited becomes a game changer. “E-Myth” stands for the Entrepreneurial Myth—the mistaken belief that all it takes to build a successful business is technical skill or a great product. But as Gerber explains, most businesses don’t fail because the owner doesn’t work hard. They fail because the owner works in the business, not on it.
So what’s the ABC of scaling your business?
A – Adopt a Systems Mindset
Scaling begins when you stop seeing your business as a job and start seeing it as a system. Every task—whether it’s onboarding a client, sending invoices, or training staff—needs a standard process. Systems don’t remove the heart from your business; they free it. With systems in place, you can train others to do what you do, ensuring consistency even when you’re not there.
Tool tip: Use Notion, Trello, or even Google Docs to start documenting repeatable tasks. For example, if you own a bakery in Nairobi, your “client order fulfillment” system should outline step-by-step how orders are received, baked, packaged, and delivered—regardless of who’s on shift.
B – Build a Business That Runs Without You
Gerber talks about creating a business format that can be replicated—just like a franchise. That doesn’t mean you have to become Java or KFC, but your business should work without being entirely dependent on you.
In Kenya, many businesses are held back by founder-dependence. You are the brand, the salesperson, the accountant. But if you can’t go on leave without the business stalling, it’s time to delegate. Start with the areas that take your time but don’t need your unique expertise—like bookkeeping, customer service, or delivery.
Tool tip: Use a basic payroll and HR system like Workpay or BambooHR to manage staff. Consider hiring virtual assistants for admin work, or using platforms like Fuzu or BrighterMonday to recruit and train junior staff.
C – Clarify Your Vision and Metrics
Scaling isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working towards something specific. What’s your growth target? How many customers do you want in a year? How much revenue should you make per product line? If you don’t define what success looks like, you’ll never know if you’re progressing.
Many Kenyan SMEs operate without a clear financial dashboard. But you can’t scale what you don’t measure. Know your customer acquisition cost, average order value, churn rate, and margins.
Tool tip: Tools like Zoho Books, QuickBooks Online, or even Excel can help you track financial KPIs. Use a dashboard to review your numbers every month.
Book Recommendations for the Scaling Journey
In addition to The E-Myth Revisited, here are other books that offer practical frameworks for Kenyan businesses looking to scale:
- “Traction” by Gino Wickman – A step-by-step guide to building systems, leadership teams, and operational structure using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Highly applicable to SMEs.
- “Built to Sell” by John Warrillow – Encourages owners to build businesses that are sellable—which means they can run without them. Ideal for service-based entrepreneurs.
- “Scaling Up” by Verne Harnish – Offers practical tools for strategy, people, execution, and cash management. Best suited for businesses crossing the 10+ employee mark.
- “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries – Great for tech startups or anyone building a new product in Kenya. Teaches how to test, iterate, and scale with minimal waste.
- “Clockwork” by Mike Michalowicz – A hands-on book that shows how to design your business so it doesn’t collapse when you take a break.
Final Word
The dream of many Kenyan entrepreneurs is to have a business that grows, creates jobs, and runs independently. But dreams need structure. The E-Myth Revisited should be on every founder’s shelf—not just for inspiration but as a guidebook to build systems, shift mindset, and scale sustainably.
Siran recommends every business owner to schedule a monthly strategy day to step back from operations, review systems, set metrics, and re-align your team. Scaling is not magic. It’s structure, systems, and a clear vision—one practical step at a time.