The E-Myth Architect

by Michael E. Gerber, Norbert C. Lemermeyer

Book by Gerber, Michael E., Lemermeyer, Norbert C.

Genres: Architecture, Business

218 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2012

About the author

Michael E. Gerber is an American author and founder of Michael E. Gerber Companies, a business skills training company based in Carlsbad, California.

Reviews

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself is alright – much of the same information from The E-Myth but it adds specific information directed towards an architecture firm. I listened to The E-Myth audio book and in parts I would think “this doesn’t really apply to a professional office or architecture firm, we’re not selling widgets/goods” but The E-Myth Architect book really nails down how a firm (even a tiny one-person firm) could use processes to be more efficient. Much of the content is the same between the two books, but this is definitely worth a read if you're planning to start up your own Architecture firm.

BUT the audio book was terrible and really painful to listen to. If I didn’t have such a long commute and trying to optimize my time I would have stopped it after the first few chapters. Listening to Gerber speak wasn’t bad, since he’s done a few audio books before (I listened to The E-Myth and enjoyed it), but in parts Lemermeyer was reading through with awkward/random pauses after words and it distracted me so much that I couldn’t focus on what he was actually saying. I know the narrators are just reading a book, but it’s so much easier to focus on the content of the message if they have the skills to make it seem more like a conversation than someone reading aloud that doesn’t often read out loud.

So in conclusion, the audio book would get a 1 star from me, but the book content itself more of a 4, so I’ll split it with a 3 star rating. I’d recommend picking up this book, but don’t bother with the audio book if you want quality narration (unless you really need a way to pass your commute time).

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book applies the systems techniques from Gerber's The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It to an architecture firm. This is directly applicable to an engineering services firm like the one I am a partner in. I highly recommend this to anyone with an engineering firm who wants a life outside of work.
If you are considering selling your firm at some point, you should also read Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You to learn how to maximize the value (i.e. sales price) of your business.

[Philip Eñola · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is good

[Sarah Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the application of the E-Myth book but made more specific to the architecture profession. The intro chapter sadly states "Studies have shown that architects suffer from higher-than-normal rates of alcoholism, especially as they get older and the pressures of the job only get bigger. Architects have also been shown to suffer abnormally high rates of depression, and they more often experience divorce and family break-ups." Yeah... quote unquote "Not in my house" - Dikembe Mutombo. I'm in this career for the long haul and have vowed to be happy doing it - hence why this book was on my reading list. The advice is great and motivational. Already starting to implement wherever I can (ie: client relations, business development, etc) I have been finding it effective.