Last week, in my Sunday Edition email, I mentioned a theory from the book The E-myth about the different types of entrepreneurs. Several years ago, I was considering growing my studio by developing a team. It was new terrain for me, and I admit I struggled with the idea of how I was supposed to interact with these new people and if they were my friends, my employees, or something in between.
But most importantly, I didn’t know what kind of leader I was going to be. The E-myth helped to dispel some of my fears, as it identifies three distinct roles within a team. It’s especially helpful if you’re trying to determine what kind of leader and business owner you are as you consider how to grow your team and who to hire. However, my own experience own opinion slightly differs from the one expressed by Michael Gerber.
I tend to find entrepreneurs living within all three roles. But the principle of how these three types work together in harmony remains the same.
As I’ve put these ideas into practice, and work with other creative small business owners, I’ve realized that these three types of entrepreneurs all act in a unique way, and need something distinct from their team.
Read through the descriptions below and let me know which one you think you fall into!
The Three Different Types of Entrepreneurs
The Visionary
Big-picture thinker • Brand shaper • Future-focused
“The visionary is our creative personality – always at its best dealing with the unknown, prodding the future, creating probabilities out of possibilities, engineering chaos into harmony.”— Michael Gerber
Brand-Focused
In the book, this role is called the Entrepreneur, but in my experience, I’ve seen business owners and “entrepreneurs” in all three levels regardless of if they take on the traditional CEO-inspired style of growing their business.
Personality
Visionaries care about the big picture. They’re not just running a business—they’re building something meaningful. They can sense what’s possible and aren’t afraid to try something new. They lead with clarity and direction, often acting as the face of the brand.
Pit-falls
What many don’t realize, is the Visionary is often the catch-all for any deep-rooted issues that may surface within the team.
Visionaries can lose track of the details. Because they’re focused on long-term impact, they sometimes overlook what’s happening day to day. And since they feel personally connected to the mission, they can take any misalignment within the team to heart.
Visionaries thrive with grounded feedback and people who can execute the vision. They need team members who understand their big ideas and can turn them into something tangible without constant oversight.
Magic Moment
When they start listening to feedback—not as criticism, but as fuel for alignment—they step into their full leadership potential.
The Manager
Process builder • Team organizer • People-centered
“Without the manager, there could be no business, no society… it is the tension between the visionary’s vision and the manager’s pragmatism that creates the synthesis from which all great works are born.”— Michael Gerber
People-Focused
The Manager is the one who rallies the troops. They are especially skilled at recognizing the potential in people and can place the right person with the right task to get things done. The Manager is constantly looking for ways people can better communicate, contribute, and make progress toward the brand’s goals.
Personality
Managers are the glue of the business. They understand how to turn vision into action and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. They shine in organizing systems, supporting team members, and keeping everyone moving in the same direction. Managers are excellent problem solvers and can spot inefficiencies from a mile away.
A Manager shines when they are working alongside a trustworthy Visionary and possess the resources to turn the idea into a reality. And it’s true, the productive and respectful tension between a Visionary and a Manager produces truly great work.
Pit-falls
This role takes responsibility for the health of the team and clients. They are advocates for the experiences of those around them. What many sometimes forget, is the Manager is most aware of the experiences of the customer. This makes them an invaluable resource when brainstorming new services and products, or considering how the company can improve to better serve an audience.
Their Magic Moment
When they feel personally invested in the brand’s mission, they become powerful advocates—for both the customer and the team.
The Maker
Craft-driven • Detail-oriented • Passionate about the work
“The maker loves the feel of things and the fact that things can get done. As long as the maker is working, he is happy, but only on one thing at a time. He knows that two things can’t get done simultaneously; only a fool would try. So he works steadily and is happiest when he is in control of the workflow.”— Michael Gerber
Task-Focused
In the book, this role was called The Technician but I’m going to assume VERY few of you creative souls consider yourself a technician. Most likely, you consider yourself a maker, an artist, a creator. But it all boils down to the same thing – you’re attuned to the task at hand and feel dedicated to doing your very best work.
Personality
Makers are hands-on creatives. They care deeply about the product, the service, the craft. They often start a business because they love doing the thing—designing, photographing, writing, developing.
They’re skilled, precise, and often become known for their distinct style or signature offer.
Pit-falls
Makers sometimes resist delegation. They worry no one else will care as much or do things as well. And when the business grows, they can feel overwhelmed by the shift away from the work they love.
Makers need time and space to do deep work. They also need support systems that allow them to stay in their zone of genius—like help with client communication, admin, or marketing.
Their Magic Moment
When they embrace structure and let go of some control, their creativity expands—and so does their impact.
How the Different Types of Entrepreneurs Play Out
In a solid and complete team, there’s a visionary, a manager, and at least one maker. When you understand what kind of entrepreneur you are, you’re better able to build your team around your missing pieces.
The Entrepreneurial Manager
You may be the type of entrepreneur who’s a Manager that enjoys planning and mobilizing others. Typically, Managers make great marketers and educators. You may want to bring on a business coach as your Visionary to help you see the bigger picture, and understand how you can make a larger impact.
Also, look for contractors or team members to carry out your service or help you build your product as your company scales. I’ve seen this play out with my clients who specialize in PR and marketing. A lot of times they’ll hire a coach to give them a vision for how their brand will stand out and make an impact. Then hire photographers and copywriters to help them carry out that vision by creating stellar content for their clients.
I’ve also seen this with digital course creators. Who will utilize the wisdom of a coach, make a detailed plan, and then assemble the team to execute.
The Entrepreneurial Maker
You may be the type of entrepreneur who’s a Maker and enjoys actually doing the work.
You’re most likely looking for space to do your thing. You’re tired of being bogged down in administrative details, phone calls, and keeping things running on schedule. Typically, Makers are the creatives behind a service or the ones who made the initial product the company was founded on.
You may want to start by hiring a business coach to give some structure to your vision. You’ll want to feel secure that your business can handle the additional help before you add to your team. Once the vision is in place, invest in a project manager to help you keep all the details in order, field questions from clients or customers, and free you up to do what you do best.
The Entrepreneurial Visionary
You may be the type of entrepreneur who’s a Visionary and wants to dream big about the future potential of the business, which is the most common type of entrepreneur personality.
Chances are, you’ve had to do at least the manager or maker role at some point as you’ve built your business. Few people start and stay exclusively in the visionary role. Unless they receive an initial investment. But once you’ve built your business sustainably and can see the potential to scale, it’s time to start finding your manager and maker positions. That way you can keep blazing the trail for your brand and taking it to new heights.
One thing to keep in mind is that visionaries need guidance too. Don’t forget to look for outside help as you create your idea for the future. Once you build your team, you’ll have others who depend on your vision for their livelihood. Don’t take that lightly. Be sure to seek counsel and run your ideas by people who have experience.
Now that you know all three types of entrepreneurs, which one are you?
Looking for some extra help?
Not sure which entrepreneurial type you are—or how to build the right support system around it?
That’s exactly what I help business owners uncover in my 1:1 consulting sessions. Whether you’re refining your brand, planning a new offer, or hiring your first (or next) team member, I’ll help you clarify your role as the founder and create a plan that supports your strengths.
Learn more and book your session here →
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