I am reading an interesting book called Rise, written by one of Australia’s richer men, Mark Bouris. He is the founder of Wizard Home Loans, which was sold to General Electric for millions, and then went on to found and list on the Australian Stock Exchange a financial services company called Yellow Brick Road.
In his book, aimed at small business owners and entrepreneurs, he likens business to the production of a fine suit. In producing that suit, you need a cutter, who plans out the overall suit, but then you need a sewer, who needs the attends to detail to see that suit become a fine finished garment.
Mark explains how he is the cutter in his companies, outlining the big vision, but then being surrounded by key people who can do the sewing. In fact it is his brother who dos the fine-tuning of his ideas and business dealings, allowing his to focus on the bigger picture.
In your world, are you more a cutter, or are you a sewer? Is your strength in the detail, or are you the big picture person? Mark goes on to state that cutters are generally business owners, those with the vision and the grand plan, whereas the sewer is often better suited to working inside a company, helping those leaders entrepreneurs make that businesses tick.
Personally, I am a cutter. I love the bigger picture, leaving others to do the detail. I am blessed that in our company, my wife is the sewer and she comes in behind me and works on systems and so on so our divisions run smoothly.
However, in our property business, it is the opposite. She casts the net of the investments she thinks will work, and then I do the sewing, liaising with agents, banks etc to ensure the purchases come together. That’s because I do the cutting work in our media business, which gives me the free time to do some sewing with property.
I personally think cutters receive too much attention. Anyone in business can tell you that your sewers are absolutely crucial. Businesses don’t grow without systems and procedures and people who day by day ensure the work is delivered. The sewer is well underrated, but absolutely crucial in business.
But it is worth a thought for your career. If you’re a cutter stuck sewing, you’ll get bored easily. Likewise, if you’re a sewer doing the cutting, your business will struggle without fresh ideas and vision. Both are so essential.
In your career, it is essential that you play to your strengths so you ensure that you are well positioned for success.
***
Matt Danswan is the CEO of Initiate Media, publishers of Entrepreneur Daily. He also blogs at www.mattdanswan.com and is the author of NOT Business As Usual.
