In, on, and for

You’ve heard of the dichotomy of either working on your business or working in your business.

In fact, if you’ve been here long enough, you’ve even heard my take on it already.

But hold on, what’s that?

I think it’s a false dichotomy!

I think there are three!!!

A trichotomy.

To be clear: I do not believe this to be groundbreaking (just so we’re on the same page).

I’m not saying I’ve discovered some new order of things.

But I do find it useful to acknowledge that not all tasks that get put into the “in the business” bucket are equal. And it was struggling with this that led me to insist on a third category: working for the business.

Reading it out, I can see that “in” and “for” could go either way, but the way I saw it when I had the thought was this:

• Working in the business is things like client work, refining systems, making the day-to-day happen. Things directly related to the core offering of the business. Employee work.
  ​
• Working for the business is things like bookkeeping, taxes, payroll, marketing implementation, cleaning the office, updating software. Things that are indirectly related to the core offering. Contractor work.
  ​
• Working on the business is things like developing new content (either as marketing or an offering), coming up with new directions, forging partnerships and relationships. Things that are the business. Owner work.

What do you think? Does that sound right to you?

In-on-and-for it,
James