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Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less (Revised 3rd Edition, 2019) Hardcover – October 1, 2011

by Sam Carpenter (Author), Josh Kaufman (Foreword)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 208 ratings
See all formats and editions
Publication Date, Third Edition: October 3, 2011 (In July of 2018, Carpenter extensively revised the 6th printing of the 3rd Edition)

Work The System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less, Third Edition, guides the reader in modifying his or her fundamental perception of the world, moving from an inaccurate vision of barely controlled chaos, to a more accurate one: that life is an orderly collection of individual linear systems each of which can be improved and perfected one at a time. The reader is guided through the process of ''getting'' this new vision, and then through the specifics of applying it via Carpenter's "system improvement" methodology. 

For start-ups or multinationals, the methodology is simple, believable, and mechanical; not mystical or theoretical. Carpenter developed the "systems mindset" protocol in the business he purchased in 1984 and still owns today. With that company, he moved from an 80-100 hour workweek to a 2 hour workweek, while multiplying his income dozens of times over. He is CEO of an international business consulting firm, and several other spin-off businesses, as well as an international non-profit, all of which are operated in the same systems mindset fashion. With a diverse background in engineering, construction and business management, publishing, telecommunications and journalism, he calls his approach a "workingman's philosophy." See workthesystem.com.

Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less will show the business owner how to achieve a positive macro result by looking at business and work on a micro level; by analyzing and refining the separate internal sub-systems, the systems that, added together, comprise the whole primary system business entity. Readers will learn how to "tweak" this "system of systems" in order to maximize profits, create client loyalty, and develop autonomous employees.

The strategies help business owners to quickly and dramatically improve performance as well as decrease the stress of being overtaxed and disorganized, ultimately resulting in a substantially shorter work week and a much-improved bottom line. See testimonials of readers at workthesystem.com/testimonials.
In an unusual publishing arrangement, Carpenter gives away his unabridged book in both PDF and audible formats via his website workthesystem.com. This adversely affects Amazon, NY Times, etc. book sales ratings but meets his objective of wide distribution. The book is also available in hard copy in multiple languages including Chinese, Russian, and Japanese.
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  1. Print length
    250 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Greenleaf Book Group Llc
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    160832253X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1608322534
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The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Editorial Reviews

Review

''Sam Carpenter has brought all the main principles that will lead to success in your work and life together in one book. Some books will change your mind this book will change your life if you apply what it teaches. The author shows that our entire world operates based on systems, from nature to the human body to successful businesses.''
--Steve Burns, Amazon Top 1000 reviewer

''Better than Good to Great, the next Best Seller Business Book.''
--GLR, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer. 5 stars

''Very vivid details captivates this reader. Well done indeed!''
--G.W., Amazon Top 500 Reviewer. 5 stars

''This book will be a life-saver. Highly recommended.''
--SHA, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer. 5 stars

From the Author

Work the System's main thrust goes beyond providing new information, although it does that. The root purpose of Work the System is to guide you to a new way of perceiving your life so you can gain better command of it and therefore be better able to get what you want.

There will be a mechanical adjustment in the way you see your world, and when this profound shift occurs, systems Methodology will make irrefutable sense, and your work and life will never be the same. I like to call this mini-awakening getting it, and I describe what it is and how to achieve it in Part One.

The Nutshell Premise? Your life is a collection of individual systems.

To whom is this book intended? It's for anyone who runs a business, from the founder of a brand new mom-and-pop start-up to the seasoned CEO of a multinational. At either extreme and in-between, the tenets apply uniformly because life's fundamental mechanics work the same, all the time, everywhere. This is about acquiring a better view of reality's universal simple mechanics; to viewing the machinations of your world with more precision.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greenleaf Book Group Llc; 3rd edition (October 1, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 160832253X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1608322534
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 208 ratings

About the author

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Sam Carpenter

Sam Carpenter

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Born and raised in upstate New York, and after four decades living in Bend, Oregon, Sam now resides in rural SE Kentucky with his wife Diana.

His professional background includes project engineering, journalism, publishing, forestry, surveying, construction management, politics (a US Senate and Gubernatorial candidate), and telecommunications.

Author and entrepreneur, he is the founder and president of Centratel (www.centratel.com), the premier telephone answering service in the United States. He’s operated the company, still headquartered in Bend, Oregon, for 38 years.

Originally published in 2008 by Greenleaf Book Group, "Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less" is now in its fourth edition (February 2021).

His second book, "The Systems Mindset: Managing the Machinery of Your Life", was published in May 2016 (thesystemsmindset.com).

Sam’s outside interests include mountaineering, skiing, cycling, reading, traveling, writing his next book and, with Diana, extended “rucking” hikes with their two hounds in the surrounding Kentucky wilderness.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
208 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's insights and lessons applicable to both home and work. They describe it as an informative, well-written read with detailed instructions. The instruction manual is straightforward and logical, making it easy for readers to understand. Overall, customers consider the book a valuable investment that helps increase profits while reducing stress.

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InsightReadabilityInstruction manualValue for money
23 customers mention "Insight"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's insights and lessons applicable to both home and work. They say it introduces valuable ideas and good principles, helping develop systems that allow businesses to function smoothly. The book is a great addition to the philosophy in this classic by Sam Carpenter.

"...yeild you (and your staff if you have one) more peace of mind, better results, more consitant results and best of all MORE MONEY because you'll be..." Read more

"...world is operating exactly as it was designed to operate, with 100% efficiency... so if you don't like how it's operating, change the design...." Read more

"...This book put me back on track, helping develop systems that let the business be operated by my employees and leaves me the time and energy to..." Read more

"...I found Sam Carpenter's personal story very "real", genuine, practical and perfectly simple/smart -- and something that I could relate to...." Read more

14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and informative. They appreciate the second section, which walks them through setting up systems. However, some readers feel the book is repetitive in its content.

"...While that is also a wonderful read, "Work the System" is the E-Myth on crack! (In a good way)...." Read more

"...The second section is really good at walking you through the setup of systems in your own work...." Read more

"...The Executive Summary is that this is an enjoyable read and will introduce you to a valuable idea, but there's not enough information here to..." Read more

"...But I would definitely recommend this great book to anyone who seeks to understand not only business systems, but systems in general!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Instruction manual"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful. They say it's straightforward and logical, and a must-read for small business owners. The manual helps them develop systems that allow their employees to operate the business while giving them time to manage their lives.

"...This book is mainly written for business owners and managers, but can be useful for anyone wanting to optimize the work they do." Read more

"...put me back on track, helping develop systems that let the business be operated by my employees and leaves me the time and energy to develop the..." Read more

"...Carpenter's personal story very "real", genuine, practical and perfectly simple/smart -- and something that I could relate to...." Read more

"A great book and a step by step instruction manual on how to organize your business. Re-reading it twice a year. Highly recommended." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides good value for money. They say it's worth the investment and helps increase their business's profits.

"...It can be done for ZERO dollars though and the return on investment (of time) will be EXPONENTIAL to say the least. My results:..." Read more

"...and leaves me the time and energy to develop the business and increase my profits while reducing the stress I was under...." Read more

"...That's probably worth the price of the book. Just be aware that new ideas is about all you're going to get from this...." Read more

"...a disciple of Steve Covey (me too) and what he said in the book are valuable and insightful...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • DancingMeg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Life Changer!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I've owned a small business for over 10 years, and have struggled since day 1. I'm even a graduate from a top business school and have read well over 200 business books on my own(I'm a bit of a marketing junkie). While I've learned a lot from reading other books, I'm actually become quite proficient at gaining new customers and driving the top line...over the years growth has only seemed to amplify my problems with cash flow, managing staff, and all the other constant headaches that many small business owners suffer from. This book single handedly changed EVERYTHING for me. It's truely been the missing puzzle piece that I've been looking for all these years.

    If you're into reading about marketing or small business you've probably come across the book The E-Myth. While that is also a wonderful read, "Work the System" is the E-Myth on crack! (In a good way). While the E-Myth may inspire you to build you business around systems and working "ON your business, not just IN your business", for me it stopped short of teaching me HOW to accomplish that exactly. "Work the System" will guide you step-by-step in learning how to systemize and document LITERALLY every single task, job, or activity that goes on in your business. Initially, that may sound like a really un-natural and unrealistic way to run a business...too robotic right? That's what I thought too, until I started doing it and it's not that way at all. Instead, systemization of your business will yeild you (and your staff if you have one) more peace of mind, better results, more consitant results and best of all MORE MONEY because you'll be operating at maximum efficiency at all times.

    While "Work the System" will very clearly paint a picture of how amazing your business will be once run by systems, and exactly step-by-step HOW to create those systems....the downside is that it will require some time time and effort to actually create those systems. It can be done for ZERO dollars though and the return on investment (of time) will be EXPONENTIAL to say the least.

    My results:
    I read this book exactly 1 year ago. It took me about 3 months to systemize the major "tasks" in my business and another 3 months to fine-tune and create many smaller systems BUT I went from working 60 hours a week working on location at my business, making less than 100K per year to 100% being freed from day-to-day hassles at my business. Now, I only work about 2 hours a day from my home office, take weekends off completely, and only go in to my actual business for a 1-hour weekly staff meeting. My profits have also doubled, the craziest part of brining systemization to my life is that it has allowed me to actually apply all the different strategies I've been learning about (remember those 200 busiess/marketing books I've read in the past). I will be making over $200K this year and I have plenty of room for growth in the future.

    This book has allowed me to turn my business into what feels like my own "printing press" for cash. I'm only 30 years old, have a businss that nets over $200K per year while I work from home less than 10 hours per week. I feel like I have found ultimate freedom and joy in my business and my life...and I owe it all to "Work The System".

    Oh, and you might be wondering about the sort of business I own. I own a dance school in a small town with a population less than 80,000 people. Dance studio's are historically known as poorly run, money-pit "hobby" businesses. So if "Work the System" can yeild such amazing results for a small town dance studio...what could it do for your business?

    Do yourself a favor and "Work the System"!
    Cheers,
    Megan
    22 people found this helpful
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  • Perry Marshall
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's all about the questions you ask yourself
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I think everybody who's read a few business books has heard about "working ON your business instead of just working IN your business." However Sam Carpenter drives the point home in a way I've not seen done before. Most importantly, he shifted the questions I ask myself.

    Because of this book, now every time I find myself putting out a fire or reacting to a painful situation... being confronted by an unhappy customer about a ball that's been dropped... I ask, "What broken or non-existent system allowed this to happen?"

    The most persuasive part of this book is the contrast between Carpenter's frenetic life before vs. the serenity after. And the efficiency.

    Temperamentally, I'm not the type of person who is going to spend hours and hours perfecting logistical details and documenting things. I am a creative person, a visionary and an alchemist. But it still must be done. What that means for me is that *I* of all people need to craft the core manifestos, the guiding documents that comprise Sam Carpenter's system. Then I can see to it that the more methodical people on my team are in fact working the system.

    Most business owners don't fully appreciate how many of their employees will, so to speak, mount the toilet paper roll with the front side facing back until the very end of time. Stupidly and unthinkingly. UNLESS AND UNTIL SOMEONE MAKES THEM DO IT RIGHT. Most employees will stumble and bumble through broken systems and it will never, ever occur to them to stop and fix them, let alone create new ones.

    Only an enlightened owner will ever see to it that that happens. Carpenter does what so few other books had ever done, which was SELL ME on the benefits of giving this my attention.

    Carpenter also expresses the proper philosophy of an engineer, which is that everything in the world is operating exactly as it was designed to operate, with 100% efficiency... so if you don't like how it's operating, change the design. What a rare attitude.

    Now the question I'm asking myself is:

    "What broken or non-existent system, once repaired and fully in place, will relieve me from having to suffer with my other broken and non-existent systems?"
    24 people found this helpful
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  • Hailey Hinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Learning Systems Thinking
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I run a one person web firm and blog, outsourcing all of the work that I don't need to do myself. Work The System allowed me to get the point I am at today.

    Personally, I think he spends a bit too much time trying to convince you that systems are a good thing before getting into the meat of how to setup and manage the systems in your business, but that may be needed for someone more skeptical than I am about systems. The second section is really good at walking you through the setup of systems in your own work. I have reread this section probably about 4 times.

    This book is mainly written for business owners and managers, but can be useful for anyone wanting to optimize the work they do.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • John H Hawley
    4.0 out of 5 stars Manage you life and business
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    So many of us in small business are overwhelmed on a daily basis with our work. Something we start because we love it ends up being something we no longer even enjoy after a few years.
    Usually the problem is that we become the hardest working employee and the Mr.Fix-it who ends up constantly putting out fires instead of managing our business. This book put me back on track, helping develop systems that let the business be operated by my employees and leaves me the time and energy to develop the business and increase my profits while reducing the stress I was under. A must read for all small business owners!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • bponetime
    5.0 out of 5 stars I USE this book all the time
    Reviewed in Canada on March 26, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I am a small business coach and have been working with owner/managers of micro businesses (mostly 500K - 4 Mill revenue) for nearly four years, full time. I have listened to the audio book twice and have bought the hard copy as a reference.

    I read a few of the other reviews on this book and saw a few comments like, "only talks about one business as an example", and "not enough about life managment/personal system work", and "is too repetitive".

    In my opinion, here is why the author has been repetitive (on purpose). He "get's it" and wants to actually change people and businesses through his book (to the point where "readability" takes second place to "utility"). It is obvious that he has gone to great lengths to 1) describe the process of learning the systems mindset & cover some how-to's of implimentation, but more important 2) is dead set on doing everything in his power to create the change in the reader that needs to occur in order to go about using this book long term, and changing their life and business. This is the reason for the repitition (lot's of examples, from a whole bunch of different angles - east vs. west norms, peace/love and the 60's, bands, businesses, life styles etc) . The book is written for the business owner who needs to change behaviour of him/herself and their team, not to the savvy educated reader that wants to understand concepts and then write a review and move on.

    In my opinion, using one business in particular as an example, one that the author has actually grown, improved and began to run under management, is much better than using a bunch of businesses in a study (even if the study is rigorous and controlled). This "been there and done that" confidence, from a very private enterprise perspective is clear, and the insights and perspective are refreshing and empowering. For example, "it is going to take time, but you can make great progress in 18 months", "hundred fold returns as you put in the effort of drafting the Strategic objective and other related docs..." [quoting from memory]. This is the kind of truth that gets busy owners to break inertia and actually get down to working on this stuff.

    I like the business focus because this is the main case study - the company. The added health & lifestyle stuff is great because it is the life that most owners can relate with...I chatted with the owner of a company this morning and as we toured his facility I could just see how the stress was taking its toll on him. In my opinion, the author give just enough on health and lifestyle systems, keeping the main focus on changing the business.

    When starting to work on systems and/or just increasing a business owners maturity around leadership and her/his company, I tell them to download the audio and listen to it all the way through. Required reading. This is the kind of book that I'll strongly encourage my kids to read, before the age of 18, to add to their entrepreneurial and leadership perspective.
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  • Russell Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Actionable and Essential
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I have gone back to this book again and again to create my working documents in my business and further outsource and automate the day to day tasks that need doing. I strongly recommend anyone working with staff and systems to buy this book and improve their business (and life).
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  • Timothy
    5.0 out of 5 stars 4.999 stars (of 5)... Got My Head Spinning - I an Good Way - I started Implementing Before I Finished the Book
    Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Outstanding eye-opener. I had read "The eMyth", "Built to Sell", and "Checklist Manifesto" and had learned all about the concept of systemizing and checklists.

    I can't put my finger on it, but "Work the System" seemed to tie it all together in a way I could instantly take action on. The sample documents included in the back of the book were incredibly helpful. And the way Sam Carpenter (author) addresses a lot of the objections and challenges you'll likely face during implementation was also very encouraging.

    And - unexpectedly - I love the fact he just says it out loud (and I'm paraphrasing) "This is a lot of work, and some of your employees will push back." Isn't it refreshing to have a book be honest about the time, work, and struggle involved in making a change? I was concerned when I picked up the book it would be a little on the "Get Rich Tomorrow" kool-aid train... it *does* say on the cover "The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less".... I've heard that a zillion times now. But it's rare for an author to so explicitly acknowledge that it's a ton of work - 3 to 6 months - to get his method in place. But he also makes it obvious that that 3-6 month investment is life-changing, and I believe it.

    Why I'm giving this book only 4 stars instead of 5....

    1. the first 60% of the book is VERY repetitive. Wish he would cut the fat out and make it more direct. But despite that, the payoff of this book is so substantial I can (mostly) forgive the filler.

    2. you *can* get this book for free, legally, from the author's website. That being said, I am glad I bought the hardcover on Amazon. That tiny $20 investment was enough for me to feel invested in the book, thus getting the tremendous value this book has to offer. When things are free it's too easy to push them off until tomorrow.... and we all know that tomorrow never comes.

    So if I could give this book a 4.999 rating, I would. It's an outstanding buy, where the message and value far, far, far outshadow the few foibles.

    Enjoy,

    Tim
    - - - -
    TimFrancisMarketing.com
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  • Ade
    5.0 out of 5 stars Work the System - Superb!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book. Quite repetitive but usefully so. Absolutely recommend this book to anybody looking for a simple (not easy) way to improve performance.

    I have already started to implement much of what is proposed and early signs are positive.

    Brilliant!
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  • Charles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Get back control!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic book for anyone that wants to get back in control of their business and take it to the next level.
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