Although I usually focus on what differentiates companies in order to sell more, I've been thinking about what makes businesses similar for some time. Our competitiveness and hubris often gets us to build businesses that are totally "unique" - that have their own processes and functions rather than building off a core set of "modules" that can be combined in different ways to build a powerful, stable business from the start. Building a business using Business Modules™ is much like building a Lego building. Each brick helps provide stability and adds to the character and function of the business. Since businesses began, people have looked for ways to win in the game of business. Instead of sharing resources, companies built proprietary systems that have to be dismantled and rebuilt as a company grows (or it remains stagnant). The concept behind Modular Business™ is that each business is unique, but all businesses share some basic processes and functions. Those functions can be considered Business Modules that fit together to build a complete, profitable business. With a Modular Business™, business owners can choose which Business Modules™ they want to connect, and which ones they will operate themselves. The difference between Business Modules™ and outsourcing or hiring contractors is that Business Modules™ are designed to interact and share information effortlessly for easier decision making and synergy, and to deliver outcomes, not just activity. Modular Business™ interconnections are pre-defined so that Business Module™ providers can deliver the same type of service across a range of companies. Building a Modular Business™ is a way of getting the benefits of franchising across a much wider range of businesses. This allows Business Module™ providers to specialize and provide specific Business Modules™ to “Core Businesses.” Business owners can then choose which Business Modules™ best fit their Core Businesses and swap Business Modules™ as [...]