PEMDAS: Order of Operations in Entrepreneurship

If you attended elementary and middle school and/or have a school-aged child, you are likely familiar with the order of operations [Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction (PEMDAS)] for solving math problems. I used the mnemonic device, Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, to remember to remember it. I recently listened to an episode of the Social Proof Podcast entitled 10 Steps To Go From A Hiding Business To A Thriving Business. Donni Wiggins, the show’s co-host, stated that she is a multiplier – which means that if you share a feasible idea with her, she will help you elevate it. Donni’s discussion on the show encouraged me to think about how the order of operations can be related to entrepreneurship. I know that in entrepreneurship the order of operations may change depending on the type of problem that you are solving in your business. I came up with a mnemonic device for the order of operations in entrepreneurship.

1.      Parentheses (Please)

Gather the people and the resources that can help you in your business. This step reminds me of the book Who Not How which focuses on building connections to expand your business rather than relying only on what you can do.

2.      Exponents (Entrepreneur)

Entrepreneurs are responsible for ensuring that they apply methods and/or systems  that will allow their business to grow exponentially. This may include identifying new markets for the business, investing in marketing, and evaluating progress.

3.      Multiplication (Money)

Find a system that will multiply your efforts and money. For example, customer relationship management (CRM) technology can be used to stay connected with customers and acquire new customers.

4.      Division (Decisions)

Delegate tasks and eliminate divisive people. Delegating tasks to others and eliminating divisive people will allow you to focus on business growth.

5.      Addition (Affect)

Increase your skills and add new people to your network. For example, if you add negotiation to your skill set, you will likely increase the probability of gaining new contracts. Networking can lead you to new business opportunities.

6.      Subtraction (Sales)

Cut out unnecessary expenses and distractions. By reviewing your business expenses each month, you can determine which expenses are not adding to your bottom line and eliminate them. Distractions can prevent you from growing your business; therefore, they should be identified and removed quickly.