From Failure to Building Multiple 7-Figure Businesses: The Core Values and Hard Lessons That Made EOS My Secret Weapon

Let me take you back to about a decade ago. I was leading sales and marketing for a small tech company in Minnesota, and as part of our weekly reading, we picked up this little book called Traction. Boom. It hit me like Thor’s hammer. EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) came crashing down on me like the revelation of who Jon Snow really was (spoiler: yeah, it changes everything).

For the first time, I could see why my businesses in my 20s didn’t work out. They weren’t failures; they were just part of my “how to not screw up” manual. But here’s the thing—Traction wasn’t just a cool system to follow blindly like you’re trying to unlock an Xbox achievement. You gotta bring something more to the table. You need your core values baked right into it.

And let me be real clear about one thing—we’re not here to play. We’re here to dominate. If you’re looking to dip your toe in the kiddie pool, I’m not your guy. If you’re ready to build an empire, keep reading.

Core Values That Slap Harder Than a Will Smith Meme

First up, there’s Extreme Ownership. You’ve probably heard Jocko Willink talk about it like it’s a SEAL team mantra (and it is). If you don’t know, go read the book, but let me break it down: if something goes wrong, it’s on YOU. No excuses, no blame games. If the ship sinks, you’re the captain, and you’re going down with it, my friend. When I say extreme ownership, I’m not talking about taking responsibility for forgetting your Starbucks order—I’m talking about owning every single part of your business and your life.

Next, there’s the Navy SEAL principle I live by: “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” Now, I wasn’t in the military, but the logic hits home. Rushing like a caffeinated squirrel only gets you into more trouble. You do things right, you do them smoothly, and suddenly, you’re moving faster than Sonic the Hedgehog chasing a chili dog. EOS helped me focus on slowing down to fix what matters, so we could scale like a rocket on smooth autopilot.

And finally, there’s Results First. This isn’t just business talk. This is life. If you’re working with me, we’re not here to chat about “what might happen.” We’re delivering, period. I believe in giving more than I get, because in the end, that’s what builds real success. We’re not here for participation trophies—we’re here to crush it. If you win, I win, and that’s the way I roll.

EOS and Traction: When Core Values Meet a System That Works

Let’s talk EOS for a second. It’s a great system, no doubt, but it’s just like a lightsaber in the hands of a Jedi—it’s only as good as the person wielding it. EOS forces you to get your house in order, but if you don’t back it up with your core values, you might as well be swinging a glow stick at a rave.

Take the Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO). It’s great for mapping out the road ahead, but without integrity at the heart of your vision, you’re just wasting gas. In my world, if we say we’re going to do something, it’s getting done, no matter what. No half measures, no cutting corners, no BS.

And the People Component? Look, I don’t care how talented someone is—if they don’t live and breathe extreme ownership and precision, they’re not on my team. We only bring in people who understand that when something goes wrong, they’re not looking around the room like “who did it?” They’re owning it and fixing it. If that’s not you, keep swiping left, my friend.

Building a Culture of Accountability and Smooth Efficiency

EOS taught me that culture is everything, but here’s where most people get it wrong: they think culture is just about having a ping pong table and a stocked fridge. Newsflash: it’s about creating a team that doesn’t flinch when things get tough. It’s about extreme ownership and the “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” mentality.

We don’t rush decisions, and we don’t try to fix every little fire that pops up like some whack-a-mole game. We focus on the Rocks—the big moves that matter—and we make sure they’re done right. Like Gandalf said, "A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to." We’re not in a hurry—we’re strategic.

Radical Honesty and Results First

Now, let’s talk about honesty. Not the “I’ll tell you half the truth” kind of honesty. I’m talking about radical honesty—the “you’ve got spinach in your teeth, and I’m gonna tell you” kind. You can’t build a business on sugar-coated lies and wishful thinking. EOS gave me the structure for accountability, but life taught me that if you’re not willing to have the tough conversations, you’ll crash harder than Game of Thrones’ final season.

And when it comes to results, here’s the deal: we’re not messing around. This is Results First all day, every day. I believe in giving my clients more value than they pay for, because that’s how you build real, lasting success. We’re not in it for participation trophies or pats on the back. We’re in it to win. Period. If my clients aren’t winning, neither am I.

EOS is the Framework, Core Values Are the Fuel

EOS gave me the blueprint, but it’s my core values that power this machine. Over the last decade, I’ve scaled businesses not because I followed EOS to the letter, but because I infused it with extreme ownership, precision, and a results-first mentality. It’s not just about running a business—it’s about running a business that means something.

So if you’re thinking about bringing EOS into your company, here’s my advice: don’t just follow the system like some robot. Take a hard look at your core values. Ask yourself, What do I believe in? And more importantly, Are you ready to dominate or just play around?

Because remember, we’re not here to play. We’re here to DOMINATE.

Salvatore Steffano Founder & CEO, Founders Freedom Forge