Get a Grip on Your Business (EOS)

In the last two weeks, I've been talking a lot about Traction and EOS Worldwide . We've used it to run S1 Technology? since the beginning and frankly, we couldn't run without it.

EOS, or the Entrepreneurial Operating System, is a set of tools and principles designed to help businesses achieve their goals and improve their overall performance. It is a comprehensive system that provides a framework for entrepreneurs and their leadership teams to build and manage their companies effectively.

I use this analogy all the time. Imagine your business like you're flying a plane. You're in the cockpit, charting a course toward success. How the heck are you gonna fly that plane without a system? I get told all the time, "Well, Hunter, we run our business on feel." Do you fly a plane on feel too? If you've ever said that I'm going to tell you why EOS might change your life. Here's prolonged analogy that I beat to death.

Vision: Setting Your Flight Path

First, vision. It's not just about your destination, but also about your flight crew. The Vision Traction Organizer (VT/O) acts like your flight plan, helping you align your team with a clear trajectory. Answer eight questions, and you've got a shared flight path. It's about core values, purpose, and a 10-year target that goes beyond the bottom line. It's about understanding your market and targeting them with precision. It's about establishing a three-year forecast, a one-year flight schedule, and quarterly waypoints—those critical objectives that keep you on course.

People: Your Flight Crew

Then, people. Every business challenge is fundamentally a crew challenge. The EOS framework is for assembling a flight crew that not only trusts your flight plan but also possesses the skills to fly the plane. It's about finding those who share your core values and have the GWC—Get it, Want it, Capacity to do it—for their roles. The Accountability Chart is your crew roster, ensuring everyone knows their responsibilities in the cockpit and cabin.

Data: The Instrument Panel

Data is your co-pilot. Without it, you're flying blind. The Scorecard is like your cockpit's instrument panel, providing real-time data on the performance of your business. It's about leading indicators, weekly metrics that signal whether you're on the right flight path or drifting off course.

Issues: Navigating Through Turbulence

Issues are the turbulence you'll inevitably encounter. The IDS process—Identify, Discuss, Solve—is your strategy for maintaining a smooth flight. It's about confronting challenges directly, listing them out, and addressing them with disciplined problem-solving. It's about transforming headwinds into momentum.

Process: Standard Operating Procedures

Process is akin to your airplane's standard operating procedures (SOPs). It's about documenting the essential tasks that keep your business airborne and ensuring that they are followed consistently. This isn't about micromanagement; it's about creating a system that operates efficiently, even when you're not in the pilot's seat.

Traction: Maintaining Altitude and Momentum

Finally, traction. It's the discipline of maintaining your altitude and momentum. It's about setting those 90-day waypoints and establishing a meeting rhythm—the regular briefings that keep everyone on the same flight plan. It's about turning intentions into actions.

Conclusion: Autopilot and Trust

But here's the critical question: can you switch to autopilot? Can you trust your flight crew, your instruments, your airplane? EOS isn't just about the tools and systems; it's about the pilot's ability to trust the process. It's about simplification, delegation, prediction, systematization, and structuring. It's about committing to the flight, not just dreaming of the landing.

For me, Traction isn't just a manual; it's a call to action. It's a challenge to streamline, to clarify, to concentrate not on the distractions but on the essential tasks that propel your business forward. It's about fostering a culture where everyone works in unison, where the vision is clear, and the objectives are within reach.