I wish all entrepreneurs knew that when it comes to scaling their company, being everything to your business doesn’t equal more success. But it often feels like it comes with the territory, doesn’t it? This is where my client 730 Eddy Studios, a national video production company based in Holland, MI, was when I first met Andy Atkins. Self-implementing EOS, working double time, holding both Visionary and Integrator positions, but still feeling stuck.
Sometimes, the harder you hustle, the closer you are to the cogs of the system you’ve built, and the harder it is to take a step back and see how each piece of the machine is running – or not running.
If you’ve been putting in maximum effort, only to find yourself in the fourth quarter nowhere near your end-of-year goals, it may be time to start running on EOS, with a Certified EOS Implementor.
From Transactional to Transformational
When I first met Andy, he was already a dedicated student of EOS and had been self-implementing for a couple of years. In fact, he was working off his second copy of Traction because he’d worn out the first. I mean, he was really poring over all the steps! But he still felt stuck.
That’s when he and his team decided it was time to “be professionals at EOS.” I’m so grateful for the opportunity to guide. I’ve had the privilege of watching as they’ve grown the business by nearly 3 times.
So, what was Andy doing wrong? Nothing, really. Sometimes it just takes a third party whose sole focus is to help you get what you want from your business to help you see the whole picture. I help leadership teams discover their own answers using EOS tools and discipline.
Take it from Andy:
“In 2018/2019, we hired an implementer, and that’s when it really clicked,” Andy said on LinkedIn. “It was like, ‘Ohh, so I read this book, but I didn’t actually understand this book.’”
EOS implementers like myself act as a guide. Sometimes, that means holding up a mirror. In the case of 730 Eddy Studios, Andy was operating as both the Visionary and Integrator. When we identified Sue as an Integrator, it let Andy focus on leading the long-term vision for the company, and it let Sue rise to the challenge. The Accountability Chart finally had the structure they were missing. With the right people in the right seats, they were prepared for Traction.
What is Traction?
In EOS, Traction is the piece that turns vision into action. It brings discipline and accountability, so goals get executed. Two of the tools that we use to help gain Traction? The Meeting Pulse and Rocks.
The Meeting Pulse
The Meeting Pulse keeps leadership teams laser-focused, connected, and proactive. It’s made up of two elements:
- Quarterly Meetings are a 90-day world, where teams set and align on vision and priorities (or Rocks).
- Level 10 Meetings serve as the weekly “heartbeat” to make progress and solve issues early before they become big hurdles.
Proactive, pre-planned check-ins keep everyone on track toward hitting their ultimate goals. Businesses running on EOS rarely end a quarter without results.
Rocks
Rocks are the handful of high-impact priorities you commit to achieving within a 90-day period, or quarter. Often, you have to dig a bit to find them, and that’s where an EOS implementer becomes invaluable.
Acting as a neutral guide, EOS implementers:
- Help leadership teams stay focused, identifying priorities that help move the company forward and away from side projects that may be exciting, but don’t contribute to immediate goals.
- Guide leadership teams through powerful conversations, helping them reach clarity, alignment, and agreement.
- Create healthy tension in the room so the team can solve issues at the root.
- Keep you accountable, focused, and on track for success.
Focusing on the right three to seven Rocks keeps everyone aligned and working toward shared goals. The right Rocks in Q4 can build momentum for this year and set you up for a very different outcome in 2026.
The Real Cost of Self-Implementing
When it comes to taking that leap from self-implementing to hiring a Professional, or in my case, a Certified EOS Implementor, one initial hesitation clients can have is cost. While it can sometimes feel scary to commit to the investment, I would also encourage you to reflect on your business and think about what you’re giving up. What is the cost of waiting? What will “Future You” wish you had chosen today? If you could move the needle just 1%, what would that get you?
If you are …
- Staying busy but not productive
- Chasing leads instead of closing them
- Putting out fires instead of preventing them
- Spending too much time learning the EOS system, and not applying it to get results
- Hiring, and then re-hiring the same positions
… it’s time to take the next step for your business. With 730 Eddy Studios, the team had big goals to grow and more team members to hire. But during the two years of self-implementing, they hadn’t made the progress they wanted toward their goals. That’s a frustrating spot to be in, but it doesn’t have to be.
With a Certified EOS Implementer, you can start making real Traction in your business. And if you start investing in EOS now, together, we can make sure your year doesn’t close the same way it’s been going.
“It really took the thinking of the system off of us, so we could think on the business,” said Andy. “We’re a better company because we run on EOS.”
Call Today
When it comes to your business, you shouldn’t feel like “you’re making it work.” It should just work – naturally. I can help you, just like I helped Andy, identify and clear blockages in your growth to create the Traction you’re missing. Start running on EOS, and start finally hitting those end-of-year goals you’ve been missing.
Call or text me at 616-914-4417, or send me an email to grab a spot on my calendar before the fourth quarter rush. A quick, 15-minute chat with me is the first step to finishing this year strong.