EOS Masterclass
EOS Masterclass
How can business owners determine if they truly enjoy their current workload and lifestyle?
I would ask anyone in this situation, and it's okay whatever your answer is, but if you can’t let go, are you truly enjoying what you're doing? Is this what you thought it would be? If your answer is yes, and you love working 70 or 80 hours a week, doing everything yourself, and it fulfills you, then there’s nothing anyone can do to change that. Go forth and prosper if that’s what makes you happy.
However, I suspect that’s a small percentage of people. More likely, they’re not happy. If they’re honest with themselves, they’ll realize they didn’t leave a W-2 job to work 80 hours a week trying to get their business off the ground. That’s probably not what they intended, even if it’s where they are now.
How can a business owner identify which tasks should be delegated?
There’s a tool you can use if you’re the type of person who’s introspective and willing to take the time. This can be difficult for visionaries, but it’s essential. The tool we use is simple, like most things in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), and it helps build traction through repetition. The tool is called "Delegate and Elevate." It’s all about understanding what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at versus what you don’t like doing and aren’t skilled at.
Think of it as a 2x2 matrix—four boxes. Everyone, whether they’re a visionary, integrator, or data analyst, wants to be in the box where they’re doing what they enjoy and excel at. A company functions best when people are in that top-left quadrant, where there’s high desire and high skill.
How does the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) impact business operations over time?
EOS is a journey, not a quick fix. It’s not something you figure out in one day, implement, and suddenly your business runs smoothly. That’s not how it works. We typically say it’s a two-year journey involving a mindset shift and changes in how you run your business. There’s no such thing as overnight success—it’s the “overnight success” that takes eight years. Like anything, the key is consistently applying the tools and disciplines we introduce. The tools are simple and have been around for over a hundred years. They’ll still be relevant a thousand years from now. The difference lies in consistently applying them.
Why is scorecarding crucial for business performance management?
One tool I feel is often overlooked and undervalued is the simple act of scorecarding. A scorecard isn’t a look back at what happened—that’s what a monthly business review is for. Instead, a scorecard tracks key metrics, usually five to ten, that are predictive of what’s going to happen. These metrics focus on activity-based items that the business can control and monitor weekly. Are we hitting red or green on those metrics? We don’t allow for any yellow.
Scorecarding brings more discipline and traction because it eliminates surprises. You won’t be left wondering why there’s no new business if you weren’t doing any outbound work to generate clients. By tracking these metrics at the company level—and, if you're large enough, at the department level—you can predict where your business is headed and remove the guesswork.
What should entrepreneurs consider before investing in a franchise?
I wish I could go back in time to when we decided to open a franchise, scratching that entrepreneurial itch I had since my teenage years. When I made the decision, I was told—promised, even—that this would be a semi-absentee or absentee opportunity. I took that at face value, thinking I could invest, step back, and watch the business grow. But that’s far from reality.
I wasn’t interested in the hair industry, but I looked at various investment options and chose what I thought was an internet-proof business with long-term value—not pandemic-proof, but that’s another story. I assumed I could keep working while the franchise generated cash on the side. I couldn’t have been more wrong. If I could go back, I’d tell myself that you can’t dabble. If you’re going to go in, you need to fully commit. That was on me.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
