Don shares:
Michael Matheson some nineteen years ago signed a Letter of
Agreement with Business Navigators and now this spring he has asked us to work
with his company again.
It is gratifying when clients who have graduated want to
come back.
Michael is no longer the General Manage and son of the
owner. He is now the President and owner of Matheson Heating , Air
Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical.
His company is over four times the size it was in 1997.
Michael and his leadership team have studied many of the
books I have recommended and so, of course, it is time for him to recommend a
book to me.
Gino Wickman is the Author of 'Traction' and the creator and
head of a group called EOS which stands for 'The Entrepreneurial Operating
System'. This very practical book clarifies the six key components of
EOS.
Practical? Read what
Gino writes in the introduction.
"This book is not another silver bullet management book
or flavor-of-the-month strategy. It contains no theory. It's based on
real-world experience, practical wisdom, and timeless truths. More importantly,
it works. Through hands-on experience, I have developed a practical but
thorough method to help strengthen and re-energize your business."
The six key components are:
1.
Vision
2.
People
3.
Data
4.
Issues
5.
Process
6.
Traction
Each of the component chapters is filled with useful tools.
For example I really liked ' The Vision
/ Traction Organizer (V/TO) which simplifies strategic planning.
This metaphor is
illustrative of the clever wisdom found throughout the book and the
difficulty of letting go of behavior which isn't working.
"An entrepreneur slips and falls off the edge of a
cliff. On his way down, he manages to grab onto the end of a vine. He's hanging
there, a thousand feet from the top and a thousand feet from the bottom. His
situation seems hopeless, so he looks up to the clouds, and decides for the
first time to pray. 'Is anybody up there?' he asks. After a long silence, a
deep voice bellows down from the clouds: 'Do you believe?' 'Yes,' replies the
entrepreneur. 'Then, then let go of the vine,' says the voice. The entrepreneur
pauses for a second, looks up again, and finally responds, 'Is there anybody
else up there?'"
You can also go to the EOS web site and sign up for weekly
tips.
You receive some really good observations.
The Dutchman, in me, really likes that it is free.
