In case you haven’t heard, I LOVE the book Traction, and I am so so excited that we get to talk about this book today!!

Traction is by Gino Wickman and if I ever got to meet him in person, it would be just phenomenal… I would have a total fan girl moment!!

This is a fantastic resource for anyone who is looking to build a solid foundation in their business and it’s particularly applicable for those of you in a digital business, even though at face value, it might not seem like it can apply to a digital business.

I think that’s why I love it so much, because if you dig a little bit deeper, there’s so much to uncover in this book, and so many powerful ways that this tool can help you, as the name of the book says, have traction in your brand.

My copy is filled with so many pink sticky notes, I have tons of handwritten notes inside… I’ve read it, I don’t know, 8 or 9 times – a LOT. This book is a work in progress kind of book. Every time you read it, you’re going to potentially uncover something new, or you’re going to be challenged and maybe convicted a little bit of some things that you’re doing in your business, that you’re not necessarily doing “correctly” and ways that you can adjust and change course.

Actually, for the last 3-4 years, I’ve tried to read it at least once a year, so that I can have a reset, so to speak. I can sit back in Traction, and uncover what I need to uncover in that specific year.

Needless to say, my quick review of Traction is that you need to read it right NOW.

Today I want to talk a little bit more about why this book is both practical and transformative for your online digital biz.

WHAT IS THE EOS?

At the core of this book is a concept called EOS (the Entrepreneurial Operating System). The Entrepreneurial Operating System serves as a roadmap for businesses to achieve goals and realize their vision. That’s probably the easiest way that we can describe it.

EOS is essentially a set of practical tools and principles that help you gain traction and experience growth. Inside of the book, you’re going to uncover a very clear framework for defining and achieving your goals for improving your team communication and collaboration, and ultimately, best practices to drive your business forward.

In writing this book, Wickham studied businesses with employee teams of 35-100 and wrote to that audience. But don’t worry if you don’t have 35 employees… me either! There’s still SO much that we can uncover and it is still so practical for the solopreneurs or teams of 1, 3, 5 or even 15 employees!!

Now, my background is in business administration, and I have a concentration in business management. So when I see things like operating system, I’m immediately excited!! I want to read books about it. I want to dig deeper. I love making a company org chart. I am all about an operating system of a brand, but I know that I’m in the minority.

I know that you may not be familiar with these terms and that’s why I want to make sure that we can adequately and effectively explain all of these things that I’m talking about in a way that makes sense for you!!

WHAT IS A BUSINESS OPERATING SYSTEM?

An operating system is not actually one specific tool. It’s not a software that you can go by and implement. An operating system is a series of processes on how you operate as a business.

And… good news!! You are already doing it.

Let’s imagine your business like a well oiled machine… but instead of gears and equipment, it’s powered by a special system called a business operating system. Think of it as the secret sauce that keeps everything running smoothly, and helps your business reach its full potential.

Here’s another way to explain it. You’re the captain of a ship, and you’re sailing along the ocean of entrepreneurship. Your crew, your team, is ready and eager to navigate the waters, but they need a reliable map and a compass to guide them. That’s where the business operating system comes in.

The operating system has your map and compass, and helps you chart the course set sail in the right direction weather any storm that comes your way. It’s like having a superpower that helps you make smart decisions and keeps everyone on the same page while steering your ship towards success.

As the Visionary, you’re the captain of the ship. You’re already deciding where you want to go and you’re making decisions about the dreams that you have ahead.

The Integrator is your first mate reading the map, the operating system, and managing the day to day of the crew, your team to make sure everything gets done and runs smoothly.

The Visionary, the Integrator, and the Operating System are all essential pieces of your business puzzle.

WHERE TRACTION COMES INTO PLAY

Traction is like the ultimate GPS for your entrepreneurial business, because it teaches the Entrepreneurial Operating System. Inside of this book, you’ll find practical tips and tools to help you steer your ship in the right direction, navigate those choppy waters of entrepreneurship, and sail towards success with confidence.

Traction breaks down 6 essential principles in what Wickman says makes up the EOS model:

Vision | People | Data | Issues | Process | Traction

The book gives you a solid explanation of each one, as well as very practical ways that you can apply them in your brand. It even goes one step further and gives you actual tools that you can use inside of your business as you are applying the 6 essential principles. Tools that you can use like a Scorecard, the VTO and the People Analyzer… so many good ones that I personally use in my brand and implement in some of the teams I am a part of!!

I’ll plan to do a follow up episode where I share more about the specific tools I use that are EOS inspired – but right now, I just want you to go READ THE BOOK FIRST!!

AND if you’re still not sure this is the right book for you, maybe you’re still questioning how this can ACTUALLY help your growing online brand, I have 5 things the EOS model can help you do in your business right now.

5 WAYS THE EOS MODEL WILL HELP YOU

These are all things you can do in your business within the next couple of weeks if you read Traction and begin implementing EOS.
The EOS Model will help you:

1. Get Vision Clarity. EOS starts with defining a clear vision for the business because if you don’t know where you are going, you’re never going to get there! For digital entrepreneurs, this means clearly articulating your mission, your target audience, and the value you aim to deliver through your digital offerings (products, courses, etc)!
2. Create Simplified Structure. EOS advocates for establishing clear roles and responsibilities within the organization. For small teams in digital businesses, this means understanding each team member’s strengths and assigning roles that play to those strengths.
   Whether it’s content creation, marketing, customer support, the tech & tools, having defined roles ensures efficiency and true enjoyment in all you are doing! I’ve made this easy for you, too with my FREE download, The V/I Duo! I talk through the Visionary/Integrator Duo in your brand and give you a company org chart that you can start to fill out as you were thinking about the simplified structure that you need to create in your brand. Click here to download yours for free!
3. Have Effective Processes. EOS emphasizes the importance of developing efficient processes to streamline operations. This is particularly valuable for digital businesses dealing with courses, memberships, and online shops, where repetitive tasks such as content creation, product launches, and customer onboarding are common.
   By standardizing and documenting these processes, small teams can save time and resources, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. This is where the KS Agency comes in because we can help you with the processes and the implementation!
4. Force you to Ruthlessly Prioritize. There are SO many opportunities & distractions inside of our online space … I tend to call it “disco ball syndrome” with my Visionaries haha! They get SO excited about new ideas & sometimes want to jump ship mid-project to pursue something else!! EOS encourages prioritizing the most important tasks and initiatives.
   For small teams, this means focusing on activities that directly contribute to business growth and profitability. Whether it’s optimizing marketing campaigns, improving product quality, or enhancing customer experience, EOS helps digital entrepreneurs allocate their limited resources effectively. Focus on the main thing as the main thing.
5. Promote a Culture of Accountability. EOS promotes a culture of accountability, where team members take ownership of their roles and deliver results. This is HUGE for you and truly takes you from the “solopreneur” mindset to the “CEO” mindset! It’s time to let someone else schedule that Flodesk email. It’s time to pass off designing your ConvertKit Landing Page. Give up the reins & have someone else design your Canva graphics. Just let GO!
   It’s easier to do when you follow EOS because you are establishing clear goals, tracking progress, and holding regular accountability meetings! They have more ownership and “skin in the game” so to speak! Your team can RISE UP if you let them – and EOS gives you a clear plan to do it!

CONCLUSION

As a little recap:
Should you read Traction? Yes!! My quick review of Traction is that you need to read it right NOW.

What is the EOS? The Entrepreneurial Operating System serves as a roadmap for businesses to achieve goals and realize their vision.

The operating system has your map and compass, and helps you chart the course set sail in the right direction weather any storm that comes your way. As the Visionary, you’re the captain of the ship. The Integrator is your first mate reading the map, the operating system, and managing the day to day of the crew, your team to make sure everything gets done and runs smoothly.

The EOS Model will help you get vision clarity, create a simplified structure, have effective processes, force you to ruthlessly prioritize, and promote a culture of accountability.

So, these are 5 awesome reasons why you need to go read Traction right now. I hope you’ll add it to your reading list (or your Audible list!) – and then I want to hear from you and what you think!!

I can’t wait to circle back on this book soon so we can dig even more into some of the specific tools and resources that EOS teaches that you can start implementing in your brand!