You don’t need a better team.

You need a better system.

In this episode of Thrive and Achieve, EOS Implementer and former COO Gary Leeman breaks down the operational blind spots that sabotage growth—and the system he now uses to help leadership teams build companies that scale without burning out.

We talk EOS, execution, leadership focus, equity mindsets, and why solving root problems matters more than solving fast ones.

If you're a founder, operator, or team lead trying to scale without spinning out—this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• What EOS is (and what it isn’t)
• Why your company keeps missing on execution
• The cost of trying to “do it all” as a team
• The difference between goals and systems—and why systems win
• A career-changing moment (disguised as an insult)
• When equity doesn’t mean ownership

🎧 Listen now to learn how to scale smarter—with systems that actually stick.

Follow Gary Leeman:

📧 [email protected]

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyleeman/

Chapters:

00:00 Intro – Why most companies do too much

01:10 Meet Gary Leeman

03:33 Career journey: From engineering to execution

05:50 Startup chaos → discovering EOS

08:15 How EOS saved their company during COVID

10:34 From exit to EOS implementer

12:41 Redefining success: Equity vs. salary

20:25 Why smart teams still struggle with execution

21:46 Multitasking is a lie: Focus as a growth lever

25:57 Root cause vs. quick fixes

30:29 Governor vs. Director thinking in leadership

35:05 What is EOS? Explained simply

37:00 Vision → Traction → Healthy (The EOS Model)

39:45 Goal-setting that actually drives progress

43:12 Systems vs. goals—what really wins?

46:57 Why companies succeed or collapse

48:35 How to connect with Gary

49:06 Outro – Thrive and Achieve