In this episode, Rex Frank, a seasoned entrepreneur and leader in the IT services space, shares his journey of scaling and growing his company through the implementation of EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).

Rex discusses how these systems, combined with intentional decision-making and transparency, helped him drive growth and acquisition at PAX 8, leading the company to cross $2 billion in revenue. He offers valuable insights on the importance of financial transparency, the role of integrators in a business, and the power of peer groups and coaching in partner enablement.

Tune in to hear Rex’s strategies for navigating growth, leadership, and creating sustainable success in a fast-paced industry.

Key Topics:

• How EOS helped scale the company and integrate with OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) for better alignment.

• The transition to using OKRs and how it influenced productivity and company culture at PAX 8.

• The importance of sharing financials within the company and how it promotes growth and employee buy-in.

• The division of responsibilities between the integrator and visionary, and the benefits of giving up control in key decisions.

• How adopting the Level 10 meeting structure became integral to the company's success and is now widely used across PAX 8.

• The value of peer groups and one-on-one coaching in driving business maturity and partner success.

• The development of on-demand content, instructor-led courses, and sales methodologies to help partners grow their businesses.

Chapters:

00:00 - Walk In Intro

00:25 - Meeting at IT Nation

01:50 - The MSP Community and Early Career EOS

04:56 - Starting a Managed Services Practice

06:36 - Lessons in Leadership and Letting Go

08:56 - Operational Excellence and Coaching

11:35 - The Evolution of the Business

21:10 - Discovering and Implementing EOS

26:18 - Hiring an EOS Implementer

27:48 - Setting Long-Term Goals

29:02 - Operational Journey and Revenue Growth

32:13 - Company Culture and Core Values

35:52 - Acquisition by Pax8

38:43 - Integrating EOS at Pax8

45:30 - Tips for Implementing EOS

47:10 - Pax8 Academy and Partner Enablement

49:27 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this conversation, Jami Mullikin, Aron North former CMO, and Mike Abercrombie discuss how implementing the EOS framework, leadership offsites, and a strong company culture contributed to their rapid growth and success for Mint Mobile.

Key Topics:

• The effectiveness of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) in managing rapid growth, particularly through the L10 meetings and setting clear goals (Rocks) for the company.

• Using leadership offsites to foster collaboration, balance work and relaxation, and maintain focus during the company's growth, such as watching whales and resetting before diving back into strategic work.

• Company culture centered around alignment, open communication, and camaraderie, helps the team stay united and focused during critical periods like the sale process.

• Productive conflict is encouraged, allowing the team to address issues directly and work through challenges to maintain progress without allowing problems to fester.

• Staying focused and committed to the company’s goals, using offsites to manage both internal issues and keep the company running smoothly.

• A co-owner deeply involved in the company embraced its core values and acted like an owner, contributing to the company’s growth despite not attending L10 meetings.

• Maintaining a balance between hard work and relaxation, using moments of downtime to bond, reset, and return to work with renewed focus and energy.

Chapters:

00:00 — Walk In Intro

00:12 — Aron North and Mike Abercrombie Introduction

02:43 — Core Values and Aron’s Introduction to EOS

07:37 — “The Speech”

10:17 — How EOS Causes Anxiety in Employees

16:07 — Early Stage VTO and 10 Year Target

21:00 — The Entire Company Working Together

23:17 — Practices Leading to Quick Scaling

27:22 — How EOS Evolves with Company Growth

30:10 — How EOS Is Introduced to a New Employee

32:33 — The Importance of the L10

36:28 — EOS Supporting a Hybrid Work Style

40:02 — Clarity Breaks and Offsites

45:18 — Is Ryan Reynolds in L10 Meetings?

In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami Mullikin speaks with Forrest Derr, a Fractional Integrator and Founder of ENRG, about the importance of aligning people with the right roles in organizations, fractional integrators, and the power of networking.

They discuss how companies can leverage fractional integrators to build strong, sustainable operations, and how networking opens doors to new opportunities. Forest also shares his approach to helping clients with the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework and why starting early, even as a small team, can be crucial for long-term success.

The conversation highlights the value of finding the right fit for your company, both in terms of team members and external partners. Whether you're looking to hire, improve your operations, or simply grow your professional network, this episode offers valuable insights.

Start a local ENRG group: enrg.life

Key Topics:

• The importance of hiring individuals who are excited about the role they’re in, ensuring engagement and success.

• Forrest’s approach as a fractional integrator, helping businesses optimize operations while preparing them to transition to a full-time integrator.

• How networking is essential for opening new opportunities and creating mutually beneficial professional relationships.

• The need for companies to assess changing personal goals within employees and how that impacts alignment with organizational objectives.

• Leveraging fractional integrators to bring expertise into companies without the need for a full-time executive right away.

• How building strong professional networks can lead to valuable referrals and business growth.

• Why small businesses should consider implementing EOS early on to set the foundation for long-term success.

Chapters:

00:00 — Walk In Intro

00:12 — Forrest Derr Introduction and EOS Journey

03:47 — Implementing EOS in the Workplace

05:32 — Hiring the Right Implementor

06:53 — Challenges in the Beginning Steps of EOS

08:54 — Impact of EOS in the Early Days

11:44 — Transitioning to Another Company with EOS

14:58 — People Problems with EOS

16:39 — Defining Roles and Core Values in EOS

22:14 — Experiences as a Fractional Integrator

25:34 — The Integrator Playbook and Connecting Integrators

31:34 — 5 Year V/TO

32:26 — Most Common EOS Challenge

37:02 — People Analyzer EOS Tool

41:57 — Is Forrest Derr looking for clients?

In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Warren explore the transformative power of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for organizations of all sizes. From aligning teams with core values to tackling "rocks" in 90-day intervals and staying accountable through Level 10 (L10) meetings, they break down how EOS helps businesses achieve operational clarity.

Whether you're considering EOS, self-implementing, or fully running on the system, this episode offers actionable insights to eliminate drama, maintain focus, and hit ambitious goals. Learn how tools like the "90" platform keep teams organized and discover why starting sooner—even as a small team—is the key to long-term success.

Key Topics:

• The importance of defining core values and how they guide behavior and decision-making within a company.

• The concept of "rocks"—90-day goals—and how regular check-ins help ensure progress.

• The role of weekly L10 meetings in solving issues, tracking progress, and holding teams accountable.

• How the "90" platform helps teams track goals, tasks, and milestones for efficient progress.

• The value of having an EOS implementer to streamline the process and ensure the system is followed correctly.

• The challenges and gaps that come with self-implementing EOS versus using a formal implementer.

• Why small teams or businesses should consider adopting EOS sooner rather than later, even before reaching the ideal employee size.

Chapters:

00:00 — Walk In Intro

00:52 — How Jami’s Entrepreneurial Journey Began

03:28 — How Warren’s Entrepreneurial Journey Began

05:13 — Warren’s Experience with Different Sizes of Teams

07:45 — Warren’s Introduction to EOS

09:16 — Jami’s Introduction to EOS and Career Changes

18:06 — Visionaries vs. Integrators

26:57 — Warren’s Experience with EOS

30:54 — Jami on Core Values

38:00 — 90 Day “Rocks”41:50 — Advice on EOS

In this episode of Inside the 90, host Jami Mullikin sits down with Bryan De Bruin, co-founder of VanRock, and Andrew Gissal, an EOS Implementer, to explore the journey of building a vertically integrated real estate and private equity firm.

Bryan shares how his leap from a successful legal career to real estate led to the creation of VanRock, and how EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) became a cornerstone of the company's strategy and growth.

Key Topics:

- Transitioning from law to real estate entrepreneurship.

- Building VanRock through a partnership that started over coffee.

- Creating a vertically integrated business model for efficiency and quality.- Overcoming challenges of scaling and aligning multiple entities.

- Leveraging EOS for clarity, culture, and operational success.

- Empowering tradespeople to become entrepreneurs through subsidiary companies.

- Building trust and accountability to drive results and cohesion.

Chapters:

00:00 — Walk In Intro

00:21 — Bryan De Bruin of VanRock 

01:00 — Background of VanRock and Bryan De Bruin

06:50 — Starting Multiple Entities at Once 

10:24 —  When Bryan Wanted to Start VanRock

11:47 — Employees at VanRock

15:54 — VanRock’s EOS Implementation 

20:53 — Problem Solving in the Beginning Stages

23:41 — Importance of Listening to Other Professionals

24:39 — How EOS Sets Up Businesses for Success 

27:04 — Practical Implementations of the VanRock Business Model

30:06 — VanRock’s Core Values

35:54 — Lessons of Accountability and Trust in the Business Culture 

40:33 — The Future of VanRock

43:23 — EOS Advice from Bryan De Bruin

Inveterate, a rapidly growing tech startup, adopted the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to bring structure and accountability to their business. Julia Connell, the integrator, partnered with Visionary founder Dylan Whitman to tackle the chaos that came with scaling from 3 to 25 employees. With guidance from EOS implementer Andrew Gissal, Inveterate began adopting tools like Rocks (90-day priorities), accountability charts, and meeting cadences to align their team and focus on the most important goals.

The process was challenging at first, with awkward meetings and a learning curve as the team adjusted to the new system. However, EOS quickly brought clarity, helping prioritize responsibilities, create measurable milestones, and foster better decision-making.

Key Topics:

• Rapid growth (from 3 to 25 employees globally) led to chaos and the need for systems.

• Accountability and alignment were difficult despite a high-performing leadership team.

• The team was initially skeptical about implementing EOS.

• Julia emphasized the importance of “figuring it out and getting it done,” a core value.

• A major lesson was creating actionable milestones for Rocks to drive measurable progress.

• Advice for others considering EOS.

Chapters:

00:00 - Walk In Into

00:15 - Julia Connell, VP Inveterate, EOS Integrator

00:23 - Andrew Gissal, EOS Implementer

01:07 - Inveterate Started with a Visionary, and Rocket Fuel

03:12 - Starting with EOS - Pulling Together Data

04:23 - Which Comes First, The EOS System or the Visionary/Integrator Relationship

06:32 - Visionary Go, Go, Go Mentality

08:01 - Tensions: Perception of Difficulty, and Accountability

09:22 - EOS Provides the Framework for Clarity

13:16 - Implementing EOS in a Startup Environment

17:03 - First Focus Day: Introducing Tools to Skeptics19:21 - The First L10s Felt Awkward

22:19 - Aligning the Team on the Common Goal

23:15 - Fighting for Simplicity

25:51 - A Core Value: Figure it Out and Get it Done

27:28 - The Accountability Chart and Updating It

29:44 - Current Challenges: Rocks and Milestones

32:48 - Future Goals: Utilizing the 90 Day Cadence

34:41 - Rolling out EOS GWC (Get It, Want It, Capacity)

36:19 - EOS Benefits to a Visionary

38:42 - Self Implementing or Use a Dedicated Implementer

Adam Landrum and Bailey Boese, formerly of Up and Up, now part of GMBb, discuss the role of EOS from fast growing startup to their acquisition by a larger EOS organization.

Adam introduced EOS at Up and Up in 2017 after feeling the team was "hitting the ceiling" with stalled momentum. Adam and Bailey emphasized the importance of authenticity in core values, cadence of communication, and embracing the process for long-term growth and success. EOS ultimately positioned Up and Up for both operational excellence and successful acquisition.

Key Topics:

• Their journey implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).

• Challenges of self-implementing and shifting to a dedicated Implementer.

• The most useful EOS tools.

• How Core Values created alignment and accountability across the team.

• Advice to other businesses on how to be successful with EOS.

Chapters:

00:00 - Walk In Intro

00:29 - Adam Landrum and Bailey Boese of Up&Up (a GMB Brand)

02:52 - The Need for EOS: Hitting the Ceiling

04:36 - Starting with Self Implementation of EOS

05:43 - Early Pains and Learnings

06:59 - First Signs of Traction

08:19 - Why First Focus on The Accountability Chart

09:28 - Up&Up EOS Journey

11:55 - Taking ES Bootcamp Training

13:15 - When Did Feel Like EOS Started to Click

15:00 - Evolution of the Accountability Chart

17:35 - What EOS Tools Work Best for You

21:49 - Making it Simple Enabled Us to Define Up&Up Vision

24:59 - Clarity and Cadence

26:25 - The Up&Up Friday Share

30:15 - Jami’s Favorite Tool = Kolbe Index

32:40 - Core Values is a Must

38:00 - The Evolution of Up&Up

39:47 - EOS Advice to a Small Company

40:36 - Adam Landrum Thoughts on EOS Helping an Acquisition

43:03 - Bailey Boese Reflecting on EOS Working for Small and Large Companies

Jami Mullikin, founder and president of Wonder, interviews Kevin Wentzel, COO of Kopis USA about implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) within their company. This podcast episode highlights the evolution of EOS implementation at Kopis, focusing on overcoming hurdles and leveraging tools to improve alignment and operational efficiency.

Key Topics:

• Kevin’s journey at Kopis and how EOS became their company’s operating system

• The challenges and opportunities of early self-implementing EOS

• Focusing the company core values from 37, to four

• Finding the right balance of Rocks for individuals, and the company

• Identifying the tools and software that support the 90 Day process

• Improving and evolving their EOS system with a local implementer

Chapters:

00:00 - Walk In Intro

00:12 - Kevin Wentzel, CEO of Kopis USA

00:57 - The Need for Structure

02:48 - Historic Company Structure

04:00 - Rolling Out EOS (In Hindsight)

08:17 - Sharing Company Core Values

12:18 - Applying 4 Core Values

15:41 - The Role of Core Values and Recruiting

19:34 - EOS Vision Traction Organizer

21:05 - How 90 Days Provides Focus

23:50 - Be Mindful of Q4 Rocks

25:37 - Carrying Rocks for Too Long

27:03 - Recognizing the Need for an Implementer

30:06 - Top EOS Tools We Use

31:32 - Over-engineering the Scorecard

35:14 - Committing to the Process

39:44 - Integrator Masterclass Experience

41:17 - Selecting a Local Implementer

42:30 - Self-Implementation Challenges

45:32 - Keeping it RILS (Respect Impact Lead Simplify)