Inside The 90™

In this episode of Inside the 90, Alec Broadfoot (Founder of Vision Spark) and John Vidosh (Integrator at Vision Spark) join the conversation to discuss what it’s like to live in a 90-day EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) world. Alec shares the origin story of Vision Spark, which was born out of hiring challenges and transformed through the use of assessments. The duo reflects on their EOS implementation journey, highlighting the transition from self-implementation to working with certified implementers. John shares his path to becoming an integrator and how Vision Spark’s thorough hiring process ultimately led to his role. The episode also explores Vision Spark’s unique recruiting process, their “People Plan” service, and practical advice for companies scaling with EOS. Emphasis is placed on data-driven hiring, cultural alignment, and strategic planning to ensure right people are in the right seats.

Key Topics:

- Founding story rooted in fixing bad hires with science-based assessments.

- Transition from self-implementation to successful EOS adoption.

- John’s journey from EOS-curious to Vision Spark integrator.

- Vision Spark’s 90-day integrator hiring process & retention guarantee.

- Importance of vision-aligned leadership and structured recruiting.

- “People Plan” for strategic scaling and leadership team planning.

- Why hiring the right integrator early is key to EOS success.

Chapters:

[0:42] – Alec shares the founding story of Vision Spark

[2:10] – How assessments transformed their hiring success

[4:09] – Early EOS challenges and hitting a revenue ceiling

[5:29] – Hiring a professional EOS implementer changed everything

[8:07] – John’s journey to discovering EOS and becoming an integrator

[10:27] – John applies and is hired through Vision Spark’s rigorous process

[14:58] – Why Alec chose to hire an integrator instead of a finance lead

[20:26] – Challenges of applying EOS at a small scale

[23:03] – Legacy employee misalignment and leadership turnover

[25:36] – John’s aha moment: hiring based on values and assessment, not résumé

[28:07] – Vision Spark’s structured leadership search methodology

[34:00] – 90-day hiring timeline and dual placement/retention guarantees

[37:07] – “People Plan” as a strategic planning service for scaling

[42:28] – Evaluating whether individuals can scale with the company

[43:50] – Vision Spark developing new tools for visionary-integrator fit

[44:12] – Final advice: use assessments, trust data, hire with GWC in mind

This episode of Inside the 90 features a conversation between host Jami Mullikin and guest Tracy Brown from the company YourSix, a startup in the physical security space. Tracy shares her journey within the startup environment, including the implementation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), especially with the help of an external implementer, Andrew Geil.Tracy details how EOS brought strategic clarity, structured accountability, and internal alignment—particularly around marketing and sales. The episode highlights how structured planning (like VTO, scorecards, L10s) and clear communication transformed the organization, helping them transition from reactive chaos to proactive execution.

Key Topics:

- Tracy’s leadership journey and the culture of a remote startup.

- Transition from self-implementing to professionally guided EOS adoption.

- Strategic clarity through the Vision/Traction Organizer (VTO) and scorecards.

- Improved marketing and sales alignment using EOS frameworks.

- Organizational focus, accountability, and reduced internal friction.

- Unique leadership dynamics with multiple visionaries and one integrator.

- Benefits of expert EOS implementation and flexible adoption.

Chapters:

[0:00] Intro & Background – Tracy shares her startup journey and role at YourSix.

[1:56] Discovering EOS – Initial exposure to EOS through Traction and early efforts.

[3:24] Hiring an Implementer – Decision to bring in Andrew Geil to guide EOS rollout.

[4:08] Marketing & EOS Alignment – How EOS improved collaboration and brand clarity.

[7:49] Focus Day & VTO Creation – Strategic planning sessions leading to a clear vision.

[15:02] Vision to Execution – Marketing aligns with long-term business goals.

[21:01] Expanding EOS Company-Wide – Rolling out L10s and EOS tools across teams.

[27:03] Accountability Clarity – New structure defines roles and ownership.

[29:32] Visionary/Integrator Model – Unique leadership setup fosters innovation.

[32:19] Reduced Friction – EOS minimizes drama through structure and clarity.

[35:56] Aligned Sales & Marketing – Shared goals improve collaboration.

[41:14] Targeting Ideal Customers – Narrowing focus to high-fit markets.

[44:15] Favorite Tools – VTO and L10s stand out as most impactful.

[46:00] Adapting the Framework – EOS works best when flexed to fit the team.

[50:20] Final Advice – Embrace EOS fully and get expert help early.

This episode of Inside the 90™ dives deep into the real-life EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) implementation journey of S&L Integrated. Reid Wylie shares how their business hit a growth ceiling and found a breakthrough with EOS, while Jeff Ruby provides insight into what made S&L a standout success story. From early challenges and team dynamics to defining core values and rolling out EOS across field teams, the episode is packed with practical wisdom and lessons for any business leader considering or currently implementing EOS.

Key Topics:

- How SNL Integrated Discovered EOS: Through local advocacy and returning employees.

- Finding the Right Implementer: Using EOS tools to identify and partner with Jeff Ruby.

- Hitting the Growth Ceiling: Recognizing organizational stagnation and the need for structure.

- The Power of Focus Day: Initial challenges and breakthroughs in team alignment.

- Visionary + Integrator Dynamics: Shifting leadership roles and deepening alignment.

- Rolling Out EOS Across the Organization: Including remote and field teams.

- Core Values Discovery: Establishing “Character, Passion, Quality”.

- Favorite EOS Tools: Level 10 Meetings, People Analyzer, and Delegate & Elevate.

- Measuring Traction: Early wins, accountability, and long-term cultural shifts.

Chapters:

[0:12] Welcome & Introductions

[0:36] How SNL Integrated First Heard About EOS

[2:10] Discovering and Connecting with Jeff Ruby

[6:11] Pre-EOS Challenges and Hitting the Growth Ceiling

[9:05] Defining a 10-Year Vision and Setting Growth Targets

[12:00] Focus Day: First Impressions, Team Dynamics, and Vulnerability

[17:20] When the Team First Felt Real Traction

[24:08] Reid’s Transition to Integrator & New Leadership Structure

[28:25] EOS Rollout to Remote and Field Employees

[34:41] Discovering and Living Core Values: Character, Passion, Quality

[43:01] Reid’s Favorite EOS Tools & How They Impact the Team

[45:01] What Jeff Looks for in an Ideal EOS Client

[48:00] Jason’s Role as Visionary & Why It Made a Difference

[49:45] Closing Reflections & Final Advice

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