Where There’s a Will There’s a Way

Summary:

In this episode of Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, host Will Crist talked with Michael Morse, the owner and founder of the largest law firm in Michigan. Michael started his law firm over 25 years ago, and he ran the law firm with no business background whatsoever. After 15 years in the practice, Michael realized he needed help, and his firm became the first law firm to adopt the EOS model. The firm now thrives and even mentors other firms through their Fireproof program which is adapted for law firms. Throughout the episode, Will and Michael discussed how EOS has changed the firm and its employees for the better and how other law firms can do the same.

Thanks for tuning in!

Shownotes:

(0:55) Introductions

(4:00) How EOS Has Changed the Law Firm

(8:31) For Implementers: Getting the Attention of Senior Law Firms

(11:22) What Would a Law Firm Principal Need to Hear?

(14:30) Making the World a Better Place

(16:02) How EOS Can Change You Personally

(19:12) Delegate and Elevate

(37:17) Working Remotely

(44:55) Get in Touch with Michael

Links:

Will Crist

Michael Morse

EOS

Fireproof Performance

Quotes:

“I mean every business concept that I now know pretty darn well now, after all this time, I learned from him and EOS…it transformed me in a very short period of time to a very robust law firm with good business practices, good core values, good everything… I couldn't have done it without everything that I've learned throughout this process.” Michael Morse, (5:56)

”...We've worked with over 30 law firms individually…and their eyes are huge when they learn some of these concepts that they should be doing to run a really good law firm, because the traditional way to look at this is: law firms are not businesses, they are law firms…so it is fertile ground for implementers to go out there…and teach them. And that's what we're trying to do is spread the gospel and teach them how to run a really good business.” Michael Morse, (10:43)

”I think most law firm owners are doing too much. They're hitting the ceiling. They're not working in their sweet spots. They're not enjoying life…They don't know how to delegate. They don't know their numbers…you can ask a few questions and prove that they're hitting the ceiling…[I ask], what if I could teach you a way that you could work on all day everyday things that you're great at doing and that you love to do? Would you like to hear more about that? Who's going to say no to that?” Michael Morse, (11:41)

”I think that learning the things that we've learned and making a difference in our law firm is definitely spreading and making the world a better place.” Michael Morse, (15:51)

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Summary

In this episode of Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, Jason Prentice and Jon Dornbos join Will Crist to discuss Jason’s business Outcomes COO. Jason founded Outcomes because he saw a need for integrators that could help visionaries reach their dreams. Now, the company utilizes fractional integrators to help entrepreneurs from across the country accomplish their lofty goals through the EOS Model. Throughout the episode, the trio discusses fractional integrators, how integrators help visionaries, the EOS Life, and much more!

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Shownotes

(0:27) Introducing Jason Prentice, Jon Dornbos, and Outcomes COO

(2:14) The Integrator and the Visionary

(6:30) Jon’s Background

(9:44) How Integrators Help Visionaries

(18:28) Fractional Integrators

(21:45) The EOS Draw

(25:31) EOS Successes 

(29:35) Integrators vs. Implementors

(32:05) The EOS Life

(39:22) Changing the World through EOS

(42:46) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

EOS 

Jon Dornbos

Jason Prentice

Outcomes COO   

Quotes

“I saw a real need for entrepreneurial visionaries to get expert help and experienced help at the integrator level.” Jason Prentice, (0:55)

“The integrator is not somebody who’s supposed to be telling people what to do. This is not the expert in manufacturing or finance or in sales. The integrator is the one who helps those experts on the leadership team who have the responsibility for those various departments. But the integrator helps the whole team work together harmoniously to achieve the vision.” Will Crist, (2:31)

“I’m a little non-traditional in that I’m not a big fan of telling visionaries ‘No.’ I know that that’s something that has to be done, and we can’t let our companies be chaos, but there’s a way to harness all that energy in a way that still keeps the energy going.” Jason Prentice, (13:35)

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Summary

In this episode of Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, host Will Crist sits down with Eric Hinson, CEO of Explainify. Eric founded Explainify 10 years ago and never looked back! After reading Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, Eric attempted to DIY his way through implementing EOS at Explainify, but he ultimately decided to work with Will Crist to get the best results. Throughout the episode, Will and Eric discuss how EOS has helped Explainify, the future of video, Eric’s new company Parable, and much more!

Thanks for tuning in!

Shownotes

(0:23) Introducing Eric Hinson and Explainify

(4:34) How the EOS Life Has Impacted Eric

(11:42) Highlights at Explainify

(13:39) The Future of Video

(16:18) What It’s Like to Work with Explainify

(19:33) How Eric Became an Animator

(23:39) Introducing Parable

(30:12) Implementing EOS with Parable 

(31:38) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

EOS 

Eric Hinson

Explainify

Parable 

Quotes

“[Before EOS], I think I clearly knew what I wanted inside, but like most visionaries, it was in my head. I couldn’t simplify it. I couldn’t get it organized on one sheet, and it was a little bit of a struggle.” Eric Hinson, (3:12)

“Explainify’s running smoothly because I have an integrator [and] I have a leadership team, and I’m able to focus on [Parable] right now.” Eric Hinson, (30:06)

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Summary

On this episode of Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, host Will Crist sits down with Wendy O’Donovan Phillips, Founder and CEO of Big Buzz Inc. Wendy founded the marketing agency 15 years ago as a one-woman team, and she’s grown her business substantially in the time since. Today, she and her team are working on plans to franchise the agency, and they will have ten franchised locations by 2032. Throughout the episode, Will and Wendy discuss Big Buzz’s big plans, trusting your team, and several other core principles of EOS. 

Shownotes

(0:59) Introducing Wendy O’Donovan Phillips and Big Buzz

(4:15) Integrating EOS into Your Business Plan

(9:35) Challenging Your Business and Taking Risks

(16:39) Making Long-term Goals Attainable

(19:31) Trusting Your Team

(28:09) Big Buzz’s 10-Year Plan

(32:15) EOS Impacts EVERYONE in Your Business

(43:12) Employees Want to Work for EOS Implemented Businesses

(45:14) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

EOS 

Wendy O'Donovan Phillips

Big Buzz Inc.  

Quotes

“I find that the best working relationships, whether it’s with a team member or a client—any professional relationship—the best ones are where we’re open and willing and honest and vulnerable.” (7:55) - Wendy O’Donovan Phillips

“I think one of the most helpful things to me throughout [implementing EOS is] I now see so much more clearly what terrific ideas there are on the team that aren’t my ideas.” (19:31) - Wendy O’Donovan Phillips

“What I have learned is that the more infrastructure, the more of the right people, the more revenue and profit that we gain, the more fun it is, the more financially free we all are, and the more opportunity there is for everyone. And so my vision for this is to create a ripple effect.” (39:24) - Wendy O’Donovan Phillips

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Summary

On this episode of Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, host Will Crist sits down with Josh Abbott, General Manager of Fun Productions. Josh’s parents founded Fun Productions nearly 30 years ago and grew it into the successful business it is today. Almost five years ago, Fun Productions implemented EOS and quickly experienced many of the benefits that come with the EOS Life. Throughout the episode, Will and Josh discuss the EOS Life, having fun at work, and much more!

Thanks for tuning in!

Shownotes

(0:28) Introducing Josh Abbott and Fun Productions

(3:48) How EOS Affected the Business

(9:43) The EOS Life

(12:58) The Great Contribution

(16:27) Compensating Appropriately

(20:50) Supporting Employees’ Passions

(25:24) Making Your Business Attractive to Talent

(31:59) EOS Predictions

(35:39) Getting Permission to Have Fun with Your Company

(42:42) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

EOS 

Josh Abbott

Fun Productions  

Quotes

“We were able to start working on the business and not just in the business, whereas I think pre-EOS we were very reactionary.” (6:07) - Josh Abbott

“For a very long time, [we waited] for people to ask for raises, and if they asked for a raise [we would] assess and give them a raise. But what we found was there were folks out there who are not going to ask for a raise, and they may start to feel resentment around the fact that they haven’t been offered a raise.” (16:42) - Josh Abbott

“We put out ads for one [open position]—we were just looking for one person last year. And I think we ended up turning [the ad off] after we got 35 applications in four days.” (29:24) - Josh Abbott

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Summary

On this episode of Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, host Will Crist sits down with Derek Gerber, Senior Vice President of Explainify. Over the last year, Derek has been implementing the EOS system at Explainify, and the results have been nothing short of impressive. Their discussion covers the changing video landscape, the EOS Life, and how EOS has affected Explainify.

Thanks for tuning in!

Shownotes

(0:37) Introducing Derek Gerber and Explainify

(3:38) How Video Has Changed during the Pandemic

(11:19) The EOS Life and Explainify

(18:01) How Explanify Is Making the World a Better Place

(21:04) Appropriate Compensation

(22:23) Derek’s Other Passions

(24:12) Implementing EOS at Explainify

(30:00) Value, Compensation, and Viewing Employees as Human Beings

(43:10) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

EOS 

Derek Gerber

Explainify  

Quotes

“After implementing EOS over the past year, we continue to grow. It has onboarded our team members in a much more effective way, and then it also shows them that burnout is not a celebrated, award-winning opportunity here. We don’t do that. We work to openly communicate and create transparency and trust across each department.” (17:18) - Derek Gerber

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Summary

In this episode of Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, Will Crist sits down with Christine McKay, CEO of Venn Negotiation. Christine is one of the world's best negotiators, and her resume speaks for itself. She’s helped nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies as well as several hundred small and mid-sized businesses. Together, Christine and Will discuss negotiating in today’s world, embracing emotions to improve negotiation skills, and changing the world with the EOS model.

Thanks for tuning in!

Shownotes

(0:19) Introducing Christine McKay, Venn Negotiation

(1:21) What’s Happening in the World of Negotiation?

(4:47) Seeing Others’ Humanity during Negotiations

(11:10) Scarcity vs. Abundance

(19:19) Don’t Be Afraid of Emotions!

(26:34) Freedom Starts with ‘No’

(31:25) EOS Can Change the World 

(45:29) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

EOS 

Christine McKay 

Venn Negotiation 

Quotes

“If we don’t create an environment that allows us to have hard conversations about the state of our relationship in business—or even in our personal lives—then at the end of the day, we’re not going to be successful.” (3:36) - Christine McKay

“We’ve created a culture where the fear of loss is greater than the hope for gain. How sad is that when there’s so much gain that we can hope for, when there’s so many possibilities.” (18:33) - Christine McKay

“What do you think it would be like if, by the time we hit our ten-year target, you had 100% of the people in this organization living the EOS life or have a path to it? What do you think that would do for the attraction of new people, retention of your best people, and motivation for everybody?” (39:13) - Will Crist

“Making money is not the most important thing. That has brought us to our knees, and we’re struggling with that.” (46:15) - Will Crist

“Negotiation is a conversation. It’s a conversation about your relationships, and you can’t win relationships. So, stop trying to win them—work on building them and growing them…Create that space that allows not only for you to grow, but for your counterparts to grow too.” (47:25) - Christine McKay

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Summary

On this week’s episode of Where There’s a Will There’s a Way, Will Crist sits down with Dawn Abbot to discuss EOS implementation. Dawn is an entrepreneur, business owner, and Professional EOS Implementer, and she is passionate about helping small businesses become the best version of themselves. The duo discusses all five elements of the EOS Life, Dawn’s entrepreneurial journey, and why they think EOS has the power to change the world.

Thanks for tuning in!

Shownotes

(0:31) Introducing Dawn Abbott and Her EOS Journey

(4:47) Dawn’s Experience as an EOS Implementer

(6:10) Prioritizing Employees

(17:13) Living with Purpose/Defining Your Why

(21:00) Appropriate Compensation/Providing Value

(25:30) Supporting Employees’ Passions

(29:39) Changing the World with EOS

(36:24) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

Dawn Abbott

Quotes

“When I was in a place where I didn’t know that I could run this business by myself, what actually happened from 2017 to 2019 was a 30% revenue increase and a 260% net profit increase. And it was all because of the EOS process.” (4:15) - Dawn Abbott

“I love seeing the impact that EOS has. I love small-business owners…and I am saddened when they’re on that treadmill that I once ran.” (5:04) - Dawn Abbott

“If [employees are] the most valuable assets, why would we ever want them to be less than? Why would we ever want to not take care of them?” (8:30) - Dawn Abbott

“When you’re doing what you love and things that come easily and naturally to you, your energy is high and your production and output is crazy because you’re in your zone. And the minute you have to drop down and do things that you don’t like doing, you can never bring your energy back up that day.” (12:54) - Dawn Abbott

“It’s a beautiful thing to be able to have a full, rich life that contains more than just the grind.” (38:06) - Dawn Abbott

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Summary

In this episode of Where There’s a Will There’s a Way, Lauren Carson joins host and EOS Implementor Will Crist to discuss how EOS radically transformed her business. Lauren is the Founder and CEO of Kinect Solar, which sells solar energy equipment on the excess market––in simple terms, it is the TJ Maxx of solar-power equipment. In their conversation, they cover delegating and elevating, living the EOS life, hiring the right people, contributing to the world around them, appropriately compensating employees, and much more.  Check it out!

Shownotes

(0:27) Introducing Lauren Carson and Kinect Solar

(1:40) Kinect Solar and EOS

(3:40) Delegate and Elevate

(5:46) The EOS Life

(8:41) Hiring the Right Team/Core Values

(11:45) Making a Great Contribution

(17:25) Appropriate Compensation

(19:07) Celebrating Employees’ Lives Outside of Work

(24:08) What’s Next for Kinect Solar?

(27:01) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

Lauren Carson 

Kinect Solar 

Quotes

“For the first couple of years starting the company, I had my hands in sales, I had my hands in procurement operations, customer service, and finance. While the company was doing well, I was literally losing my mind…I can say unequivocally that we would not be where we are today if we hadn’t found the EOS system.” (1:50) - Lauren Carson

“Everybody spends the majority of their waking hours at the office. So, that cultural environment that you can set in the office and how people treat each other really affects everybody’s lives, and they take it home to their families and everything else they do.” (6:32) - Lauren Carson

“The core values for us [have been] so powerful as far as setting the tone for the company.” (10:27) - Lauren Carson

“The first year, we had a banner year. The numbers were really, really good, but I found myself feeling really empty and probably more depressed than I’ve ever been. It was because that purpose wasn’t there. I thought it was financial for so long, and now I know it’s not.” (14:27) - Lauren Carson

“I’m a firm believer that entrepreneurs and business owners have the ability to change the world…We have so many challenges and problems right now, and they can all be tackled by doing things differently.” (15:02) - Lauren Carson

“We’ve set up an employee stock option plan so that everybody in the company shares in the company’s success–down to the most entry-level person and all the way up to the top.” (18:46) - Lauren Carson

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Summary

On this episode of Where There’s a Will There’s a Way, James Waite joins host Will Crist to discuss the transformative effects that EOS implementation had on his business. James is the Integrator at Roberson Waite, an industrial electrical construction company that builds substations for utility companies and other markets. 

Will began working with James and the rest of the Roberson Waite team nearly four years ago, and the business experienced considerable change. Throughout the podcast, James outlines several growth areas where his team improved once they began implementing the EOS model.  

Thanks for tuning in!

Shownotes

(0:13) Welcoming James Waite

(2:27) Roberson Waite Prior to EOS

(5:08) Profits, Revenue, Hitting a Ceiling, and Being Owned by the Business

(12:21) Convincing James’s Partners EOS Was Right for Them

(15:45) Roberson Waite after EOS

(20:31) Performance Changes

(22:22) EOS’s Effects on Profits

(26:23) Being in Control of Your Business

(29:51) The Process of Change

(33:41) Closing Thoughts

Links

Will Crist

James Waite 

Roberson Waite  

Quotes

“There’s a lot of growing pains involved when you expand, and you don’t have a clear, concise plan, and you don’t have roles and responsibilities clarified. You don’t have clear agreements on who’s doing what.” (3:17) - James Waite

“I was told by a really smart man that if two people are responsible for something, then nobody is, and [prior to working with Will] we had many people responsible for many things, which led to me calling the business a slow-moving train.” (3:39) - James Waite

“I took over one of the departments in 2018 I believe. We had 20 people in that department, and in the first two weeks, I fired nine of them. They weren’t bad guys; I really liked all those guys. It just wasn’t the right fit. They didn’t have a heavy focus on [our core values].” (4:21) - James Waite

“We have less drama at 114 employees using the EOS model than we did when we had 13 employees.” (5:00) - James Waite

“We were capped out around $4-5 million … I think we were at that revenue point when we met [Will]. I think the reality for us is we didn’t know how to break through and grow properly.” (7:48) - James Waite

“Probably the number one thing that really changed our company is moving beyond [the JAT] model and teaching people to be leaders. Teaching people to be self-sufficient and understand their job, and having the right people in the right places that can make decisions. If they can’t they seek help. They come to you for your support.” (15:20) - James Waite

“I think that’s one of the big changes––we know where we’re heading. We can see it out on the horizon. We never had that before. We didn’t have a real trajectory. We had a general idea of what that could be, but now [because of EOS] we’ve got a target and we’re moving towards it. If it doesn’t work, we modify it, we adapt, and we adjust.” (17:45) - James Waite

“We can actually gauge and predict profit a lot. We can forecast a lot more than we could before [utilizing EOS] and a lot more effectively than we could before.” (22:28) - James Waite

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