Feeling Lost? Use This 5-Point Compass to Take Back Control of Your Business
Running a business without the right structure is like navigating a mountain in heavy fog. If you’re feeling lost or overworked, here’s your EOS® compass to get back on track.
Are You Stuck in the Fog?
Imagine you’re hiking up a mountain. At the beginning, the trail is clear, the summit is visible, and you feel energized. But as you ascend, the path becomes steeper. Obstacles appear. A dense fog sets in.
Suddenly, you’re not progressing—you’re just scrambling to find the next step. I’ve been on hikes like that, where the trail disappears and we find ourselves off course. It’s disorienting, frustrating, and draining.
That’s exactly what it feels like to run a business without a clear structure or navigation system. What once felt exciting now leaves you:
Exhausted from making every decision yourself
Frustrated because your team isn’t stepping up
Lost in a business that’s grown more complex than expected
Here’s the truth: you’re not actually lost. You just need a compass.
The Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) is designed to help business owners navigate uncertainty, clear the fog, and build a business that runs smoothly—without constant chaos.
Let’s walk through your 5-Point Business Compass to take back control and climb with confidence.
Your 5-Point Compass for Regaining Control
Just like hikers use a compass and map to avoid wandering in circles, business owners need structure to stay on course. Here’s how EOS can reorient your business trajectory:
1. Define Your North Star
So Everyone Knows the Direction
A team without a clear vision is like a hiking group debating which trail to take. Without alignment, you become the bottleneck.
Where are you headed? If your vision isn’t simple and compelling, your team will keep turning to you for answers instead of taking ownership.
When I worked with racing teams, success hinged on this: every team member knowing the goal, their role, and the next move—without waiting for a command.
Use This EOS Tool: The Vision/Traction Organizer™ (V/TO™). It distills your vision into a clear, actionable plan everyone can follow.
Want a copy? Click here to request the V/TO tool
Ask Yourself: If I disappeared for a week, would my team still be making progress toward our long-term goals?
2. Get the Right People in the Right Seats
So No One Slows the Climb
On a hike, if someone isn’t prepared, you either slow down or leave them behind. In business, having the wrong people—or good people in the wrong roles—creates drag.
I once hiked with a large group where one individual couldn’t keep up. A guide stayed with them, and they arrived hours later—soaked, sore, and needing major recovery. That’s what it’s like dragging misaligned team members through your business.
Use This EOS Tool: The People Analyzer™ helps you evaluate whether each team member:
✔ Gets it
✔ Wants it
✔ Has the capacity to do it
Ask Yourself: Am I constantly stepping in because my team can’t carry their own weight?
3. Follow a Trail Map
So You Stop Wandering in Circles
Wrong turns cost time and energy. Without an accountability structure, your team will lose focus, and you’ll be stuck putting out fires.
Use This EOS Tool: Level 10 Meetings™ (L10s) provide a weekly forum to solve issues, hold people accountable, and clear the roadblocks that slow you down.
Ask Yourself: Is my team solving problems on their own, or do they wait for me to step in?
4. Track Your Markers
So You Know If You’re Making Progress
On the trail, smart hikers track their progress. In business, lagging indicators (like revenue) are too late to act on. You need to measure forward-looking metrics.
Use This EOS Tool: The EOS Scorecard—track 5–15 weekly metrics so you can course-correct early.
Ask Yourself: Are we tracking the right numbers—or only looking at financials after the fact?
5. Set Base Camps
So You Don’t Burn Out Before the Summit
Pushing nonstop to the top without stopping leads to burnout. In business, that means chasing too many priorities at once—leading to exhaustion and stagnation.
Use This EOS Tool: Quarterly Rocks help you define and focus on 3–7 key priorities every 90 days—ensuring real, measurable progress.
Ask Yourself: Are we tackling a few big goals—or just drowning in a sea of tasks?
Where Are You Feeling Lost?
Every great journey needs a compass, a map, and clear milestones. If your business feels overwhelming, it’s time to reset your navigation system.
Email me and tell me—what’s the biggest business challenge making you feel lost right now? I’d love to share a simple EOS tip to help you move forward.
The Closer: Clarity Beats Chaos
Reaching your summit isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about following the right path.
EOS gives you the clarity, structure, and momentum to run your business with confidence—without being overworked and exhausted.
Wishing you clear skies and steady progress this month!