I recently read Eleven Rings by legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson, in which he shared his secrets on how he managed two of the most talented players, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and built two successful championship programs.
His secret: Less is more!
This book is more than just a memoir of his accomplishments; it also provides great insight on how to build a solid, successful organization. Coach Jackson, who practiced Zen meditation, embraced simplicity. He believed in order to build a strong, cohesive team, he needed to reduce complexity by introducing the coaches and players to a simple model called the Triangle offense that only has a handful of rules to follow. His goal was to get each player, whether they were in the game or on the bench, to focus on the system, follow the few rules and let the rest fall into place. If they could all be on the same page, rowing in the same direction, winning games was inevitable. Regardless if you’re a fan of the NBA or not, you probably have heard of Phil, who coached the Chicago Bulls to six championships and then won three more with the Los Angeles Lakers using this methodology.
Similar to the Triangle offense, the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) embraces simplicity as well. Business owners and their leadership teams follow a simple system that allows them to focus on the six key components of their business and use just a handful of practical tools and disciplines that strengthen each component and get everyone rowing in the same direction. Whether you’re an executive, manager or in the mailroom, everyone has three to five roles and responsibilities they focus on to propel the company forward.
When asked how he was able to keep the players focused after winning their first title, Phil quoted a Buddhist, writing, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” This really resonated with me as a business owner and EOS certified implementer. With a “less is more” mindset, reducing complexity and following a simple, proven program allows everyone in an organization to stay laser focused. When everyone is focused, companies execute their visions.
So, it doesn’t matter how big or small your company is or what market you’re in, stay focused: Chop wood, carry water.
Chris is a successful entrepreneur, author and head coach at Traction in Florida. He’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs get what they want front their business (www.tractioninflorida.com).
