The Power of Focus, Discipline & Believing with Renee Russo

The last in our series for Season 2 & a special for Australia & New Zealand, who are in lockdown.Justine is the Visionary / Founder at Your Virtual Assistant. The company has around 30 virtual assistants & Virtual Business Managers, based all around New Zealand.She came across EOS a few years ago & tried to self-implement. I'll let her tell you why it didn't work, however, she came to me back in March 2020, just before the lockdown in New Zealand hit. We were excited that I could help her to implement it into her business. However, once lockdown was announced, she came to me & said she wanted to pause.We had a  discussion and fortunately, she decided that there probably wasn't a better time to be starting - given all the uncertainty that comes with a global pandemic.16 months later & Justine & her new Leadership team have smashed all their goals & are continuing to achieve their rocks each quarter.In a time when many businesses are struggling, the Your VA Leadership Team has Clarity, they have Simplified their business & they are achieving their Vision.And most importantly, Justine is back doing what she loves & takes her weekends off, without feeling even a little bit guilty.If you'd like to understand how she did this, then take a listen.

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor sits down with Amanda Barkey to explore the difference between using EOS vs running a business on EOS, and why that distinction changes everything.  Amanda shares her journey from self-implementing EOS in her Soccer Shots franchise business to becoming a certified EOS implementer. Starting with limited support and plenty of early struggles, she and her husband turned their business around by applying EOS tools and disciplines, eventually scaling and successfully selling multiple franchises.  A key insight from Amanda is that simply using EOS tools is not enough. Real transformation happens when you fully commit to running your business on EOS with consistency, discipline, and accountability. She highlights how tools like the Level 10 Meeting, People Analyzer, and clear compartmentalisation improved communication, strengthened team health, and drove results.  The conversation also dives into the importance of the visionary and integrator relationship. Amanda credits having a strong integrator as a major factor in their success, helping maintain structure and execution while the visionary focused on growth and direction.  Beyond business, Amanda shares how she applies EOS principles in her family life, using tools like a family VTO and core values to create alignment and reduce conflict. She also discusses her nonprofit work in Cameroon, funded by her business success, demonstrating how EOS can support not just better businesses, but better lives.  If you are currently “using” EOS but not seeing full results, this episode will challenge you to step up into truly running your business on EOS.       CONNECT WITH DEBRA:    ___________________________________________          ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: [email protected]  ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/  ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/  ___________________________________________        GUEST’S DETAILS:   ► Amanda Barkey – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-barkey-409908107/ ► Website – EOS Worldwide: https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/amanda-barkey/      Episode 269 Chapters:     00:00 – Introduction 00:35 – Amanda Barkey’s Entrepreneurial Journey and EOS Implementation  02:21 – Amanda Barkey’s Background and Business Journey  12:36 – Challenges and Successes with EOS Implementation  15:10 – The Role of an Integrator and Implementer  34:20 – EOS in Family Life  47:18 – Amanda’s Future Plans and Nonprofit Work  47:30 – The Power of EOS Tools  47:43 – Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs 

Emily is the owner of SideMark, which she started 7 years ago. It is a highly successful company & she puts its success down to implementing EOS (The Entrepreneurial Operating System) into the business.Apart from the successful business, Emily is living her dream career life which she has crafted intentionally over time. She has just recently written a. book called Growth Junkies Unite – A Simple Guide to Invigorate your Journey.In this episode, she shares with us what being a growth junkie really is & how she has created a multi-faceted career, as co-owner of the business, a Professional EOS Coach & Business Coach, a published Author & a peer-group facilitator, as well as enjoying a full life outside of business.After implementing EOS to help them run their business 5 years ago and seeing tremendous success, Emily launched her EOS coaching practice to help other entrepreneurs and leadership teams get more of what they want from their business.She describes herself as the poster girl for EOS as she has run a business without EOS & with EOS. And she wishes she had found it earlier."When I first got into entrepreneurship, I didn't know what I was doing. It's not like I went to school and learn how to run a business. And at the time, I found this business was in need of a turnaround situation, it was a $13 million office furniture dealership down in the southwest part of the United States. And it was just so much fun to dig into. And yet I could have done it better now that I know what I know, it would have been easier and faster. And so when I moved into the opportunity to buy in as third owner of a $15 million office furniture dealership, my two partners and I quickly realized that we really wanted to come together and figure out our vision for where we wanted to take the company. And so luckily, at that time, I was a part of a peer group. And in that group, I heard about EOS, which is the entrepreneurial operating system. It's a way of operating and running a business more effectively and efficiently so that you can get more out of the business and actually enjoy the business more."Emily shares her journey to bring EOS into the business & how it changed not only the business but her life too.

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor and Adam Harris go deeper into what it really takes to get a business unstuck, moving beyond surface-level fixes to uncover the root causes holding companies back.They explore why so many businesses face the same issues again and again, and why most teams jump to solutions too quickly without properly identifying the real problem. Using tools like the EOS Issue Solving Track (IDS) and simple but powerful W questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why), they explain how to dig deeper and solve issues properly the first time.A major theme in this conversation is clarity. Without it, teams become reactive, communication breaks down, and founders feel increasingly overwhelmed as the business grows. Debra and Adam highlight how lack of clarity around roles, expectations, and outcomes leads directly to stagnation.They also discuss the importance of accountability, structured meetings, and consistent practice. High-performing teams don’t just talk about issues, they build the muscle to solve them through repetition, trust, and open, honest conversations.The episode also tackles tough topics like having the wrong people in key roles, unproductive meetings, and early warning signs that a business is losing traction. Founders are encouraged to step back, take a clarity break, and seek external support such as coaches, mentors, or peer groups to gain perspective and momentum.If your business feels stuck in cycles of the same problems, this episode provides practical tools and mindset shifts to help you regain clarity, fix root causes, and move forward with confidence. CONNECT WITH DEBRA:    ___________________________________________         ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner►Connect with Debra: [email protected]  ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/  ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/  ___________________________________________       GUEST’S DETAILS:   ► Adam Harris – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adam-harris-eos/  ► Website – EOS Worldwide: https://www.eosworldwide.com/adam-harris Episode 268 Chapters:   00:00 – Introduction 00:36 – Why Businesses Get Stuck: Introduction and Initial Thoughts  02:48 – Exploring the Root Causes of Repeated Issues  13:35 – The Importance of Teamwork and Practice  18:47 – Identifying the Wrong People in Key Roles  23:47 – Unproductive Meetings in Growing Companies  35:58 – Communication Breakdown and Reactive vs Proactive Behaviour  38:53 – Overwhelm Among Founders and Lack of Clarity  41:27 – Early Warning Signs of Businesses Losing Traction  41:39 – The Role of Lack of Clarity in Business Stagnation  44:28 – First Steps for Founders to Take When Recognising Symptoms

Sam Stubbs is the founder of the nonprofit KiwiSaver fund Simplicity. A reformed investment banker and stockbroker his career also spans politics, philosophy and technology. His mission is to make the finance industry a force for good as a source of profit which he thinks can be achieved by companies embracing long-term thinking, sustainability and full diversity.He set up Simplicity with the aim to disrupt the KiwiSaver model, in the midst of a midlife crisis. It was never about the money for him but the money he can create for other people!What is Simplicity and what is its mission and vision?‘We're a nonprofit fund manager. If you're overseas you might have heard of Vanguard… the vanguard of New Zealand… wouldn't be too far wrong. Our main aim is to give people dignity in retirement and how we do that is we give them choices. People who have choices in life have dignity.We run as a nonprofit fund manager, which charges the lowest fees and making people richer. Simplicity is a charity, a social enterprise, a nonprofit, a whole lot of things! We give 15% of the fees we do earn to charity.We've been running for almost five years now and we manage about $3 billion on behalf of over 60,000 members, in total we're giving away about $100,000 a month to charity, and making extremely good returns.’In this podcast, Sam talks about the journey from Westie to Corporate & back to fighting for the people. Simplicity was an idea developed by four guys at a pub with a piece of paper. Sam shares how he got the right people into the business & some of the challenges along the way.Why the title of the Podcast? Sam shares that he didn't start Kiwisver to make money - rather help other people have dignity in retirement, however, he also shares how cash flow really is king in building a business & how you should treat every last dollar as if it were your own.

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor and Adam Harris dive into what it really takes to get a business unstuck and moving forward again with EOS. They explore the hidden forces that cause businesses to stall, particularly fear and complacency. Fear often shows up as indecision or hesitation, while complacency creeps in when things are going well and leaders stop pushing for growth. Together, these can quietly bring momentum to a halt. A key theme in the conversation is how founders themselves can become the bottleneck. Without self-awareness and clear accountability, visionaries can drift back into day-to-day operations, slowing the business instead of leading it. Adam highlights the importance of rediscovering your “mojo” and finding where you truly add value as a leader. Debra and Adam emphasise that getting a business unstuck is less about strategy and more about execution. That means having a clear vision, strong accountability structures, and consistent communication rhythms. Tools like the accountability chart and regular leadership meetings ensure alignment and keep everyone moving in the same direction. They also discuss the powerful role of external facilitators, who bring objectivity, challenge thinking, and hold founders accountable in ways internal teams often cannot. If your business feels stuck or slow, this episode offers practical insights to help you regain clarity, rebuild momentum, and lead with confidence.      CONNECT WITH DEBRA:    ___________________________________________         ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner►Connect with Debra: [email protected]  ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________       GUEST’S DETAILS:  ► Adam Harris – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adam-harris-eos/ ► Website – EOS Worldwide: https://www.eosworldwide.com/adam-harris    Episode 267 Chapters:    00:00 – Introduction00:36 – Why Businesses Get Stuck and How Founders Can Address It  25:33 – Common Reasons Businesses Get Stuck  28:49 – Founders Becoming Bottlenecks  29:06 – The Role of Accountability and Vision  29:39 – The Importance of Clarity and Execution  33:05 – Misalignment Among Leadership Teams  41:42 – Founders as Bottlenecks  46:39 – The Role of External Facilitators  47:15 – The Importance of Regular Communication  47:35 – Final Thoughts and Next Steps

In this podcast episode of Better Business, Better Life, Daniel Davis shares some tips on what the EOS life really is & how you can live the EOS life as an Entrepreneur or Business Owner.Daniel has a 20+ year history of building companies, and his obsession is helping entrepreneurial organisations to clarify, simplify and achieve their vision. He has been a founder, owner and leader in six successful companies in varying industries, and is now responsible for bringing the tools of EOS®, The Entrepreneurial Operating System®, into Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region.In this podcast, Daniel talks about:His love for fast cars, what he learned as life as an IGA owner in the Blue Mountains, how he discovered EOS & his 'twin' Gino Wickman, how he uses EOS in his personal life, how something can be simple but not easy!Daniel's passion to help others is evident in this podcast - you don't want to miss this episode!Daniel's EOS Life:When I read the book Traction by Gino Wickman, I loved it so much that I made it my mission to bring EOS® to Australia.EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System®, is widely used in the USA and Europe by tens of thousands of companies, and we want to see as many companies as possible enjoying the benefit of the EOS tools across Australia and beyond.Since 2017 the team at EOS Worldwide has entrusted me with the honour of representing and expanding the EOS brand here in Australia and New Zealand, and the wider Asia Pacific Region, where we are building a thriving community of entrepreneurs who are running their businesses using the EOS Process, Model, and Tools. As the regional Community Leader, I train and prepare EOS Implementers for a successful journey to EOS Mastery.At EOS Worldwide, we are devoted to finding, training and supporting like-minded entrepreneurs who want to become master EOS Implementers and live the "EOS Life":Doing what you love to doGrowing with people you enjoyMaking a significant differenceBeing compensated appropriatelyWith time to pursue other passions

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by EOS expert and Rocket Fuel co-author Mark C. Winters to explore the power of the visionary integrator relationship and why it is critical for entrepreneurial success. Mark shares his journey from corporate life to building and advising over 15 businesses, and how discovering EOS transformed the way he understood leadership, growth, and team dynamics. At the heart of the conversation is the visionary integrator partnership, a relationship that, when done well, creates clarity, momentum, and sustainable growth. They unpack the common traps entrepreneurs fall into, including the “entrepreneurial seizure” and the “success trap,” where business growth comes at the expense of personal fulfilment. Mark explains how visionaries must reconnect with their intrinsic genius rather than feeling “put out to pasture” once the business stabilises. The episode also dives into practical tools and frameworks, including the 10 pillars of greatness for visionaries and the Rocket Fuel Power Index, which helps assess and strengthen the health of the visionary integrator relationship. Mark emphasises the importance of self-awareness, role clarity, and healthy friction between visionary and integrator as the engine that drives real progress. If you are a visionary struggling to let go, or an integrator trying to create alignment and traction, this episode offers powerful insights to help you build a stronger partnership and a better business. CONNECT WITH DEBRA:    ___________________________________________         ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________       GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Mark C. Waters – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcwinters ► Website – Mark C. Winters: https://www.markcwinters.com/ Episode 266 Chapters:   00:00 – Introduction 00:40 – Entrepreneurial Traps and Introspective Work 02:35 – Mark C Winters’ Journey and EOS Involvement 05:02 – The Concept of Visionary and Integrator 07:01 – The Visionary’s Role and the “Put Out to Pasture” Feeling 10:24 – The 10 Pillars of Greatness for Visionaries 12:38 – The Importance of Understanding the Business and Role Clarity 23:46 – The Role of Integrators and the Importance of Healthy Friction 31:26 – The Visionary’s Personal Operating System and Domains of Freedom 37:51 – The Entrepreneurial Seizure and Success Trap 40:22 – Supporting Integrators and the Rocket Fuel Power Index 45:27 – Final Tips and Tools for Visionaries

In this podcast episode of Better Business, Better Life, Renee Russo talks about how she worked with her husband to turn around the business, finding her superpowers & the power of focus, discipline & believing.Renee Russo is a highly respected entrepreneurial business coach dedicated to helping people get more out of their businesses. Effective in teaching leadership teams a proven methodology and tools that empower them to get Vision, Traction, Healthy.She prides herself on creating ripples & positive change! She discovered EOS whilst helping her husband run his business. Since then she has become a Certified EOS Implementer & now also coaches other EOS Implementers.

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor sits down with Erik Dodier to explore the power of the Visionary/Integrator relationship and how it can completely transform a business. Erik shares his journey from growing Pixel Media from zero to $15 million without EOS to an impressive $75 million after implementing it. The turning point? Fully embracing EOS, particularly the visionary-integrator dynamic, which brought clarity to roles, improved decision-making, and reduced the chaos that often comes with rapid growth. He dives into how separating visionary and integrator responsibilities allowed both leaders to play to their strengths, creating a more aligned and accountable leadership team. Erik also highlights the impact of key EOS tools such as the accountability chart, quarterly rocks, and Level 10 meetings, along with the use of platforms like Ninety.io to keep the business focused and connected. The conversation also covers how EOS helped the company navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19, maintain strong communication, and continue scaling through strategic acquisitions. Erik reflects on lessons learned, including the importance of fully committing to EOS rather than partially implementing it. Now an EOS implementer himself, Erik works with businesses of 10 to 500 employees, helping them achieve the same clarity, structure, and growth he experienced. If you're looking to scale your business without losing control, this episode offers practical insights into building a strong leadership partnership and leveraging EOS for long-term success. CONNECT WITH DEBRA:    ___________________________________________         ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________       GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Erik Dodier – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikdodier/ ► Website – EOS Worldwide: https://eosworldwide.com Episode 265 Chapters:   00:00 – Introduction 00:36 – Introduction to Visionary Integrator and EOS 05:30 – Erik’s Journey with EOS 05:44 – Challenges and Benefits of the Visionary Integrator Concept 09:06 – Implementation of EOS Tools and Software 09:31 – Impact of EOS on Business Growth and Structure 09:41 – Erik’s Transition to EOS Implementer 09:58 – Challenges and Mistakes in Implementing EOS 26:44 – Impact of EOS on Business Communication and Accountability 36:31 – Erik’s Experience with Clients and EOS Implementation 41:17 – Final Thoughts and Advice for Business Owners