Inside The 90™

Jami Mullikin and Andrew Gissal
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship

The Practical, Deep-Dive Entrepreneurial Operating Systems (EOS) Podcast for Implementers, Integrators, Leadership Teams and Anyone Running on EOS or Interested in EOS. Hosted by Andrew Gissal and Jami Mullikin.

  1. 5d ago

    EP.56 - The Four Types of People Problems Every Leader Needs to Know

    In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew tackle one of the most common and emotionally charged challenges in business — people issues. Andrew introduces a four-quadrant framework drawn from EOS and Jack Welch's teachings, labeling team members as rats, stars, puppies, or terrorists based on cultural fit and performance. The conversation covers why delaying hard people decisions ultimately hurts everyone, how to address stylistic conflicts between teammates, and practical tools like the clearing model and team charters. Jami also shares his experience using a custom AI management coachto prepare for a difficult conversation — and why giving people space to process can be just as powerful as the conversation itself. Key Topics - The four-quadrant people framework: rats, stars, puppies, and terrorists defined. - Why waiting too long to address a people issue is selfish — to the leader and the employee. - How terrorists recruit puppies and silently destroy A-player culture. - Using the people analyzer alongside the quadrant framework to stay objective. - How to address stylistic conflict between teammates with IDS sessions and team charters. - The clearing model: separating facts from feelings in difficult conversations. - Using AI as a management coach to prepare for tough people conversations. Key Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: Why people issues are the most common frustration for business owners. 2:30 - The four quadrants explained: rats, stars, puppies, and terrorists. 8:00 - Why delaying tough people decisions costs everyone — leader and employee alike. 13:00 - How terrorists recruit puppies and erode your best players. 17:00 - Using the people analyzer to triangulate and frame an objective conversation. 22:00 - How to navigate stylistic conflict between teammates. 27:00 - The clearing model: facts and feelings are both true. 32:00 - Using a custom AI coach to prepare for a hard conversation. 37:00 - Closing thoughts: have courageous conversations early and often. Mentions & Credits Jack Welch - https://jackwelch.com Kolbe Assessment - https://www.kolbe.com Working Genius - https://www.workinggenius.com Conscious Leadership Group - https://conscious.is EOS Worldwide - https://www.eosworldwide.com Wonder - https://www.workwithwonder.com

  2. Oct 8

    EP.55 - When to Hire a Marketer vs. an Agency And Why You Might Need Both

    In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew dig into one of the most common rocks they see in EOS sessions — the marketing rock. Andrew walks through his four stages of marketing maturity, from having no one in the seat all the way to building an internal team alongside a high-trust agency partner. The conversation covers when to hire in-house versus bring on an agency, why the marketing seat must stay engaged with sales, and how creative trade show activation can build brand momentum that outlasts any single event. Whether your team is chasing more predictable sales or figuring out your next marketing hire, this episode gives you a practical framework to move forward. Key Topics - What typically triggers a marketing rock in EOS sessions — unpredictable sales, rebrands, and upcoming events. - The four stages of marketing maturity: from no seat to a full internal team with agency partners. - Why someone must own the marketing seat before bringing in an agency. - The case for starting with an agency before making your first in-house marketing hire. - Why the marketing seat must stay actively engaged with the sales seat. - The First 90 Insights onboarding approach — running strategy and marketing continuation in parallel. - How trade shows and creative activation build brand momentum and internal team excitement. Key Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: What is a marketing rock and where does it come from. 3:00 - Using unpredictable sales as the lens for building a marketing rock. 6:30 - Stage zero and stage one: No seat versus someone accountable for marketing. 11:00 - Marketing is building the business of the future. 14:00 - Stage two: Bringing in an external agency or freelancer for execution. 18:30 - Stage three and four: Building in-house and why most companies skip straight to four. 24:00 - Why agency relationships fall flat and the marketing seat problem. 28:00 - The First 90 Insights approach: marketing continuation plus strategy in parallel. 34:00 - Trade shows as a brand-building tool and the power of creative activation. 40:00 - Final thoughts on internal marketing leadership and agency partnerships. Mentions & Credits Inkworks - https://www.inkworks.com Keymark - https://www.keymark.com Work With Wonder - https://www.workwithwonder.com EOS Worldwide - https://www.eosworldwide.com

  3. Oct 2

    EP.54 - The 90-Minute Meeting Your First Step to Choosing an EOS Implementer

    In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew break down how to choose the right EOS Implementer for your business. Andrew walks through the three roles every implementer plays — teacher, facilitator, and coach — and explains why the right fit goes beyond credentials or industry experience. From the free 90-minute meeting to understanding certification levels, you'll get a clear picture of what the evaluation process looks like and what to prioritize. Whether you're brand new to EOS or ready to move from self-implementing to hiring a professional, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for making a confident, informed choice. Key Topics - How most people first discover EOS — through referrals or reading Traction. - The three pillars of the EOS ecosystem: an implementer, the books, and EOS Academy. - The three roles of an EOS Implementer: teacher, facilitator, and coach. - How the free 90-minute meeting works and why every leadership team should do one. - Why light industry experience in an implementer is often better than deep expertise. - The three EOS Implementer certification levels: Professional, Certified, and Expert. - How to stay transparent when you're evaluating more than one implementer. Key Chapters 0:00 - Welcome and Jami's experience working with two different EOS Implementers. 3:00 - How people typically discover EOS and where to begin. 6:30 - The three roles of an EOS Implementer: teacher, facilitator, and coach. 11:00 - What the 90-minute meeting is and why every team should do one first. 16:00 - The "help first" culture of the EOS Implementer community. 19:00 - How much industry experience to look for — and when too much is a problem. 23:30 - The three certification levels: Professional, Certified, and Expert. 27:00 - Final advice on engaging with an implementer and being open about your process. Mentions & Credits Wonder - https://www.workwithwonder.com EOS Worldwide - https://www.eosworldwide.com Traction - https://www.eosworldwide.com/traction EOS Worldwide Implementer Directory - https://www.eosworldwide.com/find-an-implementer EOS Academy - https://www.eosworldwide.com/eos-one-system Neil McLean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilmcleaneos

  4. Sep 24

    EP.53 - Managing Rocks and Scorecards: Where EOS Gets Real

    In this follow-up episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew dig into the discipline of managing rocks and scorecards well, the mechanics that turn a vision into real traction. Andrew argues that rocks are simply priorities and scorecards are the early warning system for a business, and that most teams get the mechanism in place without ever building the discipline to truly manage to those tools. Jami shares candid, in-the-moment examples from Wonder, from an AI-driven rock that almost pulled him off course, to new scorecard metrics built around client communication and project visibility. The episode closes with a warning not to let a new metric or mechanism replace an honest issue conversation, and a reminder that mastering rocks and scorecards is an ongoing discipline, not a one-time setup. Key Topics - Rocks as priorities and the discipline of predicting and executing them well. - Why leadership team scorecards are the clearest signal of business health. - Using the issues list as the farm team for future rocks. - The mindset shift that too many incoming issues signals a lack of focus on rocks. - Building creative team scorecard metrics around missing information and rework. - The caution against letting a scorecard mechanism bury the real underlying issue. - Balancing execution-focused rocks with visionary-focused rocks in a dual seat. - Creating scorecard metrics for client communication and project status visibility. - Managing to outcomes rather than micromanaging tasks. Key Chapters 0:00 - Introduction and recap of the last episode on vision cadence. 1:30 - Rocks as priorities, not a complicated concept. 3:30 - Why scorecard health means the business is running smoothly. 5:30 - The leadership team's responsibility to manage scorecards, not just track them. 8:00 - Getting real when scorecard metrics feel off. 10:00 - The issues list as the farm team for future rocks. 12:30 - A mindset shift, too many issues signals not enough focus on rocks. 15:00 - Managing expectations as a leadership team. 17:30 - Creative team scorecard metrics for missing information and rework. 20:30 - Caution, don't let a scorecard mechanism bury the real issue. 22:30 - Jami's AI rock dilemma and staying focused despite distraction. 26:00 - Balancing execution rocks and visionary rocks in a dual seat. 29:30 - The delegate and elevate goal behind Jami's brain dump rock. 31:30 - Building a scorecard metric around client communication. 34:00 - Creating a project status metric to increase visibility. 37:00 - Letting go of control by managing to outcomes, not tasks. 39:30 - The caution against replacing an honest issue conversation with a new metric. 41:30 - Coaching the team through the Outshine lunch and learn. 43:00 - The business development scorecard story and adjusting the goal. 47:00 - Why accountability to a scorecard goal matters even when results look fine. 50:00 - Three closing lessons, get real, love the tools, and see it as a way of life. 52:00 - Recommended books and the value of working with an implementer. 54:00 - Closing thoughts on rocks, scorecards, and getting back to basics. Mentions & Credits Wonder - https://www.workwithwonder.com EOS Worldwide - https://www.eosworldwide.com Traction Book - https://www.ginowickman.com Issues Book - https://www.eosworldwide.com/issues-book Data Book - https://www.eosworldwide.com/get-data Visionary Book - https://www.markcwinters.com/visionary-book-dot-com/

  5. Sep 17

    EP.52 - 10-Year Target to 90-Day Rocks: The Full EOS Cadence

    In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew break down the vision cadence that gives the podcast its name, from 10-year target through three-year picture, one-year plan, and 90-day rocks. Using a live client story, they explore how pairing core focus with a 10-year target creates the soul of a company, the passion that actually rallies a team rather than a vague mission statement. They dig into why three years is the magical timeframe for letting go of present-day constraints, how to build a three-year picture that gives people goosebumps, and how that vision cascades down into annual goals and quarterly rocks. The conversation closes with a reminder that being a visionary is a responsibility, not an ego title, and that none of this works without real discipline in execution. Key Topics - Why core focus and the 10-year target together form the soul of a company. - Digging past generic mission statements to find a company's real reason for being. - The brand birthright and reconnecting with a founder's original spark. - When and how revenue can work as a 10-year target. - Why alignment on vision reduces internal turmoil on a leadership team. - The three-year picture as the magical timeframe for letting go of constraints. - Building a three-year picture as a narrative that creates real excitement. - Cascading vision from the 10-year target down to annual goals and 90-day rocks. - Why being a visionary is a responsibility, not an ego title. Key Chapters 0:00 - Introduction and teasing the topic of vision cadence. 1:30 - Why Inside the 90 means living in a 90-day world. 3:00 - Story of a company regaining its entrepreneurial spirit. 5:30 - Combining core focus and the 10-year target as the soul of a company. 8:00 - Digging past generic mission statements to find the real why. 11:00 - The brand birthright and the founder's original spark. 13:30 - Why 10-year targets can range from five to thirty years. 15:00 - Revenue as a 10-year target, and when it does or does not work. 18:00 - Why alignment on vision matters for a leadership team. 20:30 - Andrew and Jami share their own 10-year targets. 23:00 - Framing the 10-year target as a rally cry and BHAG. 25:00 - Moving from the 10-year target to the three-year picture. 27:30 - Why three years is the magical timeframe for letting go of constraints. 30:30 - Building the three-year picture as a narrative. 33:00 - Revisiting a past three-year picture and seeing real traction. 35:30 - Turning the three-year picture into the one-year plan. 38:00 - Staying disciplined when priorities shift mid-year. 40:30 - Working on the business versus working in the business. 43:00 - How much of a rock should be on versus in, by role. 45:00 - Rocks as the road that leads to the three-year and 10-year vision. 47:00 - Avoiding pencil whipping the vision building process. 49:00 - The responsibility of being a visionary. 50:30 - Closing thoughts and preview of the next episode on rocks and scorecards. Mentions & Credits Wonder - https://www.workwithwonder.com EOS Worldwide - https://www.eosworldwide.com 10x Is Easier Than 2x - https://10xeasierbook.com The Gap and The Gain - https://gapandgainbook.com Visionary - https://www.markcwinters.com/visionary-book-dot-com Rocket Fuel - https://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Fuel-Essential-Combination-Business/dp/1942952317 Strategic Coach - https://www.strategiccoach.com

  6. Sep 10

    EP.51 - The 3-Part AI Strategy for Entrepreneurs with Josh Heller of Crushable

    In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew are joined by special guest Josh Heller of Crushable to tackle one of the most common questions facing growing businesses right now — how do you actually build an AI strategy? Josh walks through Crushable's tried-and-true framework of identity, operations, and leverage, explaining why most companies skip straight to the fun stuff and pay for it later. The conversation covers the dangers of moving too fast, the rise of custom software over legacy SaaS, and why the companies that can tell the AI story clearly are the ones who will win. Packed with real use cases from the room, this one is equal parts practical and energizing. Key Topics - Why most companies skip identity and jump straight to leverage — and why that backfires. - The Crushable framework: identity, operations, and leverage explained. - Growth mindset vs. optimization mindset when approaching AI adoption. - The Incumbent's Dilemma: why past success can become a liability in an AI-first world. - The rise of custom software and why off-the-shelf SaaS is being reimagined. - Pace awareness: how to move fast enough without creating tech debt and chaos. - Real use cases from the room: proposals, estimating, admissions workflows, and more. Chapters 0:00 - Welcome and guest intro: Josh Heller and Crushable. 3:00 - What Andrew is hearing inside 20 businesses about AI right now. 6:30 - The identity, operations, leverage framework explained. 11:00 - What AI identity actually means for your team and your culture. 15:30 - Growth architect vs. optimizer: the two mindsets around AI investment. 19:00 - Starting with finance: why the CFO is the best first win for AI projects. 23:00 - The Incumbent's Dilemma: when what got you here could kill you next. 27:30 - Custom software, the death of SaaS support, and tighter feedback cycles. 33:00 - Real use cases: Wonderbrand proposals, Diane the AI agent, and admissions workflows. 40:00 - The handoff problem and how AI is finally bridging it. 45:00 - Pace awareness: hitting the hydration station before you burn out. 50:00 - Key takeaways: pace, identity anchored to core values, and coloring outside the lines. Mentions & Credits Josh Heller - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshgheller Crushable - https://crushable.ai Lovable - https://lovable.dev Whisperflow - https://whisperflow.app Salesforce - https://www.salesforce.com Flywheel - https://www.flywheelgvl.com EOS Worldwide - https://www.eosworldwide.com Wonder - https://www.workwithwonder.com

  7. Sep 3

    EP.50 - Breaking the Stress Cycle in Business and Life with Stacy Gissal

    In this episode of Inside the 90, the roles flip as Andrew hosts his wife Stacy, a stress specialist and founder of Evolve Beyond Limits. Together they unpack why consistency, not intensity, is the real differentiator between success and failure in both business and life. Stacy breaks down the stress cycle that keeps people stuck in all or nothing thinking, introduces her power of 12 framework for building new habits, and explains why operating at 80 percent capacity actually creates more sustainable growth than chasing 100 percent. The conversation then turns to team dynamics, exploring why consistent EOS rhythms like weekly L10s and quarterly meetings are what quietly compound into real transformation, and what it looks like when Andrew and Stacy fall out of rhythm in their own marriage and business. Key Topics - The stress cycle and how all or nothing thinking leads to burnout. - Finding the sweet spot between extremes for sustainable growth. - The 80 percent rule for staying consistent without burning out. - The power of 12 framework for building new habits and skills. - Practical tricks for consistency, including doing hard things first and asking why. - Scheduling to 80 percent capacity to build in margin and energy. - Why consistency is the real engine behind EOS and team alignment. - What happens to a team's culture when meetings get skipped. - Connecting personal and business consistency to living the EOS life. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction, roles reversed with Andrew hosting and Stacy as guest. 1:30 - Why consistency, the stress cycle, and burnout. 4:00 - Finding the sweet spot between extremes. 6:30 - Applying the sweet spot to a workout example. 8:00 - The 80 percent rule for individual consistency. 10:00 - The flat tire mindset and all or nothing thinking. 12:00 - The power of 12 framework. 15:00 - Tricks for consistency, doing hard things first and asking why. 19:00 - Scheduling to 80 percent and building margin. 21:30 - Transitioning to team dynamics and EOS. 23:30 - Why consistency is the game in EOS. 25:30 - What happens when you skip meetings. 28:30 - The trickle effect of an inconsistent culture. 31:00 - Why the best time to meet is when everything feels fine. 33:00 - Connecting consistency to the EOS life. 36:00 - Real talk, when Andrew and Stacy fall out of rhythm. 39:00 - Making meetings enjoyable and sustainable. 41:00 - What Stacy is building at Evolve Beyond Limits. 43:00 - Where to find Stacy and closing thoughts. Mentions & Credits EOS Worldwide - https://www.eosworldwide.com Wonder - https://workwithwonder.com Evolve Beyond Limits - https://www.evolvebeyondlimits.com Evolve Beyond Limits Podcast - https://www.evolvebeyondlimits.com/podcast Evolve Beyond Limits Academy - https://www.stacygissal.com/EBLA

  8. Aug 20

    EP.49 - Brand Foundation Before Activation, Lessons From Tracey Brown of YourSix

    In this episode of Inside the 90, Andrew catches up with Tracey, marketing lead at YourSix, for her second appearance on the show. Tracey shares how she rolled out EOS inside her own two-person marketing department, using L10 meetings not just for task management but for mentorship, energy alignment, and human connection with her teammate Maddie. The conversation moves into YourSix's journey from a hardware-heavy physical security company to a true SaaS platform, and how bringing on Wonder as a marketing partner after a funding round helped the team build real brand foundation before activating it externally. Tracey and Andrew close with a candid look at authenticity in an AI driven marketing landscape, including how content needs to be honest and specific to be trusted by both customers and AI tools alike. Key Topics - Rolling out EOS and L10 meetings inside a small, distributed marketing department. - Using L10s for mentorship and energy alignment, not just task tracking. - Combining EOS with project management tools like JIRA. - Tracey's path from physical security hardware into a SaaS focused career. - What YourSix does with video surveillance and access control technology. - Bringing on an outside marketing agency after a funding round. - Building brand foundation before activating a brand externally. - Why authenticity and vulnerability in content matter more in an AI driven world. - Cybersecurity considerations when adopting AI tools in business. Chapters 0:00 - Catching up and a Kansas City barbecue recommendation. 2:00 - Introducing Tracey and her role leading marketing at YourSix. 4:00 - Rolling out EOS inside the marketing department. 7:00 - L10 meetings, human connection, and mentorship. 10:30 - Combining EOS with the JIRA project management tool. 12:30 - Aligning rocks across a small marketing team. 14:30 - L10 as energy management, not just task tracking. 17:00 - Being resourceful and the who not how philosophy. 19:00 - Tracey's background in physical security and joining YourSix. 22:00 - What YourSix does with video surveillance and access control. 24:00 - Bringing on Wonder for marketing support after funding. 27:00 - Building trust and community working with an outside agency. 29:30 - Running on EOS together and shifting to 90 day brand activation. 32:00 - Refreshing and rebuilding the YourSix brand identity. 35:00 - Why foundational brand work has to come before activation. 37:30 - Authenticity in an AI driven marketing world. 40:00 - Cybersecurity considerations around adopting AI tools. 43:00 - Reframing content so AI tools can find and trust your brand. 46:30 - Where to find Tracey and YourSix, and closing thoughts. Mentions & Credits EOS Worldwide - https://www.eosworldwide.com Wonder - https://workwithwonder.com YourSix - https://www.yoursix.com/ Traction Book - https://www.ginowickman.com/ JIRA - https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira Adam Landrum - https://madetomatter.coach/

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About

The Practical, Deep-Dive Entrepreneurial Operating Systems (EOS) Podcast for Implementers, Integrators, Leadership Teams and Anyone Running on EOS or Interested in EOS. Hosted by Andrew Gissal and Jami Mullikin.

Information

  • Creator
    Jami Mullikin and Andrew Gissal
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jami Mullikin and Andrew Gissal
  • Show Website
    Inside The 90™

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