How EOS Can Help You Scale Without Burning Out — Insights from Harvey Yergin
Growing a business without a clear operating system often leads to misalignment, frustration, and stalled progress. If you’ve ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way around, you’re not alone.
In a recent episode of the Scale Smart Grow Fast podcast, host Harley Green sat down with Harvey Yergin, a certified EOS Implementer, Army veteran, and former D1 athlete, to break down how the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) brings order, clarity, and growth to leadership teams across industries.
Preferred listening on the go? Catch the full podcast episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
🚨 The Problem: Chaotic Growth Without Structure
Harvey shared his own experience running a real estate business that was scaling—but painfully. The team struggled with communication, profitability, and accountability. Like many business owners, he was pouring in time and energy without seeing sustainable results.
That’s when he discovered Traction—the foundational book for EOS. Within a few pages, everything clicked.
✅ What is EOS?
EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) is a proven framework for helping leadership teams align on a shared vision, build healthy team dynamics, and gain traction through disciplined execution.
According to Harvey, EOS helps businesses master three pillars:
- Vision – Get everyone 100% on the same page with where you’re going and how to get there.
- Traction – Instill accountability and discipline to actually execute on your vision.
- Healthy – Build a cohesive, open, and trusting leadership team.
🔧 EOS Tools That Transform Teams
Here are two powerful tools Harvey recommends for any team implementing EOS:
- The Accountability Chart – Not your traditional org chart. It’s about defining functions first, people second. This tool helps ensure everyone is in the right seat doing the right things.
- Core Values – These guide hiring, firing, and daily decision-making. They ensure cultural alignment across your team.
Harvey also emphasized the Level 10 Meeting, a structured weekly meeting agenda that drastically improves team communication, problem-solving, and focus. If your meetings are painful or pointless, this is a game changer.
💥 Why Most Teams Struggle (and How EOS Helps)
According to Harvey, most leadership teams fail not because they lack strategy, but because they ignore the human side—team health. Trust, vulnerability, and openness are often overlooked, yet they’re essential for growth.
He also stressed the importance of consistency and rhythm. Even self-implementing teams lose steam over time, which is why EOS emphasizes a 90-day reset cadence to re-align and re-energize leadership.
🧠 Is EOS Right for You?
EOS is industry-agnostic. Whether you’re running a landscaping company, law firm, nonprofit, or tech startup—if you’re working with people and want to grow, EOS can help.
But it’s not for everyone.
You need to be:
- Growth-minded
- Willing to change
- Open to outside perspective
👊 Final Takeaway
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next move—you’re not alone. EOS gives you the tools to lead with confidence, align your team, and regain control of your business.
As Harvey puts it: “There’s no shame in needing help. The real strength is in seeking it.”
🔗 Related Links:
- Learn More About EOS
- Contact Harvey:
Book a free discovery call with Workergenix to get the support you need to fully implement EOS and stay focused on growth. Our Ultimate Executive Assistants handle the details so you can lead with clarity and traction.
Like what you read? Get weekly insights on scaling, efficiency, and profitability—straight to your inbox. Click here to subscribe.Transcript:
Harley Green:
Hey everybody, welcome back to the Scale Smart Grow Fast podcast. Growing a business without a proven operating system often leads to misalignment, burnout, and stalled progress. In this episode, Harvey Yergin, certified EOS implementer, Army veteran, and former D1 athlete, shares how he helps leadership teams gain clarity, traction, and team health using the Entrepreneurial Operating System. With a background spanning real estate investing, military logistics, and entrepreneurial leadership, Harvey’s going to unpack the core EOS tools that help businesses align vision, empower people, and achieve results without the chaos. Harvey, how are you doing?
Harvey Yergin:
I’m good man, thanks for having me.
Harley Green:
Yeah, thanks for being on the show with us today. Now you’ve lived many lives—from being a D1 athlete, a military leader, entrepreneur, and EOS implementer. What drew you to helping leadership teams align and grow through EOS?
Harvey Yergin:
It’s fun. It’s really fulfilling and it seems like I have an innate set of skills that make me naturally good at it, which makes me pretty fortunate to have discovered something that aligns my skills with impact. Most of the business owners and leadership teams I work with are struggling in some capacity. Maybe they’re doing well and want to do better. Maybe they aren’t doing well and want to do a lot better. I empathize with that because as a business owner and team leader, I’ve been a part of successful teams and also know what it’s like to feel lost and in need of help. I know how that feels and how it feels to get clarity and when things start clicking. That’s what I want to do for people—with the help of the EOS tools.
Harley Green:
Tell us a bit more about how you got introduced to EOS. Were you on a team that was struggling?
Harvey Yergin:
I was running a real estate business. We were flipping houses in pretty good volume. It was my first real business with a team, and I wasn’t very good at it. We were struggling to make a profit, struggling to feel like we were making progress without pouring in more time and effort. Team dynamics were lousy. I was lucky enough to be handed the book “Traction,” which EOS is based on. I finally put aside my pride and cracked it open. Within the first nine pages, it felt like the book was speaking directly to me. I started to implement the tools in my business, and the rest is history.
Harley Green:
That’s similar to my experience. I remember being on a cruise where “Traction” was recommended. I used my morning workout time to listen to the audiobook. It was incredibly powerful. I took notes, and when we got back, I immediately started implementing those things. It’s been a game changer. So, I’m excited for you to share some top recommendations from EOS. Maybe people can relate to how you were feeling—stuck in the day-to-day, with teams not performing or being profitable. How does EOS help regain clarity and focus on what really matters?
Harvey Yergin:
Clarity and focus are often second-tier symptoms. The root frustrations are that business leaders aren’t generating the kind of revenue or profit they want, they’re working more in the business than they want to—whether in hours or mental energy. They’ve tried multiple things and none have stuck. They’re frustrated with their team. They might say, “nobody wants to work these days” or “it’s hard to find talent.” If you’re experiencing those things, getting clarity and focus through EOS tools can solve them. At the highest level, EOS is about getting vision, traction, and healthy. Vision means getting your team on the same page with where you’re going and how you plan to get there. Traction is about instilling real accountability and discipline. Healthy means building teams that are open, honest, vulnerable, and enjoy working together. If you don’t have that, your team will fray.
Harley Green:
Of the three pillars—vision, traction, and healthy teams—is there one that’s hardest to get right or most often overlooked?
Harvey Yergin:
Healthy, by far. People tend to focus on the “how” of business—process, strategy, tactics. There’s not enough focus on building and maintaining a healthy, cohesive team. You can do everything else right and still fail if your team isn’t built on trust. Books like “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” start with trust for a reason. Ignoring this is often a team’s downfall.
Harley Green:
What are some recommended tools or starting points in EOS to ensure teams have the right people and accountability?
Harvey Yergin:
Two tools: the Accountability Chart and Core Values. The Accountability Chart is the first tool we use with every team. It’s structure first, people second. Most teams build their structure around who’s already there—which doesn’t work. You need to define the functions and roles your business needs over the next 6–12 months, and then assess if your people are the right fit for those seats. Core Values are on the Vision/Traction Organizer. They define the behaviors your organization values and lives by. Use them to attract the right people and repel the wrong ones. When both tools are in place, you get the right people in the right seats.
Harley Green:
Awesome. As people go through this, what are some of the biggest blind spots leadership teams have when setting up EOS?
Harvey Yergin:
Blind spots are common. The biggest stumbling block is an unwillingness to change. EOS is a new way of doing things, and if you’re resistant to change, it won’t work. EOS is for entrepreneurial teams—growth-minded and open to being honest and vulnerable. That can be scary. But holding on to old habits is often what keeps teams stuck.
Harley Green:
Are there mindset shifts or strategies that help people embrace change when starting EOS?
Harvey Yergin:
Honestly, if you have the tools and still can’t change, you may want to talk to a personal development coach or therapist. There’s often a deeper reason behind that resistance. Having an objective third party like an EOS Implementer helps. They’ll call out when your actions don’t align with your goals. Without that external input, you just get stuck in your own loop.
Harley Green:
Speaking of alignment—what EOS tools help with improving communication and meetings?
Harvey Yergin:
The Level 10 Meeting Agenda. Meetings often suck—unproductive, boring, nothing gets done. The L10 is structured to help teams actually make decisions, move forward, and connect. It’s one of the best tools for communication and results.
Harley Green:
We implemented L10 meetings in our business—it was night and day. We saved 15 minutes off our weekly leadership meetings. Team ratings went from 3s to 8s or 9s. Everyone communicates better now. Huge fan of the L10.
Switching gears—does EOS work better for certain industries?
Harvey Yergin:
EOS is industry agnostic. I’ve worked with construction, landscaping, trucking, attorneys, a baseball team, accountants, doctors, nonprofits—you name it. If you have a team, EOS can work for you. You just need to be willing to grow and change. The tools work for businesses of one, but things click more easily once you have 10+ employees.
Harley Green:
Do companies ever lose momentum after getting started with EOS?
Harvey Yergin:
Definitely. Especially self-implementing teams. You start strong, then life gets busy. That’s why EOS is designed around a 90-day world. Every 90 days, you reconnect, refocus, and re-energize. After the initial setup, I meet with teams quarterly. They always come in frazzled—and always leave fired up.
Harley Green:
That’s a universal truth, even Gino Wickman talked about it. As we wrap up, what’s one piece of advice for leaders who want freedom without losing control?
Harvey Yergin:
I get what you’re feeling—worried you’re messing things up, questioning your decisions, maybe even scared to ask for help. Just know there are thousands of us out there who’ve felt the same. You’re not alone. Whether it’s EOS Implementers, other leaders, or business owners, support is out there. Don’t be afraid to reach for it.
Harley Green:
That’s excellent advice. Harvey, thank you so much for sharing these insights. If people want to connect or learn more about EOS, how can they reach you?
Harvey Yergin:
Go to eosworldwide.com or check out the book “Traction.” If you want to connect directly, email me at .
Harley Green:
Thanks again. If you got value from this episode, hit like and subscribe so you don’t miss future strategies to help you scale smarter. Share it with someone who needs to hear it, and if you’re on a podcast platform, leave a quick rating. It helps us reach more leaders like you. Thanks for tuning in—we’ll see you in the next one.