EP.43 - Why Words Matter: Building Culture Through Common Language

EP.43 - Why Words Matter: Building Culture Through Common Language

In this episode, Jami and Andrew explore the power of common language as a core leadership tool within EOS. Drawing from a real lunch conversation with a visionary owner, they discuss why repeating the same words and frameworks — even when it feels redundant — is exactly what builds strong culture. From the VTO to GWC to the word "issue," they break down how a shared vocabulary simplifies complexity, scales communication, and creates the kind of organizational culture people genuinely want to be part of. Key Topics - How common language connects to the first EOS leadership ability: simplify. - The VTO as a tool for replacing complex business plans with shared, scalable language. - Why visionaries must stay engaged in carrying the culture and common language, even as they delegate. - The power of repetition — why hearing something seven times is what makes it stick. - Right people, right seats, and GWC as examples of simplifying complex people management concepts. - How the word "issue" reframes problems as progress and fuel for growth. - Building a company glossary to create an internal culture and shared identity. Chapters 0:00 - Welcome and episode intro: the origin of today's topic. 1:30 - Common language as one of EOS's five leadership abilities to simplify. 3:30 - How the VTO replaces complex business planning with shared language. 6:00 - Andrew's lunch story: a visionary finding freedom — and what to watch out for. 10:00 - A hiring class moment: repeating the core values and watching it click. 12:30 - Why saying it seven times means you're probably doing it right. 14:00 - The pilot analogy: why precise shared language is critical at scale. 16:30 - The word "issue" — reframing problems as progress. 19:00 - The Couples Retreat story and how inside language builds culture. 22:00 - Choosing the right words for your core values — integrity vs. dependability. 25:00 - Closing thoughts: book recommendation, glossary idea, and having fun with language. Mentions & Credits EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) - https://www.eosworldwide.com VTO (Vision Traction Organizer) - https://www.eosworldwide.com/vto The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni - https://www.tablegroup.com/books/four-obsessions Colby Assessment - https://www.kolbe.com

EP.42-10-Year Target vs 3-Year Picture: How to Build Vision That Actually Works

In this episode, Jami and Andrew dig into two foundational components of the EOS Vision/Traction Organizer: the 10-year target and the 3-year picture. They explore why a compelling 10-year target must be visionary-led and bold enough to feel a little scary, why revenue alone rarely rallies a team, and how the 3-year picture serves as the critical bridge between long-term vision and day-to-day execution. Whether you're a founder just starting to cast vision or a seasoned leader revisiting your VTO, this episode is packed with practical insight on building a business by design rather than by default. Key Topics - Why the 10-year target must be owned and loved by the visionary. - The danger of fluffy or revenue-only 10-year targets and what to do instead. - How to make your 10-year target tangible enough for every team member to rally behind. - The role of the 3-year picture as the bridge between vision and the one-year plan. - Dan Sullivan's R-Factor Question and how it removes current context from planning. - Why teams should draft their 10-year target in pencil and revisit it every 90 days. - How connecting daily work to the VTO keeps teams motivated and aligned. - The cascade from 10-year target to 3-year picture to 1-year plan to 90-day rocks. Chapters 0:00 - Welcome and episode intro. 1:15 - What sparked the conversation: Andrew's Flywheel cohort for new founders. 3:30 - Common challenges teams face when thinking long-term. 6:00 - The two purposes of a 10-year target: alignment and rally. 9:00 - Why revenue targets alone don't move people. 12:30 - Jami's own 10-year target: activating 50 brands. 15:00 - What makes a 10-year target go wrong (fluffy vs. tangible). 18:00 - Why it takes a full year for teams to truly internalize the 10-year target. 21:00 - The visionary's responsibility: bold buy-in and leading the charge. 25:00 - Introducing the 3-year picture and why it often gets skipped. 28:30 - Dan Sullivan's R-Factor Question and removing current context. 33:00 - What a well-built 3-year picture looks and feels like. 37:00 - Real-world example: recasting the 3-year picture in Slack every week. 40:00 - How the 3-year picture sets up a better one-year plan. 43:30 - Connecting rocks and daily work back to the big picture. 46:00 - Key takeaways and close. Mentions & Credits EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) - https://www.eosworldwide.com VTO (Vision/Traction Organizer) - https://www.eosworldwide.com/vto Dan Sullivan / Strategic Coach - https://www.strategiccoach.com Jim Collins / Built to Last (BHAG concept) - https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/bhag.html

EP.41 - Why Entrepreneurship Feels So Lonely (And How to Fix It)

In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew discuss the often-overlooked reality of entrepreneurship: loneliness and the critical need for intentional community. Andrew shares his journey of relocating from Michigan to Greenville, SC, rebuilding his business network from scratch, and discovering how empathy, accountability, and growth-focused relationships are essential for visionary leaders. The conversation explores co-working spaces, peer groups, networking with purpose, and how meaningful entrepreneurial communities can dramatically impact both business success and personal well-being. Key Topics - Entrepreneurship can feel isolating without intentional community. - Relocating a business and rebuilding relationships from scratch. - The importance of empathy and accountability in leadership. - Why entrepreneurs need to leave the office and engage with others. - Building authentic relationships instead of transactional networking. - The role of co-working spaces in growth and energy. - Peer groups, EOS, and mastermind communities for entrepreneurs. - Balancing vulnerability, business pressure, and personal growth. - How introverts and extroverts approach community differently. - Creating communities that support both giving and receiving. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to entrepreneurship and loneliness. 02:15 - Andrew’s move from Michigan to Greenville and rebuilding community. 05:40 - Defining the type of entrepreneurial community they wanted. 10:05 - Why entrepreneurs must leave the office to grow. 14:20 - Networking versus authentic relationship building. 19:35 - The value of empathy and accountability groups. 24:10 - How co-working spaces fuel growth and collaboration. 29:50 - Stories of entrepreneurial support and vulnerability. 35:30 - The importance of committing to communities consistently. 41:45 - Breakdown of the groups and communities Andrew participates in. 48:10 - Jami’s leadership, mentorship, and creative communities. 54:20 - Supporting entrepreneurs through giving, not just receiving. 58:10 - Introverts, extroverts, and finding the right community fit. 01:01:30 - Final encouragement to entrepreneurs seeking connection. Mentions & Credits - EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) — https://www.eosworldwide.com/ - Flywheel Co-working — https://flywheelcoworking.com/ - Strategic Coach — https://www.strategiccoach.com/ - Grow Forum — https://growforum.io/- C12 Business Forums — https://www.c12forums.com/ - Agency Management Institute — https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/ - Chris Cloud — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscloud/ - Benton Woodring — https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentonwoodring/

EP.40 - From Idea to App in Hours: How Entrepreneurs Use Lovable & AI - Part 2

In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew continue their AI conversation by exploring how they use ChatGPT, custom GPTs, and AI-powered workflows in leadership, EOS implementation, coaching, and marketing. They discuss practical ways AI enhances conversations—not replaces them—while also diving into the future of SEO, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and what they call “vibe marketing.” The episode highlights how entrepreneurs and leaders can thoughtfully integrate AI into culture, communication, and strategy without losing the human element. Key Topics - Why this episode serves as Part 2 of the AI and vibe coding discussion. - Using custom GPTs for EOS coaching, leadership, and quarterly conversations. - How Kolbe and Working Genius data improve AI-assisted communication. - The difference between enhancing conversations vs. replacing conversations with AI. - AI as a tool for intentional leadership and management development. - The accidental cultural impact AI experimentation had inside Wonder. - SEO vs. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and how search behavior is changing. - “Vibe Marketing” and how AI is transforming copywriting and content creation. Chapters 00:00 - Intro: Continuing the AI conversation from Part 1. 03:00 - How Jami uses ChatGPT, Grok, and Gemini differently. 07:00 - Creating custom GPTs for EOS coaching and leadership support. 14:00 - Using Kolbe and Working Genius inside AI conversations. 22:00 - Enhancing conversations vs. replacing conversations with AI. 30:00 - Leadership, EOS, and using AI to improve quarterly conversations. 38:00 - How AI experimentation impacted Wonder’s company culture. 45:00 - Introducing “vibe marketing” and the shift in search behavior. 52:00 - SEO vs. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). 59:00 - AI-assisted copywriting, brand voice, and FAQs. 01:06:00 - Responsible AI governance and recommendations from Jeff Yelton. 01:11:00 - Final thoughts on AI adoption and staying relevant. Mentions & Credits Grok — https://grok.x.ai/ Kolbe Corp — https://www.kolbe.com/ Working Genius — https://www.workinggenius.com/ EOS Worldwide — https://www.eosworldwide.com/J eff Yelton — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffyelton/ Wonder — https://workwithwonder.com/

EP.39 - From Idea to App in Hours: How Entrepreneurs Use Lovable & AI

In this episode of Inside the 90, Jami and Andrew dive deep into AI, vibe coding, and the rapid evolution of tools like Lovable, Claude, and Google AI Studio. They share real-world examples of building internal software, automating workflows, replacing spreadsheets, and creating custom business tools without traditional development teams. The conversation focuses on how entrepreneurs can use AI to solve operational gaps, improve efficiency, and rethink the future of software, workflows, and business systems. Key Topics - The three groups of people reacting to AI: excited, curious, and unaware. - What “vibe coding” is and how non-developers are building real software. - Using Lovable and Google AI Studio to create custom business applications. - Replacing spreadsheets and bloated SaaS tools with focused AI-powered apps. - Wonderbread: building an internal operational dashboard for an agency. - Creating stress assessments, recruiting systems, portals, and internal tools with AI. - How AI enhances workflows instead of replacing strategic thinking and process. - Why entrepreneurs need to experiment with AI now to avoid falling behind. Chapters 00:00 - Intro: Why Jami and Andrew are excited about AI. 03:00 - The three camps of AI adoption in business today. 07:00 - Jeff Yelton’s books and responsible AI leadership. 11:00 - Discovering vibe coding and early experiments with AI Studio. 17:00 - Building Wonderbread and replacing spreadsheets with custom software. 26:00 - How Lovable enables entrepreneurs to build software without coding. 34:00 - Creating stress assessments, grading tools, and single-use applications. 42:00 - Building recruiting systems, intranets, and operational dashboards. 50:00 - AI-powered quoting systems and manufacturing use cases. 58:00 - Why focused internal tools outperform bloated SaaS products. 01:05:00 - Security, scalability, and knowing when to pause AI projects. 01:11:00 - Advice for entrepreneurs experimenting with AI and vibe coding. Mentions & Credits Lovable — https://lovable.dev/ Jeff Yelton — ttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffyelton/ Strategic Coach — https://www.strategiccoach.com/ Dan Sullivan — https://www.strategiccoach.com/coach/dan-sullivan/ Flywheel Co-Working — https://flywheelgreenville.com/