A Step-by-Step Guide to Running Your Company with EOS

Called a “must-have” for entrepreneurs of small to mid-size businesses feeling stagnant, the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is a framework for harnessing human energy in simple yet powerful ways.

Originally developed by entrepreneur Gino Wickman, the EOS method and tools have helped more than 150,000 companies worldwide, either through a coach or DIY, with more than three million copies of EOS books sold.

Clarify. Simplify. Achieve.

When a founder starts a company, the exciting and terrifying first stage is often followed by a second stage where the weight of responsibility becomes overwhelming. At this point, many entrepreneurs find themselves treading water, working for the business rather than on the business, said EOS Implementer Dave Borland.

When he begins working with a client, Dave invites the organization’s open-minded leaders to picture their phone’s lock screen and imagine what they want to see there just three years from now. Then, he guides them step by step through the process of achieving that vision.

This purpose-driven approach prioritizes what to do, when to do it, and by whom. It provides a solid, scalable, and sustainable foundation for the road ahead.

“It makes it ‘stupid-easy’ for people to follow, especially those who aren’t prone to project management,” said Dave.

Informed by his years of real-world experience, he calls himself a “serial entrepreneur” who has “founded, floundered in, grown, and exited” four companies. A Clarkson University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, Dave was the president of his fraternity in college. In the mid-1990s, he formed a software training company called CompTutor. By the late 1990s, he added uTrax, a database management developer, and ran them both concurrently until their sale.

In 2001, he formed IntelliSites, which grew into the Capital Region’s largest web development firm. In 2012, the company merged with a successful printing company and a boutique ad agency to create Burst Marketing—and that’s when the issues began.

Dave admits that the leadership team struggled mightily in that business. “There was a lack of a shared vision, the wrong people in the wrong seats, and we almost immediately started losing money. Within a year, the partners were literally paying to work there and became increasingly frustrated and angry with each other, while our team remained unaware of anything except the negative culture at the top.”

“We stumbled into EOS, and once we began implementing it, it changed our lives. Within six months, we completed a turnaround, made money again, and became a healthier team.”

Upon discussions of another merger, Dave successfully exited that company in 2014.

After selling, a business friend asked Dave to help implement EOS in their company in 2015. That’s when he discovered his knack and passion for helping other entrepreneurs. Since then, he’s conducted more than 850 sessions with over 80 leadership teams across the U.S., helping them achieve their vision. Many of these companies have been awarded “Best Places to Work” or made “Fastest Growing” lists in Entrepreneur or Inc. Magazine. Others have had highly successful ownership exits.

“It’s funny—as I train, coach, and facilitate these teams, I recognize that every team is different, but there are a few main things they need to push through to success. One is to be curious and open. Two is to delegate and elevate—there’s a right ‘who’ for every critical function, and it doesn’t have to be the same person.”

Today, Dave is invaluable to many, serving as a down-to-earth business coach with a singular goal for every client: to finally get what they want.

Identify. Discuss. Solve. (IDS)

The EOS Worldwide system consists of actionable items presented in various formats—through books and easily accessible free tools online—which can be implemented DIY-style or with expert guidance from an EOS Implementer like Dave.

“Entrepreneurs finally get what they want, whether they do it themselves or use a coach,” said Dave.

During a FREE 90-minute consultation, Dave shares information, tools, and processes from the EOS system with leadership teams. He encourages teams to decide if EOS is right for them, rather than it being something imposed by the boss.

For example, when companies face challenges, EOS employs the IDS Method:

• (I) Identify the real issue.
• (D) Discuss the options for a solution.
• (S) Solve the problem by voting on the best option and creating steps to implement it.

By using this technique, everyone feels heard, and nobody walks away angry, said Dave. It’s so effective that he even uses it at home. “It takes away the drama from issues and problems and allows you to pick options for solving them faster and better,” he said.

Grow Exceptional.

By prioritizing what your company can do now, you’re not only creating a vision and goals—you’re also holding better, more effective meetings, working with the best people, and enjoying the process.

“Creating a leadership team where everyone is 100% on the same page with where you’re going and how you’re going to get there may seem simple, but it can be hard to do,” said Dave. “It can give you rocket fuel.”

While facilitating full-day EOS sessions designed to create a healthy, thriving, high-performing company, Dave always has one goal in mind—graduation.

“Most coaches are like counselors who become a part of your business. That’s not what I want. I’m not your crutch. I want to get you up to speed as fast as possible and work with you until you graduate. I get you into a quarterly rhythm, then give you the tools to solve issues yourselves when they come up,” said Dave.

Working with local companies to enhance their growth through EOS techniques, Dave’s satisfied clients include financial advisors like Tailored Wealth Solutions, manufacturers such as G&G Industrial Lighting Solutions, and real estate investment firms like Greensprings Capital Group, among others.

When Chick-fil-A opened in Clifton Park, the rapid pace left no room for downtime, said Dave. They had to quickly become a 100-person team with fast-moving parts. Although Chick-fil-A is a national chain, opening the restaurant was like operating a start-up because the team was young and inexperienced. Through the EOS system and with Dave’s help, they were able to adjust quickly, secure the right team members, and realize the company’s mission: to leave something behind in the world that makes it a little better than when they found it.

Give Back.

Although EOS Worldwide primarily serves small to mid-size companies with 10-250 employees generating between $2 million and $20 million annually, its impact is transformative. Dave said he truly felt he was playing in the big leagues when he had the privilege of sharing the stage with best-selling leadership author John Maxwell and legendary basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski at the 2025 Total Impact Kickoff in Atlanta, GA.

Giving back to the community is a focal point for Dave. Since 2022, he has served as a strategic partner for the Albany chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a global peer-to-peer network of over 18,000 leaders in 63 countries. He also offers pro bono EOS guidance to several local nonprofits, including Can Code, Starpoint Church, and the Troy Farmers Market.

“There are no strings attached. I just want to help,” he said.To learn more about how Dave Borland and EOS Worldwide’s tools and resources can help your business, visit EOS Worldwide.