Question for you: Do you have a grip on your business… or does your business have a grip on you?
If you’re a small-to-medium-sized business owner, I already know the answer for most of you. Your business isn’t really a business—it’s a job you happen to own. You’re working in it more than on it, and instead of building freedom, you’ve built a prison.
Gino Wickman’s Traction is the cure for that. And I’m not talking about motivational fluff, I’m talking about a blueprint. A system. A way to build a business that works for you, not the other way around.
The EOS: Entrepreneurial Operating System
On the back cover, Wickman asks the million-dollar question: Do you have a grip on your business, or does your business have a grip on you?
Inside, he walks you step-by-step through EOS—the Entrepreneurial Operating System—a simple, precise process for organizing and running every piece of your business. What’s beautiful is how universal it is. You can run a plumbing company, a tech startup, a landscaping business, or a window cleaning empire… the fundamentals are the same.
The real kicker? Most owners think their business is “different” or “unique.” Truth? The only thing unique is how many get this wrong. EOS is plug-and-play for any industry because it’s built around timeless business principles:
- Vision – Get everyone rowing in the same direction, crystal clear on where you’re going and why.
- People – Right people, right seats.
- Data – Run the business on numbers, not feelings.
- Issues – Identify and solve problems fast.
- Process – Document and follow the core systems.
- Traction – Discipline and accountability to make it all stick.
Vision: The North Star of Your Business
Let’s talk about vision, because this is where most entrepreneurs fall short. Having a vision isn’t just about a vague idea of “success” or “growth.” Vision means defining exactly what winning looks like for your company—and then making sure every single person on your team sees the same picture.
In EOS, vision is broken down into clear, actionable components:
- Your core values (the DNA of your culture)
- Your core focus (what you do and why you do it)
- Your 10-year target (the big, audacious goal that guides everything)
- Your marketing strategy (who you serve and how you win)
- Your 3-year picture (what your company will look like in three years)
- Your 1-year plan (specific, measurable goals for the year)
- Your quarterly rocks (the few big priorities you’ll tackle now)
When your vision is crystal clear, your team stops rowing in circles and starts pulling in unison toward the same destination. At Window Ninjas, this has been a game-changer. It’s why we can have multiple business models under one roof without losing our focus.
My Confession: This Book Built Window Ninjas
I’ll admit it—I read Traction years ago. And it’s one of the main reasons I was able to scale Window Ninjas so quickly.
In fact, this book didn’t just help me build a business—it gave me the blueprint to create three thriving businesses inside one company:
- Our Service Business – The core window cleaning, pressure washing, and gutter cleaning company.
- Our Sales/Call Center Business – Serving our service clients and generating revenue for Window Ninjas Franchising.
- Our Franchise Growth Business – Selling and supporting franchise owners so they succeed, we succeed, our team thrives, and our customers love the results.
That’s the power of EOS—you can stack business models without losing your sanity.
Numbers and Data: Feelings Don’t Run Businesses
One of the biggest lessons in Traction is that data beats drama. Too many entrepreneurs run their businesses on gut feelings, assumptions, or whatever their mood is that day.
EOS forces you to run your business on measurable numbers. You create a scorecard—a short list of key metrics that tell you the real health of your company at a glance.
In my world, that means I know—every single week—how many new customers we brought in, what our average ticket is, how many jobs are booked, and the conversion rate of every sales call. No guessing. No “I think we’re doing okay.” Just clear, objective truth.
And here’s the magic: when you have the right numbers, you can make the right decisions faster—and with a lot more confidence.
Daily Rocks: The Secret to Making It Stick
If there’s one EOS tool we use religiously at Window Ninjas, it’s daily rocks.
In the book, Wickman explains that you can’t focus on 100 things at once. Instead, you pick your “rocks”—the few big priorities that will move the needle most in your business over the next 90 days.
We take it a step further. Every day, each team member has their daily rocks—the one to three most important actions they must complete that day to push the company toward our quarterly goals.
Why does this matter? Because without focus, the whirlwind of daily tasks will consume your time and bury your priorities. Daily rocks keep us disciplined. They’re the reason we can look back at the end of a quarter and actually see measurable progress, not just busyness.
At Window Ninjas, we treat daily rocks like oxygen, it’s non-negotiable. You don’t skip them unless you plan on explaining why to your team in our Level 10 Meetings (and trust me, no one likes that conversation).
Why I Re-Read It
Business changes. People change. Systems drift. And I realized it was time for a refresher. Picking this book back up was like hitting the “alignment” button on a race car—suddenly everything in my head, my leadership team, and our company lined up again.
EOS forces you to think bigger, systemize smarter, and operate cleaner so you get what every entrepreneur dreams of: time freedom and financial freedom.
My Takeaway for You
If you feel stuck, burned out, or like you’re carrying your business on your back, stop winging it. Pick up Traction. Read it. Devour it. Carry it with you until the systems become second nature. Implement them, and watch your company transform into a machine where everyone’s rowing in sync toward the same goal.
And remember… knowledge without application is hallucination.
Gabe’s Golden Squeegee Rating:
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (5/5)
This is a top-shelf, foundational business book I’ll recommend for the rest of my life.
If you’re serious about scaling but want the blueprint, the systems, and a mentor in your corner, that’s exactly what Window Ninjas Franchising delivers. I’ll show you how to run a business that works for you—without the years of trial and error. DM me to see if your market is open.
Instagram: thegabesalinas
Keep Shining.
