Better Business, Better Life

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor sits down with Amanda Barkey to explore the difference between using EOS vs running a business on EOS, and why that distinction changes everything.  Amanda shares her journey from self-implementing EOS in her Soccer Shots franchise business to becoming a certified EOS implementer. Starting with limited support and plenty of early struggles, she and her husband turned their business around by applying EOS tools and disciplines, eventually scaling and successfully selling multiple franchises.  A key insight from Amanda is that simply using EOS tools is not enough. Real transformation happens when you fully commit to running your business on EOS with consistency, discipline, and accountability. She highlights how tools like the Level 10 Meeting, People Analyzer, and clear compartmentalisation improved communication, strengthened team health, and drove results.  The conversation also dives into the importance of the visionary and integrator relationship. Amanda credits having a strong integrator as a major factor in their success, helping maintain structure and execution while the visionary focused on growth and direction.  Beyond business, Amanda shares how she applies EOS principles in her family life, using tools like a family VTO and core values to create alignment and reduce conflict. She also discusses her nonprofit work in Cameroon, funded by her business success, demonstrating how EOS can support not just better businesses, but better lives.  If you are currently “using” EOS but not seeing full results, this episode will challenge you to step up into truly running your business on EOS.       CONNECT WITH DEBRA:    ___________________________________________          ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: [email protected]  ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/  ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/  ___________________________________________        GUEST’S DETAILS:   ► Amanda Barkey – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-barkey-409908107/ ► Website – EOS Worldwide: https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/amanda-barkey/      Episode 269 Chapters:     00:00 – Introduction 00:35 – Amanda Barkey’s Entrepreneurial Journey and EOS Implementation  02:21 – Amanda Barkey’s Background and Business Journey  12:36 – Challenges and Successes with EOS Implementation  15:10 – The Role of an Integrator and Implementer  34:20 – EOS in Family Life  47:18 – Amanda’s Future Plans and Nonprofit Work  47:30 – The Power of EOS Tools  47:43 – Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs 

Emily is the owner of SideMark, which she started 7 years ago. It is a highly successful company & she puts its success down to implementing EOS (The Entrepreneurial Operating System) into the business.Apart from the successful business, Emily is living her dream career life which she has crafted intentionally over time. She has just recently written a. book called Growth Junkies Unite – A Simple Guide to Invigorate your Journey.In this episode, she shares with us what being a growth junkie really is & how she has created a multi-faceted career, as co-owner of the business, a Professional EOS Coach & Business Coach, a published Author & a peer-group facilitator, as well as enjoying a full life outside of business.After implementing EOS to help them run their business 5 years ago and seeing tremendous success, Emily launched her EOS coaching practice to help other entrepreneurs and leadership teams get more of what they want from their business.She describes herself as the poster girl for EOS as she has run a business without EOS & with EOS. And she wishes she had found it earlier."When I first got into entrepreneurship, I didn't know what I was doing. It's not like I went to school and learn how to run a business. And at the time, I found this business was in need of a turnaround situation, it was a $13 million office furniture dealership down in the southwest part of the United States. And it was just so much fun to dig into. And yet I could have done it better now that I know what I know, it would have been easier and faster. And so when I moved into the opportunity to buy in as third owner of a $15 million office furniture dealership, my two partners and I quickly realized that we really wanted to come together and figure out our vision for where we wanted to take the company. And so luckily, at that time, I was a part of a peer group. And in that group, I heard about EOS, which is the entrepreneurial operating system. It's a way of operating and running a business more effectively and efficiently so that you can get more out of the business and actually enjoy the business more."Emily shares her journey to bring EOS into the business & how it changed not only the business but her life too.

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor and Adam Harris go deeper into what it really takes to get a business unstuck, moving beyond surface-level fixes to uncover the root causes holding companies back.They explore why so many businesses face the same issues again and again, and why most teams jump to solutions too quickly without properly identifying the real problem. Using tools like the EOS Issue Solving Track (IDS) and simple but powerful W questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why), they explain how to dig deeper and solve issues properly the first time.A major theme in this conversation is clarity. Without it, teams become reactive, communication breaks down, and founders feel increasingly overwhelmed as the business grows. Debra and Adam highlight how lack of clarity around roles, expectations, and outcomes leads directly to stagnation.They also discuss the importance of accountability, structured meetings, and consistent practice. High-performing teams don’t just talk about issues, they build the muscle to solve them through repetition, trust, and open, honest conversations.The episode also tackles tough topics like having the wrong people in key roles, unproductive meetings, and early warning signs that a business is losing traction. Founders are encouraged to step back, take a clarity break, and seek external support such as coaches, mentors, or peer groups to gain perspective and momentum.If your business feels stuck in cycles of the same problems, this episode provides practical tools and mindset shifts to help you regain clarity, fix root causes, and move forward with confidence. CONNECT WITH DEBRA:    ___________________________________________         ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner►Connect with Debra: [email protected]  ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/  ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/  ___________________________________________       GUEST’S DETAILS:   ► Adam Harris – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adam-harris-eos/  ► Website – EOS Worldwide: https://www.eosworldwide.com/adam-harris Episode 268 Chapters:   00:00 – Introduction 00:36 – Why Businesses Get Stuck: Introduction and Initial Thoughts  02:48 – Exploring the Root Causes of Repeated Issues  13:35 – The Importance of Teamwork and Practice  18:47 – Identifying the Wrong People in Key Roles  23:47 – Unproductive Meetings in Growing Companies  35:58 – Communication Breakdown and Reactive vs Proactive Behaviour  38:53 – Overwhelm Among Founders and Lack of Clarity  41:27 – Early Warning Signs of Businesses Losing Traction  41:39 – The Role of Lack of Clarity in Business Stagnation  44:28 – First Steps for Founders to Take When Recognising Symptoms