Better Business, Better Life – Issue 156

Rocks, on the other hand, are different.

In EOS, we keep it simple.

1. Just 3 to 7 priorities per quarter
2. Each one has a single owner
3. Clear outcome
4. Due in 90 days

That’s it. No fluff. No confusion.

Real-life Example: The OKR Swamp

Another business I worked with last year had tried to implement OKRs across their leadership team. Everyone had their own list of goals, most with vague measurements. The Visionary had 5 big-picture objectives. The Integrator had 4 operational ones. Marketing had 3 they’d copied from a HubSpot blog.

When I asked, “How are they going?”… I got blank stares.

It’s not that they didn’t care. It’s that no one had clarity. There was no accountability. And they were spending more time updating the spreadsheet than doing the work.

After our Focus Day together, they ditched the OKRs and set 5 company Rocks. Each one was owned. Each one was clear. Three months later, they’d nailed 4 out of 5. Traction.

Why Rocks Work Better (For Most Entrepreneurs)

1. Rocks are built for focus

OKRs often become wish lists. Rocks force you to choose.

You can’t chase every shiny object when you only get 3 to 7 priorities for the whole quarter.

Analogy:

OKRs are like a buffet – everything looks good, but you leave feeling bloated and unsatisfied.

Rocks are like a perfectly cooked meal – intentional, satisfying and designed to fuel you forward.

2. Rocks demand ownership

No shared responsibility. No “team goals.” Just one person with their name next to it. You know who’s accountable – and so do they.

3. Rocks deliver Traction

Instead of “setting goals” and hoping they stick, Rocks are about building a habit of execution. You don’t just plan – you deliver.

Why I Love Rocks (And Use Them Myself)

Every quarter, I set my own Rocks – in all three businesses.

1. Not “grow revenue”
2. Not “be more visible”
3. But specific, focused, measurable Rocks with real impact

For example:

1. Launch our Melbourne EOS client event by May
2. Record and release 3 solo podcast episodes
3. Recruit a new assistant for Business Action

Each one has an outcome. Each one has a deadline. And I get them done – because they matter.

Full disclosure. I, too, used to have too many each quarter – it took me almost 2 years to realise that I can get 2, maybe 3 done… Yes, I’m a slow learner!

If you’re stuck with OKRs that look good but don’t go anywhere, it might be time to try something different.

Let’s get you out of the swamp and into something simpler that actually works.

Want help setting Rocks that move the needle?

Reply to this email or book a quick call. Let’s get Traction happening.