Issue 00006 - "Built like that (on Purpose)"
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Built Like That (On Purpose)
I’ve been loving a book that was recently recommended to me called The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations by Michael Erath, who was introduced to me a couple years ago by CAMERON HEROLD, and it’s hitting hard.
His emphasis on structure, clarity, and people as the lifeblood of great companies has me thinking deeply about what we’re building—and why it works (or doesn’t). It’s resonating because much of what Erath teaches goes along with something you hear me say often:
“You are uniquely qualified to be exactly where you are [doing what you are doing] today.”
This carries both responsibility and reassurance.
It also means that if things aren’t working—personally, professionally, spiritually—maybe the system’s delivering exactly what it’s designed to.
This week’s bites challenge us to build better…on purpose.
1️⃣ The System Is Working—Whether You Like It or Not
One line (paraphrased) from the book I love is
“Every system is perfectly designed to get the results that it gets.” — Attributed to Paul Batalden, influenced by W. Edwards Deming
Whenever we are frustrated by the same problems—missed deadlines, unclear expectations, culture issues—we need pause and look at the systems….or lack there of.
Erath also mentions that in his experience, most organizations claim to have documented processes and playbooks…but with a little sleuthing, it’s determined that they don’t…they have ‘this is what we usually dos.’ The patterns you’re experiencing might not be a failure of intention—they might be the logical outcome of what’s actually been built or tolerated. So, it’s time to…
- Audit your processes
- Adjust the design
- Build for the outcomes you really want
2️⃣ Systematize the Predictable. Customize the Sacred.
It’s hard to scale the chaotic. That’s why one of the most underrated growth moves is to build systems for the routine stuff—so you can be fully present when things aren’t routine.
“Systematize the predictable so you can customize the unpredictable” is a quote from the book.
I say at our company, Auxiom…”we need heroes, but can’t be constantly reliant on heroics.”
To me a hero designs systems and processes that are predictable, that prevent problems…and in the rare case when something goes chaotic, they can jump in as the hero.
So, I guess it’s nice to validate this based on Erath’s teachings.
This is how you scale care, not just output – free up our best people for the human-hero moments that matter.
3️⃣ Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing…and Saying the Thing
Nobody, and no team for that matter, skips the awkward parts of growing. Great cultures aren’t born; they’re built through the mess.
Erath tells us that great leaders come into organizations and focus on four things…Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing
You’ll need to read the book to get all the details, but what I’ll tell you is that if you have a leader coming into an organization or a new position and they don’t have or follow a building process like this, we need to dig in and find out why…
Oh and another thing that he teaches that makes a huge difference? COMMUNICATION!!!
“Agreements prevent disagreements.” (if you were ever trained in Sandler Sales Training, you might remember the concept of Up Front Contracts…agree in advance of what’s going to happen next to avoid mutual mystification!)
“Communication is needed. (so) Don’t shut the f*ck up [STFU].”
Silence is the enemy of clarity. Say the thing. ASK THE QUESTION! Don’t assume alignment. Get it out in the open, on the record, and agreed upon. Our future selves and our teammates will thank us.
4️⃣ Return on Life Beats Return on Investment
ROI is a seriously useful metric. But ROL—Return on Life—I think is everyone’s real goal.
- Are you getting fulfillment out of life?
- Are you building something that makes lives better?
- Are you treating your work as an opportunity to serve—not just scale?
Maybe one way to get a solid ROL is to look outward and do good…!
ROL OPPORTUNITY – “Leave it better than you found it.”
That’s a quote from Doug Mans, CEO of Mans Lumber & Home, who shared it on our upcoming BLTnT episode.
It’s a lesson passed down from his father—who taught he and his siblings to do this EVERYWHERE they are…whether that’s in a parking lot, the wilderness, the business they take over…everywhere…and it’s a family value that shows up in how they lead, serve, and build – so you won’t want to miss his episode when it’s posted.
ROL OPPORTUNITY – “God Willing”
Someone recently reminded me of a grounding truth I needed to hear again: Whatever you’re building, planning, or going after something, as you state it, remember to say—out loud or to yourself—“God willing.” We build, but we don’t control. He’s the one making it come together.
Not everything scales. But everything we do has the opportunity to leave a mark.
5️⃣ Forgiveness – The Ultimate Reset System
This last one is personal—and powerful. My brother’s father-in-law, Pastor Ed Warner, recently told me about a lesson he was teaching to his grandchildren…after he caught them doing something they shouldn’t have been…he said…”Grandpa (I) forgives you…”
“Forgiveness is as though it never happened.”
He went on to share that “we are justified by the blood of Jesus—just as if we had never sinned.”
I never thought about it like that. That’s how he was teaching the kids about grace. That’s leadership at its most transformative.
You won’t always get it right. But you can choose to reset—yourself or someone else—and move forward fully. No KPI beats that.
…OMG this is a tough one for me…forgiveness at that level is something that takes more power than I have on my own, that’s for sure!
🎤 That’s a Wrap
You don’t drift into greatness.
You build towards it—on purpose, with people, through systems, in grace. So this week, let’s take inventory.
Let’s get honest about what our systems are really producing.
And remember:
You/We are uniquely qualified to be exactly where we are today, doing exactly what we are doing. Now make it count!
Excelsior!!
Thank you to our sponsor 🛡️ Auxiom 🙌
This edition was proudly sponsored by Auxiom.
Outsmart Chaos with the Gold Standard in Business IT.
Auxiom knows that for every one problem that gets solved in the world of IT, there always seems to be several more threats.
They work to stay ahead of them all with a smarter, more proactive approach.
If you have a business, you may need the A-Team at Auxiom!
Visit Auxiom at https://auxiom.com/ or call them at 1-800-837-GOLD (4653)
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