COMPANY FACTS

Company Name: Hot Taco Inc.

President & Visionary: Leslie Pierson

Fractional Integrator: Lisa McCurdy (engagement: 1 day/week)

Location: 100% Virtual

Team Size: <10

Industry: E-commerce

The Hot Taco team celebrating St. Patricks Day!

Background:

Leslie Pierson, President & Visionary of Hot Taco Inc., creators of the surprising strategic card game Taco vs Burrito, which was created by her 7-year-old son, was a solo entrepreneur who was struggling with managing their business, including setting goals and holding employees accountable. Hot Taco Inc., lacked structure, deliverable metrics, and core values, resulting in chaotic operations. Additionally, Leslie had difficulty hiring the right team members into the right seats which resulted in issues leading, managing, and holding the team members accountable.

Challenge:

Leslie wanted to improve their business structure, accountability, and overall performance. They were looking for a method to help them identify core values, set goals, and hold employees accountable. Through the Million Dollar Sellers (MDS) group, they found the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS®) and heard about the benefits of EOS from other entrepreneurs. They began self-implementing EOS and working with an Integrator who was good, but hadn’t worked in e-commerce before and wasn’t able to be the strategic thought partner that Leslie desired. Then, Leslie found Catalyst Integrators® and began working with Lisa McCurdy, which was a total game changer for the business.

Solution:

Leslie started self-implementing EOS to address their business challenges. Initially, she was hoping to receive structure and improve their hiring process, but they received much more than that. EOS tools, such as quarterly planning and the Vision Traction Organizer (V/TO), helped Leslie define their goals and provided a clear strategy. Hot Taco Inc., started using Rocks (90-day goals), which helped them achieve their quarterly objectives that fed into their 1-Year Plan, making their vision a reality. The turnaround was really seen in having Lisa lead the L10’s as the Integrator. Their IDS (Identity, Discuss, and Solve)time transitioned from a long list of To Do’s for Leslie only to delegating tasks to the right people which reduced Leslie's workload and allowed the team the ability to get to the root and solve issues forever.

Impact:

Working with Catalyst and Lisa as her Integrator while running on EOS as their operating system was a game-changer for Leslie and the team at Hot Taco Inc., as it enabled Leslie to work “ON” the business instead of getting stuck “IN” the business. Lisa helped Leslie define the company's V/TO which they integrated into their company culture, including core values, a core focus, a marketing strategy and clear 10/3/1 year goals. Integrating projects and accountability with Rocks helped them stay on track with their goals and report on/off track weekly to address issues as they arose and before things became a fire. The clearly defined core values helped them make sure that all team members were the right people in the right seats. While the clearly defined roles and responsibilities helped them easily hold team members accountable.

Leslie was so impressed with the EOS method that she even applied it to her personal life by creating a personal L10 meeting and involved her Integrator, Lisa. The structure helped Leslie address areas of her personal life that she was neglecting, such as self-care and relationships.

“Creating an Ideal Life for our Visionaries is crucial in the process to ensure that when we set company goals, they are in alignment with the ideal end result.” - Lisa McCurdy on Ideal Life

Implementing EOS and partnering with Lisa McCurdy and Catalyst Integrators® had a significant impact on Hot Taco's business structure, accountability, and performance. Thanks to working with Lisa, Hot Taco Inc., was able to define its goals, hold their team accountable, and improve the hiring process, resulting in a more productive and efficient business. Not to mention the positive impact it has had on Leslie’s personal life, further demonstrating the versatility of the EOS tools. That doesn’t even begin to address the financial growth they have also seen!

Since beginning to self-implement EOS in 2020, Hot Taco has grown by approx. 50% y/y, and is positioned to do the same this year (2023). In 2020, they did $3MM in revenue and they grew to $5.6 MM in 2021. In 2022 and their first year working with Lisa, Hot Taco closed at $8.7MM, with a small team of 3 rockstars. Integrating EOS and the partnership with Lisa McCurdy of Catalyst Integrators® has made these growth spurts easier because it has helped clarify the goals and see them through execution.

Closing Thoughts:

LISA MCCURDY: “Leslie, what advice would you give to an entrepreneur looking to take the next step in their business growth?”

LESLIE PIERSON: “Definitely number one would have to be, to integrate EOS! The structure and the planning and the deliberate approach Catalyst Integrators brings was a game changer.

To expand, I recommend finding an awesome partner, like Lisa McCurdy, at Catalyst Integrators. Finding somebody in a role as an Integrator/COO that can really partner with you to actually implement all of your ideas so that you can sit solely in the Visionary seat is so important. So, if you see yourself as a Visionary and you don't have that person to help realize your vision, whether or not you do EOS, you will always feel the weight of the business until you find that right partner.

Lastly, I highly recommend starting by hiring a fractional Integrator. You might not be at a stage where you need a full-time person, and for us, I think we will always have a fractional Integrator. You may think, ‘What can they possibly get done in eight hours?’ Let me tell you, it’s a lot! It's game-changing. Plus it is more cost effective than hiring somebody full-time at that same level. Additionally, they have ‘seen the movie before,’ and I feel like they can help you better than a full-time Integrator. Not only are they helping bring your vision to reality but they have had exposure to so many different types of clients that they can help you see things from other perspectives that you might otherwise miss.” - Leslie Pierson, President & Visionary, Hot Taco Inc.

The Hot Taco team having a fun themed Quarterly Planning Session.

Resources: The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) www.eosworldwide.com

Catalyst Integrators® is not an affiliate of EOS Worldwide.

By: Nicole Mennicke, Fractional Integrator

Companies running on EOS® know the power of quarterly and annual planning sessions. You don’t have to drag us kicking and screaming to a session room. We love this dedicated time to sit with our teams and see the power of EOS in full force.

Both those leading and those participating should fully understand the expectations of the sessions and everyone’s roles to maximize this critical time together as a team.

HONORING THE ROLES

Simply stated - the EOS Implementer is there to lead the team to work ON the business quarterly, while the Integrator supports the team working IN and ON the business week to week.

The Integrator brings the knowledge of the day-to-day business operations and the insight into the team’s overall health and well-being. The EOS® Implementer (EOSI) serves as the guide for the planning sessions, bringing the team back to their core mission, vision, and values, and keeping the focus on what has been accomplished while outlining what is yet to come. Both the Integrator and the EOSI bring their passion for EOS® and together, these leaders partner to achieve traction during the sessions, identifying and discussing issues, and pointing the team in the same direction.

Each team member, including the Integrator and EOSI, brings their strengths, knowledge of and passion for the business, and the specific role-related responsibilities they have, to the table. The EOSI allows the Integrator to focus on their role as a member of the leadership team, contributing ideas and holding fellow colleagues accountable where needed.

Whether the Integrator is full-time or fractional, their role remains the same: allowing the Leadership Team and the EOSI to work ON the business together in the session. As an Integrator you can seek prep work and advice from your EOSI ahead of your session and also after. Lean on them as trusted partners that value your company and let them coach you!

HIT ISSUES AT THE ROOT

Before an issue can be discussed and resolved, the issue must be identified. Skilled Integrators have experienced a variety of issues and are keen to bring those issues to the surface as soon as they appear. Issue resolution at its best requires attention to behaviors, missed deadlines, and lack of reporting. Not only is the Integrator likely the one to identify issues, but is also integral to the decision about the best solutions to address and solve the issue. The Integrator’s background and varied experience can help provide a unique perspective for the Visionary and, where needed, the EOSI, to make solutions impactful and lasting.

The opportunity for the team to gather, discuss, resolve, and plan is key to the future success of the organization. The Integrator and EOSI can see great advantage in communicating ahead of each session to consult on any issues needing attention. The EOSI, as the leader of the session, can then guide the leadership team in the discussion and resolution of those issues, with input from all in the room.

MASTER PLANNING = PRODUCTIVE QUARTER

“The experienced Integrator is so happy to have the plan when we leave the session. They can envision the milestones, and then hold the team accountable and set the pulse for the organization.”

Matt Hahne, Certified EOS Implementer®

Trained as facilitators and committed to EOS® purity, the EOSI plays an important role in the success of both the session and the future of the business. EOSI Matt Hahne said it best: “As an Implementer, we commit to EOS® mastery and are experienced facilitators. We serve as “doctors” to businesses. We can advise, but if you do not do the work, you will not see the results.” Without complete commitment from the entire leadership team, a session’s value is only as good as the weakest member of the team.

As the “doctor” in the room, the EOSI can help recommend the treatment and the plan to ensure ongoing good health - of the team, of the organization, and of the overall business strategy.

The doctor’s right hand in the session is then the Integrator, or “physical therapist”, taking the treatment plan and putting the plan into action. The Integrator, in partnership with the team leaders, keeps everyone focused on growth while also paying attention to the injections of confidence, change, and the actions that will move the team forward. From the 30K feet view in the session, down to the ground to move things forward, clearly map out all of the Plans and Goals set at the meeting. PRO TIP: Utilize tools like the Impact Filter from Strategic Coach to get clear on Rocks.

A quarterly or annual planning session always brings the opportunity for growth, vision, and, ultimately, implementation. Working side by side, the team uncovers those things in their way, dealing with obstacles, celebrating successes, and strategizing and then putting into action the initiatives that will result in success. The EOSI and the Integrator, working in tandem, are the essential guides and take-action players for the planning sessions.

Your next planning session is already on the calendar. Striving for continued growth will require change, open-mindedness, and the partners of the EOSI and Integrator to achieve ultimate EOS® success. How can you best prepare for your role in the next planning session?