Get A Grip

How to Get Everything You Want from Your Entrepreneurial Business

by Gino Wickman, Mike Paton

4.6(1,046 ratings)

9 min read

Brief overview

This book explores a simple yet powerful system for entrepreneurs who feel overwhelmed or stuck in their growing businesses. It offers practical tools to help you clarify your organization’s vision, develop strong leaders, and achieve traction with disciplined execution. By reading it, you’ll learn a clear, repeatable strategy for sustainable growth and team alignment.

Introduction

Entrepreneurial leaders often hit a ceiling, feeling frustrated by poor communication, inconsistent results, and slipping enthusiasm. This book begins by showing that those problems are signs your business has outgrown its current methods. It highlights how simple concepts, when rigorously applied, can remove confusion and reignite momentum.

You’ll meet a leadership team struggling to keep their company on track. Through real dilemmas and open conversations, you’ll see them discover a structured system that helps them reclaim control. It sets the stage for how crucial it is to have everyone operating from the same playbook.

Here, the book presents a key premise: founders can’t do it all alone. They need a proven operating framework that addresses vision, people, data, issues, processes, and traction. This section builds excitement about a realistic approach that goes beyond quick-fix tips.

When your organization grows, old habits break. A framework that unites everyone under one clear vision is your best path forward.

The Struggle of Entrepreneurial Teams

Many teams feel that endless meetings and half-completed projects cause stagnation. The book’s early chapters show how frustration grows when leaders aren’t aligned and short-term solutions fail to stick. Without a system to solve issues at their root, everyone ends up putting out fires.

Examples from the narrative reveal a common pattern: departments compete for resources, people fail to openly address problems, and progress stalls in a swirl of blame. As you see these dysfunctions up close, it becomes clear that a stronger structure is needed to break the cycle.

The team in the story tries multiple fixes—more spreadsheets, shifting seats around, or micromanagement—but nothing works permanently. These early pages underline that entrepreneurial energy alone won’t overcome mounting complexity. Shared discipline is the missing piece.

You cannot grow simply by pushing harder. A healthy, cohesive leadership team is vital for long-term success.

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What is Get A Grip about?

"Get A Grip: How to Get Everything You Want from Your Entrepreneurial Business" by Gino Wickman and Mike Paton is an essential guide for business leaders facing setbacks in their entrepreneurial journey. The book presents a holistic system designed to align teams, clarify vision, and achieve substantial growth despite challenges. The central premise is straightforward: optimal business performance stems from adopting a systematic approach that strengthens leadership and fosters transparency in execution. By implementing these methods, readers are empowered to drive sustainable company success.

Within its pages, the book addresses common pain points felt by entrepreneurs, such as poor communication, dwindling results, and lack of motivation. It introduces readers to the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a practical toolkit that transforms business operations. Each section intricately details the six core components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Processes, and Traction. Wickman and Paton expertly unfold opportunities for cultivating a unified direction, ensuring team accountability, and integrating data-driven strategies. Readers learn to streamline functions, tackle inefficiencies, and build scalable structures.

This book deserves attention, as it is instrumental for any organization aspiring to evolve beyond current limitations. Its pragmatic, accessible prose demystifies the complexity of business strategy by offering actionable steps. Entrepreneurs who apply these principles can expect enhanced synergy, resulting in holistic business transformation. Tackling deep-seated operational issues head-on, it paves the way for a robust future.

Review of Get A Grip

"Get A Grip: How to Get Everything You Want from Your Entrepreneurial Business" stands out as a must-read for those seeking clarity and effective change in their organizations. Wickman and Paton meticulously explain how the EOS framework can rejuvenate a faltering business, showcasing its adaptability across industries. The emphasis on clear vision and unified teamwork sets the groundwork for consistent progress. By mapping out a robust strategy for long-term success, the authors ensure readers grasp both high-level concepts and practical applications.

Key strengths include a no-nonsense approach that encourages accountability and provides actionable insights. Each method, from forming data-driven metrics to fostering effective meetings, is presented with precision, ensuring readers immediately see its relevance. The writing style is straightforward, stripping away industry jargon and opting for digestible language that resonates with diverse audiences. Ultimately, the book is more than just a tool—it’s a manifesto for actionable business improvement.

Leaders, managers, and team members alike will find solace in the structured guidance offered, making it pertinent for businesses of all sizes. Whether you're encountering leadership hurdles or seeking a reliable model for growth, "Get A Grip" delivers. Its applicability is amplified by real-world examples that illustrate how others have overcome similar obstacles. Readers are set to finish the book armed with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear path forward. Wholeheartedly recommended.

Who should read Get A Grip?

Entrepreneurs facing growth challenges: This book streamlines operations, enhancing both short and long-term growth.
Executive leaders aiming for collaboration: Learn how to unify teams under a cohesive vision for better results.
Managers seeking practical insights: Equip yourself with actionable tools for effective leadership and strategy enhancement.
Consultants and business coaches: Provides a robust framework to guide clients toward operational excellence.
Growing businesses in transition: Offers structure and clarity to navigate complex change and scale efforts.

About the author

Gino Wickman is the founder of EOS Worldwide and creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), with extensive experience in helping entrepreneurs structure and scale their businesses. Mike Paton is an award-winning speaker and best-selling author who has conducted over 700 full-day EOS sessions with leadership teams of more than 100 companies. Together, they co-authored "Get A Grip: How to Get Everything You Want from Your Entrepreneurial Business," a fictional business fable that illustrates the practical application of EOS in achieving business success. Both authors have a deep background in entrepreneurship and business leadership, with Gino Wickman having started his entrepreneurial journey at age 21 and Mike Paton having run or helped run four small, growing companies before becoming a passionate advocate of EOS.