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An Honest Review of Traction by Gino Wickman

by Danielle Myers | Jan 31, 2022

Now, this year we have been operating our Digital Marketing Agency off of Traction and the VTO – Traction EOS for 3 years. But in the winter of 2018, when I was introduced to the book, “Traction” by Gino Wickman, my entire business strategy for my marketing agency was turned on its side. This business strategy book outlines a simple system that works to keep leadership in any company focused on the same well-defined core goals. 

And so, my journey through Traction and into the VTO – Traction EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) began..

VTO - Traction EOS

Any business owner that has truly spent the needed time and energy to work on their business can attest that there are few things that are as taxing as a business model shift. I can only compare this time spent on genuine reflection, consideration, analysis, and attempting to paint a clear picture of the future to a relationship pre-marriage. There are so many things to consider and all of them hold value now and in the future.

While I would like to say that I understood the task ahead of me as the EOS journey began, the reality is that I did not. Nonetheless, the goal was to gain clarity on our company direction and goals.

First, we absorbed all of the knowledge we could on the subject.

During the winter of 2018 our leadership team read, listened, and thoroughly notated Traction and all of the training available to us. At the time we were not considering a Traction implementer mostly because there was so much to consider we wanted to take our time. It is safe to say we did everything we could to absorb as much of Gino Wickman’s work as possible during those weeks and months.

Next, we dove headfirst into the VTO – Traction EOS

The Meat of Traction and the EOS Model

The key organizational toy in the book is the Vision/Traction Organizer (VTO). The VTO is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. This tool’s purpose is to help businesses achieve traction, grow and scale. It does this by helping create a culture of business development within the organization to improve its operations. The VTO is an excellent tool for businesses, including marketing agencies, looking to grow smart.

So, let’s break this tool down..

Traction’s VTO Summarized

The tool is split into two categories: Vision and Reality. The vision side is all about your end goal, or what you want your company to become. This could be anything from dominating a certain market to becoming a public company. The reality side of the VTO is focused on how you’re going to get there. It’s essentially your business plan broken down into actionable steps.

One of the best features of the VTO is that it can be tailored to any company’s size and industry. This makes it an ideal tool for businesses in all stages of development. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for years, the VTO will help improve your chances of success.

To conclude, here is my honest review.

We have been working to implement and improve the EOS at Myers Marketing Management for 3 years. One aspect of the VTO – Traction EOS is your company’s 3-year picture and I am amazed but not surprised. We have seen our 3-year picture come to life even in the midst of Covid-19. It has been easy for the terminology found in Traction being adopted throughout our company was even valuable and I fully believe contributed greatly to our success.

In short, the VTO and the content found in the book Traction are essential for anyone looking to start or grow a business.

If you like to turn pages you can order the book here or listen here on Audible 

Want a glimpse of the VTO? You can download it here!

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