You can run a business without systems, but you can’t grow one without them.
A couple months ago passed the 4-year mark at TolHouse. Looking back, I realize we did what most founders do: We jumped off the cliff and built the plane on the way down. And, that was necessary. If we had waited for perfect processes, we never would have opened the doors. The “hustle” is what got us from Zero to One.
But “hustle” doesn’t get you from One to Ten.
Now, I spend almost all my time on the system-architecture of this operation. In many ways, I am going back to square one. I’m redoing work I thought was “done” three years ago. Working to replace my “heroics” with SOPs.
Brute force gets you some progress, but systems help you scale so you don’t have to be *in* the business, but work *on* it instead.
It does feel like slowing down, but doing it is actually the only way to speed up, II know.
If you’re a founder feeling stuck at a certain revenue number or headcount, ask yourself this: Are you “running” the business, or are you “architecting” it?
Running relies on your energy. It caps out when you get tired. Growing relies on your systems. It scales infinitely.
Don’t be afraid to pause and rebuild the foundation. The skyscraper can’t go any higher when it sits on the foundation of a shed.