Buying Local Podcast · Episode 35 · July 22, 2025 · 1 hr 0 min
Buying Local S3EP35: How Systems Fuel Growth with Dave Borland
In this episode of Buying Local , host Mike Nelson sits down with entrepreneur and EOS implementer Dave Borland to talk about the real challenges business owners face when scaling their companies. From early failures and marketing mergers to the power of systems like EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), Dave shares hard-earned insights from over a decade of helping teams grow with clarity and purpose. Whether you’re struggling with structure, scaling too fast, or just feeling stuck, this episode delivers candid advice on building strong leadership teams, gaining traction, and knowing when to get help. If you’ve ever felt “unemployable” or overwhelmed as a business owner, this one’s for you. Find the Buying Local Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Rumble. Learn more about Dave and Grow Exceptional at growexceptional.com . Contact him at [email protected] to implement EOS, strengthen your leadership team, or get your business back on track. 00:00 Introduction & Local Business Background 01:30 Early Entrepreneurial Struggles 04:00 Transition from Web Design to Strategy Agency 06:00 Navigating Rapid Change in Marketing & AI 08:30 Discovering EOS and Turning Around a Business 11:00 Starting as an EOS Implementer 13:30 Lessons from Working with Small Town Manufacturers 16:00 What an EOS Implementer Actually Does 18:00 Ideal Company Size & Team Structure 20:00 Building Out a Leadership Team 22:00 Marketing vs. Sales: Clarity in Roles 24:30 Common Entrepreneurial Struggles & Patterns 26:30 Process, Documentation & Building Systems 28:30 Organizational Checkup & Getting Started with EOS 30:30 90-Minute Meeting & Help First Philosophy 32:30 Self-Implementing EOS vs. Hiring a Coach 34:30 Typical EOS Implementation Timeline & Process 36:30 Why Some Clients Never “Graduate” 38:30 The Value of Coaching & External Perspective40:30 Outcomes: Shared Vision, Right People, Healthy Teams42:30 Final Thoughts on Growth, Leadership & Systems