Your Business Can’t Grow If It’s Glued Together with Post-It Notes

If your entire company depends on you answering every question and solving every problem—you don’t have a business. You have a bottleneck.

Here’s how to build real operational systems:

1. Start With Daily Checklists

Simple, repeatable tasks need written checklists. Think:

• Truck inspections

• Jobsite safety

• Equipment greasing

• Morning crew check-ins

Every checklist you create = one less fire you have to put out.

2. Build SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)

Start with your most chaotic tasks. Example: “How to Handle a Change Order.” Write it down, step by step. Train your people. Let them take ownership.

3. Use Tools, Not Memory

Use Trello, Notion, Google Docs—whatever works. Stop relying on conversations and whiteboards. Make your systems digital and trackable.

4. Appoint Accountability Roles

Don’t put everything on the foreman. Create layers:

• Office manager = paperwork & logs

• Superintendent = schedule & quality

• Foreman = crew & performance

Give each role a clear domain. That’s how you get out of the weeds.

5. Review and Refine Monthly

No system is perfect. Get feedback from your team. Tweak it. Adapt it. The best operators evolve every 30 days.

Bottom line: Systems let you step back without the wheels falling off. If you want freedom, this is where it starts.