CHICAGO, IL: Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA), the nation’s leading hybrid-retail and custom integration buying group, came together last week at the Sharaton O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont (IL) for an intensive two-day business management seminar called the HTSA-EOS® Masterclass. Most of the participating HTSA dealers brought multiple members of their top management team to this deep immersion into the Entrepreneurial Operating System®, an execution effectiveness program developed by entrepreneur and author Gino Wickman.
Powerful Agenda – Impactful Workshop
Led by EOS Implementer Todd Smart of Smart Partners, HTSA members learned how entrepreneurial organizations are unique and how they can benefit from systems that address that uniqueness to help them be more effective. Unlike some other business coaching systems which can be heavy on theory and light on actionable next steps, EOS was created by an entrepreneur specifically for entrepreneurs.
Mr. Smart, who has extensive experience coaching a wide variety of businesses in many different industries – including a custom installation operation – not only helped the group grasp the key concepts of EOS, but he also served as sort of a master translator, assisting participants one-on-one during workshop segments to figure out how to best apply the EOS concepts to their actual business operations.
The Entrepreneurial Operating System
HTSA members were first introduced to EOS in a special presentation at their Spring Members Conference that took place at the end of March in San Diego. EOS implementer and author Mike Paton gave a dynamic presentation that delivered an overview of the EOS system, discussed several key program tools business leaders find effective, and showed how leaders can apply the lessons to build their businesses. By the end of Paton’s presentation, HTSA members enthusiastically lined up to receive an autographed copy of his book titled, Get A Grip: How to Get Everything You Want from Your Entrepreneurial Business.
The Entrepreneurial Operating System was created by successful entrepreneur and author Gino Wickman who has sold over 300,000 business books related to EOS. Wickman began his entrepreneurial career by taking over a struggling family business when he was only 25-years old – ultimately turning it around and successfully selling it. His Entrepreneurial Operating System is now being used in more than three thousand businesses worldwide and select EOS tools are being used daily by tens of thousands of companies.
HTSA Members Came Prepared to Work
This HTSA-EOS Masterclass was the first in what the group management believes will be a series of EOS events. The first group of HTSA members to take this class included an interesting cross-section of the organization, including such venerable organizations like Spire Integrated Systems (MI) and Barrett’s Technology (IL); as well as newer members such as Audio Den (NY) and Wicked Smart Homes (FL). The attendees came ready to work and they weren’t disappointed with a first day agenda that ran almost non-stop from 8:00AM to 6:00PM.
Mr. Smart had built in several workshop periods in which a topic was introduced, explained in detail with interaction with attendees, and then the group broke down into smaller work groups to then come up with ideas on ways to apply the concepts in each of their businesses. Mr. Smart would wander around the various groups answering questions and offering support to their efforts.
As members filled out their EOS workbooks, they ended up with a real-world action plan to begin implementing EOS in their businesses immediately. After a challenging two-day agenda, instead of emerging tired from the work of digesting all that content, the opposite was the case – members emerged absolutely fired up.
Fired Up
“This has been a real eye opener,” said Mark Bolduc, President of Wicked Smart Homes of Sarasota, FL. “It has definitely pointed out some deficiencies in our business, and now we have the system to address that. I’m going to meet with my partner and discuss to what level, but we’re definitely incorporating EOS into our business.”
“I loved it,” David Young, founder of Chesterfield, MO-based The Sound Room said enthusiastically. “I’m a big believer in constant education – you know, ‘sharpening the saw.’ We’ve been doing a lot of this [EOS] already [since the Spring Members Conference] – making sure we have the right people in the right slots, implemented the scorecard, conducting weekly Level 10 leader meetings, and more.”
“Time tremendously well spent,” exclaimed Roy Feldstein of Audio Den of Lake Grove, NY. “Within two days, we’re going to implement Level 10 meetings at Audio Den.”
“Todd Smart was amazing…best class I have attended ever! I would highly recommend this [EOS Masterclass]…it is a no-brainer and every minute we spent in the class was priceless,” enthused Shane Bala, President of Stellar Home Theater and Beyond, with multiple Texas locations. “As entrepreneurs we all have a vision but putting structure behind that vision to make it a success is what this class has taught me. Now, on I go to execute EOS and launch the Level 10s which seems like a great step towards achieving our vision.”
HTSA’s Masterclass Program
Launched about eighteen months ago, HTSA’s Masterclass Program is a new concept in member education that utilizes outside subject matter experts on topics the group management deems critically important. These outside experts then work in conjunction with the group to custom-tailor content in their area of expertise, such that it better meets the pragmatic needs of HTSA members.
The very first Masterclasss created for members was the Sell More Audio Masterclass held over two days in Kennesaw, Georgia. Since then, the group has produced Masterclass programs on several other topics, on technologies, vendors, and business education.
Although the process of commissioning the creation of a Masterclass program is one which requires a significant investment by the organization, the group considers it an investment in the future of its members…and, ultimately, the group itself.
To learn more about HTSA and its many membership benefits, see: www.HTSA.com.
About Home Technology Specialists of America
Home Technology Specialists of America, Inc. (HTSA), is a national association of hybrid retailers and custom integrators, who design, specify and install premier residential and commercial electronics systems. Today’s highly sophisticated technology solutions – ranging from home automation and media rooms…to lighting control systems and multi-room audio – demand a professional installation specialist to properly interface products and integrate sub-systems in the home, at work or on the go. Based in Barrington, IL, HTSA is proudly member-owned and offers industry-best programs that maximize the support of top technology brands and the profits of members. To learn more about HTSA, see: www.htsa.com; or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
