A few quarters into our EOS journey, my client Linda made an offhand comment that stopped me. She’s the founder of a mid-sized manufacturing company.
“I think my stress response is better since we started EOS.”
I’ve heard leaders talk about better teams, better meetings, better business numbers. But I’ve never heard someone talk about better biofeedback from their nervous system.
Naturally, I asked if she could explain. A few days later, Linda sent over screenshots from her Oura Ring. If you’re not familiar with the device, it’s a ring you wear on your finger to track things like stress load, recovery, and resilience to see how your body’s doing under the hood.
And here’s what we saw:
- When we began EOS, her metrics got worse.
- A few months in, they turned the corner.
- Today, they’re stronger than before we began.
Turns out, her body knew the truth before any of us said it out loud: she was carrying too much, and something had to change.
The Closet Always Looks Worse Before It Looks Better
Let’s rewind to where this all started.
Linda and I kicked things off with Focus Day on August 6, 2024, followed by Vision Building Days in September and October. From the outside, Linda was a sharp, mission-driven founder running a growing business. Confident. Capable. Committed.
But like a lot of Visionaries, she was doing too much. And it wasn’t until we got the Accountability Chart on the wall that she could see it clearly:
She didn’t have an Integrator.
She was wearing every hat. Big decisions, daily ops, long-term strategy, emotional air cover. No wonder her nervous system was fried.
And if you’ve ever organized a chaotic closet, you know what happens first: you pull everything out, dump it on the floor, and wonder what you’ve done. Same thing here.
The moment we got clear on structure and Core Values, the real pressure started. People issues surfaced. Accountability got real.
Clarity can be brutal at first, and her Oura Ring knew it.
Free Tool: The Accountability Chart
The Data Really Doesn’t Flatter You
In those first few months, Linda’s resilience plummeted while her stress load spiked. Her daytime recovery was consistently rated as “Limited.”
There was no hiding it.
This wasn’t an emotional overreaction. It wasn’t guesswork. Her body was sending a clear message: You’re carrying too much, and it’s not sustainable.
What I admire most is that Linda didn’t flinch. She stayed in it.
We leaned into the EOS Process—no shortcuts. She brought on a true Integrator. We had the hard conversations. The team gained clarity. Meetings tightened. Accountability moved from theory to practice.
And little by little, the data started to shift.
Related Reading: If You’re Not Using These 5 EOS Tools, You’re Not Running on EOS
Moving from “Limited” to “Strong”
We could see it right there in the charts. “Limited” became “Growing.” Then “Growing” became “Strong.”
It didn’t happen overnight, but it happened in time.
Her nervous system began to bounce back more quickly.
Her stress load dropped.
Her resilience rose and held steady.
Running on EOS didn’t make her a better leader. It made her a healthier one.
Related Reading: Heart-Centered Leadership Pays: The ROI of Genuine Care & Concern
EOS as a Nervous System Upgrade
I spend a lot of time talking with business owners about:
- Growth
- Profit
- Accountability
- Time
Those are real benefits. But this experience reminded me of something deeper.
EOS isn’t just about optimizing your business. It’s about reorganizing your life.
When the right people are in the right seats…
When the Visionary finally has an Integrator…
When Core Values get lived out, not just laminated…
Your body notices.
You stop bracing. You breathe differently. You sleep better.
You start leading from rest, not just from drive. You respond instead of react, moving with intention rather than nervous adrenaline.
Embracing the Discomfort of Doing It Right
Here’s what I want every business owner to know: If you’re doing EOS right, it might feel harder before it feels better.
That doesn’t mean it’s broken. That means it’s working.
- You’re pulling the crap out of the closet.
- You’re telling the truth about your team.
- You’re stepping out of roles you should have left behind years ago.
That kind of clarity comes with a cost. But on the other side of it?
Freedom. Alignment. Health.
And sometimes even measurable improvement in your nervous system.
The tension is real, but so is the transformation. As elements fall into place, and what once felt heavy starts to feel possible.
And for founders willing to do the work, it’s more than worth it.
EOS Isn’t Just a Business Operating System
It’s a human one, too.
Linda didn’t set out to improve her biofeedback scores. She just wanted to build a better company.
But when we implement EOS purely, the impact goes beyond profit and process. It affects how we show up. How we lead. How we live.
So if you’re starting to feel the pressure (the kind that builds before real clarity), I’ll just leave you with this:
Your nervous system might be trying to tell you something.
And if you listen, it might thank you later.
Ready to Rewire the Way You Work?
You weren’t meant to white-knuckle your way through leadership. You don’t need to absorb every problem, fill every gap, or carry the emotional weight of the whole business.
There’s a better way to work—and feel—at the helm.
A Professional EOS Implementer helps you install the structure your business needs to thrive, while giving your nervous system room to exhale. You’ll trade constant strain for sustainable momentum.
This isn’t about hustle. It’s about health. And it starts with one decision.
Find Your Implementer and take the first step toward a business and a life that actually supports you.
