# Next Level Growth

> Next Level Growth is a business coaching and consulting firm dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and leadership teams build elite organizations. We offer customized, principles-based growth frameworks and expert guidance from former CEOs to drive clarity, accountability, and sustainable performance. Next Level Growth focuses on tailored business operating systems designed around each client’s unique goals and challenges.

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Why Most Entrepreneurs Lose Their Freedom, And How to Get It Back](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/why-entrepreneurs-lose-their-freedom/): Learn why most entrepreneurs lose their freedom as they grow and how to regain control. Discover six practical moves to build structure, accountability, and systems that allow your business to scale without consuming your life.
- [If You Want to Scale Your Dream, Structure It](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/structure-your-business-to-scale/): Learn why passion alone cannot scale a business and how elite organizations use structure and the Five Obsessions to turn vision into sustainable growth and freedom.
- [How to Quickly Grow a Sales Army Without Nuking Your Culture](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/how-to-scale-sales-teams-without-chaos/): Learn how Elite Organizations scale sales teams fast without damaging culture by using a principles based onboarding academy built on clarity, accountability, and performance.
- [Beyond EOS and Scaling Up: Build a Framework That Fits You](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/beyond-eos-scaling-up-principles-based-framework/): Discover why prescriptive systems like EOS and Scaling Up eventually stall, and how a principles based framework helps elite organizations scale with clarity, adaptability, and profit.
- [Why Most New Year’s Goals Fail – and How Elite Leaders Think Differently](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/why-new-years-goals-fail/): Elite leaders don’t rely on resolutions, they build systems. Learn how to create clarity, alignment, and execution rhythms that make 2026 your first year of real, repeatable progress.
- [Say It So It Sticks: How Elite Leaders Set Expectations That Get Met](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/how-elite-leaders-set-clear-expectations/): Learn how elite leaders set clear expectations that drive execution. Use structure, questions, and coaching rhythms to improve alignment, accountability, and profit.
- [You Don’t Have a Communication Problem—You Have a System Problem](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/communication-problem-vs-system-problem/): Fix the real issue behind poor communication. Discover how elite teams use structure and rhythm to align faster, execute better, and build a Culture of Performance.
- [Founder Fatigue Is Real—Here’s How Elite Organizations Prevent It](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/founder-fatigue-is-real-heres-how-elite-organizations-prevent-it/): Founder fatigue is one of the biggest threats to your business. Learn how elite entrepreneurs prevent burnout by realigning purpose, eliminating what drains them, and building companies that deliver both profit and joy.
- [The Surprising Power of “No”: How Elite Leaders Multiply Profits by Doing Less](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/the-surprising-power-of-no-how-elite-leaders-multiply-profits-by-doing-less/): Most entrepreneurs don’t have a time management problem—they have a decision-making problem. Learn how saying “no” strategically can unlock capacity, sharpen focus, and drive higher profits through the Essentialist Mindset that powers elite organizations.
- [Stuck in Meetings That Suck? Here’s How to Fix Them](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/how-to-fix-meetings-that-suck/): Learn how to run Weekly Tactical Meetings that align your team, solve real issues, and drive execution. Eliminate wasted time and turn meetings into a powerful leadership tool.
- [No One Told You This About Delegation—And It’s Killing Your Growth](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/no-one-told-you-this-about-delegation/): Most entrepreneurs struggle with delegation because they skip the structure. Learn the four levels of delegation that free up your time, build team ownership, and unlock real business growth.
- [From Rockstar to Recruiter: How Elite Companies Multiply Their A-Players](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/from-rockstar-to-recruiter-how-elite-companies-multiply-their-a-players/): Most business owners wait too long to prep for a sale then wonder why their deal falls apart. Here's how to build a company buyers fight over, not walk away from.
- [Most Entrepreneurs Have This Backwards: The Key to Scaling Without Chaos](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/most-entrepreneurs-have-this-backwards-the-key-to-scaling-without-chaos/): Most entrepreneurs try to fix people problems with process and it backfires. Discover why getting the right people in the right seats must come before scaling systems.
- [No One Told You This About Productivity—And It’s Costing You Big Time](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/no-one-told-you-this-about-productivity-and-its-costing-you-big-time/): Fire drills, wasted time, distractions—these are stealing your focus while the work that actually grows your business gets sidelined. Elite organizations fix this with a 90-day execution system. Ready to regain control, sharpen your team’s focus, and finally scale without the chaos? Here’s how.
- [Your Organization’s Accountability Is Broken—Here’s How to Fix It](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/your-organizations-accountability-is-broken-heres-how-to-fix-it/): Most leadership teams think they’re holding people accountable—but deep down, they know expectations are vague, and performance is slipping. If you wouldn’t enthusiastically rehire your team, you have an accountability problem. Here’s how to fix it.
- [The 90-90-1 Rule: Why Most Entrepreneurs Stay Stuck (And How to Break Free)](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/the-90-90-1-rule-why-most-entrepreneurs-stay-stuck-and-how-to-break-free/): Most entrepreneurs stay stuck, not because they lack ideas, but because they ignore the one habit that actually moves the needle. The 90-90-1 Rule is a game-changer for focus, execution, and growth. Ready to break free? Here’s how.
- [Your Employees Are Clueless About Money—And It’s Costing You a Fortune](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/your-employees-are-clueless-about-moneyand-its-costing-you-a-fortune/): Think your employees understand company finances? This dead-simple $100 exercise flips the switch, gets them thinking like owners, and pumps up your bottom line. Don't skip this.
- [I Don’t Give 10s](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/i-dont-give-10s/): Explore why the "I don’t give tens" mentality might be hindering your team’s performance. Learn about the SCARF Model and how appreciation fosters a high-performing culture, with insights from real-life examples.
- [Growing Profits and Cash Flow – The fifth of the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations<sup>®</sup>](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/growing-profits-and-cash-flow-the-fifth-of-the-five-obsessions-of-elite-organizations/): Learn about the fifth of the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations® - Growing Profits & Cash Flow. Explore five practical disciplines, including Internal Financial Literacy and Cash Flow Forecasting, to swiftly enhance both profitability and net cash flow.
- [A Culture of Performance – The fourth of the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations<sup>®</sup>](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/a-culture-of-performance-the-fourth-of-the-five-obsessions-of-elite-organizations/): Explore what it truly takes to build a Culture of Performance. Learn why activity is not achievement, and how elite organizations align great people, clear expectations, and disciplined systems to consistently achieve meaningful results.
- [Optimized Playbooks – The third of the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations<sup>®</sup>](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/optimized-playbooks-the-third-of-the-five-obsessions-of-elite-organizations/): Explore why most business frustrations stem from people or process—and how Optimized Playbooks eliminate both. Learn how elite organizations use simple, disciplined systems to drive clarity, consistency, and performance, freeing teams to focus on what matters most.
- [An Inspiring Purpose – The second of the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations®](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/an-inspiring-purpose-the-second-of-the-five-obsessions-of-elite-organizations/): Steve Jobs once said that the most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. Great stories capture our hearts and bring inspiration. When people are emotionally engaged and inspired, they will bring more discipline and passion to what they are doing. The power of the second obsession of elite organizations, an Inspiring Purpose, while often overlooked, is very real.
- [Great People – The first of the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations<sup>®</sup>](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/great-people-the-first-of-the-five-obsessions-of-elite-organizations/): Learn how to unlock the potential of your A-Players and boost your organization's performance while financing their growth. Dive deep into the Next Level Accountability Chart™ and discover how clear expectations and coaching can turn potential A-Players into top performers.
- [Unlocking Greatness: The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations<sup>®</sup>](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/unlocking-greatness-the-five-obsessions-of-elite-organizations/): Explore the path from “good” to “great” in business with insights from Next Level Growth. Discover the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations™, including Great People, Inspiring Purpose, Optimized Playbooks, Culture of Performance, and Growing Profits. Join us on this journey to elevate your organization’s performance and success.
- [Clear the Fog for Better Decision Making](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/clear-the-fog-for-better-decision-making/): I just finished the Audio Book The Road Less Stupid by Keith J. Cunningham and, spoiler alert, the book is about why smart people do dumb things. The author asks the reader, “how much money would you have right now if I gave you the ability to unwind any three financial decisions you have ever made?” Cunningham calls this "paying a dumb tax". He says, “we don't need to do more smart things, we just need to make fewer dumb mistakes. Every one of those three decisions you would love to unwind was an avoidable mistake.” The vast majority of our dumb tax is a direct result of emotional, overly optimistic, and poorly thought-out decisions. The solution to paying these types of taxes is allowing yourself thinking time.  
- [The First & Second in Command Relationship (Founder & Operations)- Building Trust](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/the-first-second-in-command-relationship-founder-operations-building-trust/): As a former "Second in Command/Change Agent" inside organizations working directly with, and for, CEOs, I know what it's like to feel as though you're on a whole different planet, or at least speaking a different language. These relationships are typically Yin and Yang, and when operating in harmony, can bring beautiful balance. But when forces are opposed, this can create chaos and destruction.
- [How to Create an Employee Engagement Process](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/how-to-create-an-employee-engagement-process/): When I ask Leaders what their employee engagement process consists of, I almost always get a blank stare or some fumbling of information about how they host company-wide team-building events, do surveys, gift cards or other incentives.
- [5 Tips to Cultivate a Culture of Resilience](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/5-tips-to-cultivate-a-culture-of-resilience/): There is one common trait that all successful entrepreneurs share—resilience. There are two definitions of resilience I like: "the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties - toughness," and, "the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity."
- [Align and Measure Employee Results with Most Critical Outcome<sup>®</sup>](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/align-and-measure-employee-results-with-most-critical-outcome/): For most companies, the biggest investment they make is in human capital. As important as it is to get this substantial investment right, few organizations are actually tracking, or know how to measure, the value they are getting in return. And when that’s the case, they can’t truly know if they’re getting an adequate return on investment (ROI) for their human capital expenditure.
- [Confront the Brutal Facts to Create a Culture of Commitment](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/confront-the-brutal-facts-to-create-a-culture-of-commitment/): “Leadership does not begin with just a vision. It begins with getting people to confront the brutal facts and act on the implications.”   - Jim Collins
- [The Power of the Empty Chair](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/the-power-of-the-empty-chair/): Over the past decade, the entrepreneurial world has seen a significant increase in the availability, and use of, business operating systems like EOS®, Scaling Up®, Pinnacle Business Guides, and Next Level Growth® to help entrepreneurs and their leadership teams run better businesses.
- [Take Your Business, and Your Life, to the Next Level](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/take-your-business-and-your-life-to-the-next-level/): After six fantastic years as The Traction Hub, the time to evolve has come. The Traction Hub is now Next Level Growth. Keep reading to learn what makes us different and more valuable in the world of business operating systems and coaching.
- [6 Steps to Achieving your Goals](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/6-steps-to-achieving-your-goals/): According to a recent article by Douglas Vermeeren in Reliable Plant magazine, only 20 percent of the population actually sets goals for themselves. Of that 20 percent, roughly 70 percent of those goals are not achieved. That equates to only 14% of the population setting and achieving goals. While I see better success rates from the business I work with, in the early stages of our work together, most entrepreneurial businesses are only accomplishing around 40% of their goals on time.
- [Just Say “No” to Achieve Growth](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/just-say-no-to-achieve-growth/): In the early days, they were taking every order that came their way. It was always about finding a way to get to yes—and in those early days, doing so was critical to their survival. By the time we started working together, they had invested in very expensive large-format printing equipment and were capable of taking on very large projects. But their ability to achieve growth had flatlined and they were stuck.

## Pages
- [Anessa York](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/anessa-york/): Chief Operating Officer of SANTÉ Realty Investments
- [Guides](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/guides/): Within 5 years of starting their work with us, clients on average have grown their enterprise value 5.9X, doubled revenue every 3 years, and doubled profit dollars every 2.5 years.
- [About Us](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/about/): We exist to help founders and leadership teams build elite organizations. That takes more than a prescriptive system. It takes a principles-based, customizable framework designed around YOU.
- [](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/book-a-strategy-call-me/): The American Revolution didn’t really start with the shot heard around the world. It started with a conversation about a vision for a brighter, bolder future.
- [FAQ](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/faq/): Next Level Growth is a business coaching and consulting firm that helps entrepreneurial leaders build elite organizations. We focus on a customized, outcomes-based approach to business operating system implementation and ongoing guidance. Unlike one-size-fits-all systems, we meet you where you are and bring the right tools and concepts, at the right times, regardless of the source, based on YOUR individual needs.
- [Dan Manson](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/dan-manson/): Next Level Growth Partner & Business Guide
- [Landon Kirk](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/landon-kirk/): Next Level Growth Partner & Business Guide
- [Turn Your Business Into a Fabulous Economic Engine with Michael Erath](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/economic-engine/): How you can leverage a simple Next Level Growth concept called Most Critical Outcome® to provide every team member in your organization a clear, outcomes-based goal that ultimately contributes to growing your Enterprise Value.
- [Client Accountability Checkup](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/client-accountability-checkup/): This is an assessment for companies using the Next Level Growth Approach to assess how well they are executing on the tools and concepts they have adopted.
- [Jim Small](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/jim-small/): Next Level Growth Partner & Business Guide
- [Accelerator](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/accelerator/): Bring in additional support to help accelerate your rollout of the Next Level Growth foundational tools and concepts that you have learned from working with your Next Level Growth Guide.
- [Organize Your Playbooks](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/organize-your-playbooks/): After trying out several potential solutions, Next Level Growth has chosen and started using what we think is the best value in Training and Onboarding systems. Follow the link below to learn what we use and how you can get your Playbooks organized to drastically improve your onboarding and recurring training for every role in your business.
- [Recommended Reading](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/recommended-reading/): A curated list of books from Next Level Growth and our friends such as Cameron Herold, Dave Ramsey, and others.
- [Ben Goddard](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/ben-goddard/): Next Level Growth Partner & Business Guide
- [Chad Nikkel](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/chad-nikkel/): Next Level Growth Partner & Business Guide
- [Wendy Evans](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/wendy-evans/): Next Level Growth Partner & Next Level Growth Coach
- [Michael Erath](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/michael-erath/): 4X Inc 5000 CEO and Founder and CEO of Next Level Growth
- [Chris Roth](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/chris-roth/): Next Level Growth Partner & Business GuideBirthing of Giants Fellowship Board of Experts member
- [Chris Prenovost](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/chris-prenovost/): Next Level Growth Partner & Business GuideFormer Certified EOS Implementer®
- [Portal](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/owners-circle/portal/): Welcome to the Next Level Growth Owners Circle portal. This is your exclusive, private resource page to access information about upcoming events and watch recordings of past events. Please reach out to your Next Level Growth Business Guide with any questions or for any assistance.
- [Owners Circle Login](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/owners-circle-login/): Login below to access your Owners Circle content.
- [Owners Circle](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/owners-circle/): Exclusive resources and events only available to owners of organizations who are active members of the Next Level Growth Community.
- [Account](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/account/)
- [Books](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/books/): Get the HardcoverGet the PaperbackGet the KindleGet the Audible 
- [Testimonials](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/testimonials/): https://youtu.be/h5Eq3CIuRdw?si=0Hbj6zVlwSMHl3Vt
- [Team](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/team/): Our Clients Achieved a 5.9x Increase in Enterprise Value in 5 Years. Revenue grew at an average 22.3% CAGR and Profit at an average 31.4% CAGR.
- [Elite Organizations Assessment](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/assessment/): At Next Level Growth, we are passionate about Helping Entrepreneurial Leaders Build Elite Organizations®. Elite organizations bring a special discipline, focus and commitment to the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations®. This results in a more leadership-lead organization, with fewer issues and struggles, leading to more freedom for you.
- [Scott Elser](https://nextlevelgrowth.com/scott-elser/): Next Level Growth Partner & Business GuideFormer Certified EOS Implementer®

## About
- We exist to help founders and leadership teams build elite organizations. That takes more than a prescriptive system. It takes a principles-based, customizable framework designed around YOU.
- Elite organizations bring a special discipline, commitment, passion, and drive to excel in each of the Five Obsessions: Great People, aligned and driven by an Inspiring Purpose, consistently training on, executing, and improving Optimized Playbooks, in a Culture of Performance, while proactively Growing Profit and Cash Flow.

## The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations®
- The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations® is our proprietary framework that focuses on the key areas every business must master to become truly elite:
- Great People – Building and developing a team of solid A-Players
- Inspiring Purpose – Creating a clear vision and purpose that motivates your team
- Optimized Playbooks – Developing efficient processes and systems
- Culture of Performance – Establishing accountability and a results-oriented environment
- Growing Profits & Cash Flow – Ensuring sustainable financial growth

## Resources
- Blog: https://nextlevelgrowth.com/blog/
- AI Clone: https://askmichaelerath.com/
- Books: https://nextlevelgrowth.com/books/
- Recommended Reading: https://nextlevelgrowth.com/recommended-reading/
- FAQ: https://nextlevelgrowth.com/faq/