Table of Contents
1. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
2. In this episode…
3. Resources Mentioned in this episode
4. Sponsor for this episode…
Laura Shiel

Laura ShielLaura Shiel is the COO at Clara CFO Group, a firm that specializes in offering strategic financial guidance and support to small businesses. With a diverse background in accounting and finance, Laura’s experience spans various sectors, including public accounting, financial services, and corporate finance in a Fortune 500 company. She holds two esteemed credentials in the finance world: she is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). As a fractional CFO, Laura is dedicated to helping small business owners achieve their personal and professional aspirations.


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Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

  • [01:56] Laura Shiel discusses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and how it benefits growth-oriented teams
  • [03:10] How Clara CFO Group began their EOS journey and why timing mattered
  • [04:56] Why the book Traction is the ultimate EOS operating manual
  • [07:08] The roles of visionary and integrator in EOS and why defining them is critical
  • [09:47] How the accountability chart goes beyond a traditional organizational chart to create clear expectations
  • [22:20] What does a regular meeting cadence look like at Clara CFO?
  • [28:21] The benefits of using a scorecard to track key metrics
  • [29:16] When to consider hiring an EOS implementer versus self-implementing
  • [32:44] The impact of EOS on Clara CFO’s team alignment and growth trajectory

In this episode…

Scaling a small business can be exciting but overwhelming without the right systems in place. How can business owners bring structure and accountability to support growth without getting bogged down by chaos?

According to Laura Shiel, a seasoned CPA and COO, implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) provides clarity and organization, helping teams set clear roles and realistic goals. She emphasizes that EOS allows companies to transition from reacting to everyday issues to proactively driving strategic growth. This structured approach, she notes, empowers everyone on the team to align around the vision, paving the way for sustainable success.

In this episode of the Financial Clarity podcast, Hannah Smolinski speaks with Laura Shiel, COO at Clara CFO Group, about their journey of implementing EOS at the company. They share insights on defining roles and responsibilities, setting 90-day “rocks,” and running effective weekly meetings to keep everyone on track. Laura also offers advice on the benefits and challenges of self-implementing EOS, with practical tips for small teams looking to adopt this transformative system.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Special Mentions

Related Episode

Quotable Moments

  • “EOS is a system for small businesses to meet their goals, adding clarity and accountability to business vision and steps.”
  • “The book is really the operating manual for EOS implementation, and it resonated with me on how well it’s laid out.”
  • “Quarterly meetings are crucial for stepping back and ensuring we’re on track with our long-term vision.”
  • “The level of progress in EOS comes from addressing root issues weekly, fostering accountability and strategic advancement.”
  • “I think the growth the business has seen this year is partly because we laid this structured foundation in place with EOS.”

Action Steps

  1. Establish an accountability chart: Define essential roles and functions required for your business to operate effectively, regardless of current staffing. This helps set a clear path for future hiring and growth, ensuring the right people are in the right seats as the company evolves.
  2. Clarify vision and set long-term goals: Conduct an annual meeting to outline ten-year, three-year, and one-year goals. Use this visioning process to align your team with the company’s mission, establishing a strong foundation for ongoing strategic planning.
  3. Implement quarterly and weekly meetings: Adopt a quarterly meeting schedule to set and evaluate 90-day goals (or “rocks”) that drive progress toward annual objectives. Complement this with weekly L10 meetings that allow the team to address issues, track key metrics, and maintain accountability.
  4. Utilize the scorecard for key metrics: Develop a scorecard with critical metrics to assess business health at a glance. Regularly reviewing these numbers helps you identify early signs of issues and keep the team aligned with financial and operational targets.
  5. Decide on self-implementation or external support for EOS: Determine whether to self-implement EOS or bring in a certified implementer based on your team’s capacity and need for structure. Hiring an external implementer may expedite the process and provide additional guidance if your leadership team requires extra support.

Clara CFO is dedicated to providing financial clarity and profit-maximizing solutions to small businesses. The team at Clara CFO are seasoned accounting professionals with a heart for small business. We help growth-minded entrepreneurs thrive through Fractional CFO services and financial education.

Whether you’re grappling with hiring decisions, profit margin concerns, or ambitious growth plans, Clara CFO provides insights, recommendations, and a clear financial roadmap to achieve your goals.

To learn more about Clara CFO Group and how we can help your business, visit ClaraCFO.com.