The Great Game of Business

02/18/2025

Hope Is Not a Strategy. Do You Have a Plan for the Unexpected?
Most businesses plan for one version of the future—the one they hope will happen. But hope isn’t a strategy.

❌ Hope won’t prepare you for an economic downturn.
❌ Hope won’t keep your best customers from leaving.
❌ Hope won’t protect you from supply chain disruptions or labor shortages.

What happens when reality doesn’t match the plan?

That’s where High-Involvement Planning (HIP) comes in. It’s not about guessing where your business is headed—it’s about preparing for multiple futures so you’re never caught off guard.

✅ Financial clarity: Your team understands the numbers, so they can make smarter decisions.
✅ Scenario planning: You don’t just have Plan A—you have Plans B, C, and D ready to go.
✅ Company-wide alignment: Everyone knows the long-term vision and how they contribute to it.

💡 Think your plan leaves no stone unturned? Let’s stress-test it.

📅 Join our High-Involvement Planning (HIP) Workshop →https://bit.ly/4i4L1jY

Not quite ready? Get a sneak peek in our FREE webinar THIS THURSDAY → https://bit.ly/41jPPMJ

Join us for this interactive virtual event, hosted by the Great Game team and experienced Great Game Coaches. You’ll gain an insightful overview of our High-Involvement Planning process to determine if it’s the right fit for your organization.

02/12/2025

Most companies wait for the right conditions to scale.
But the best companies create their own conditions.

💡 They invest when others pull back.
💡 They optimize before they expand.
💡 They don’t let uncertainty dictate their decisions.

Are you making growth decisions based on strategy—or fear?

Join us TOMORROW for our roundtable with Jack Stack and learn how to scale wisely.

📅 Date: February 13th
⏰ Time: 10a-11a
📍 Virtual (Link in comments)

🚀 Last chance to get in the room for this conversation.

02/11/2025

Scalability doesn’t start when you grow.
It starts before you grow.

❌ It’s not about hiring when you’re already overwhelmed.
❌ It’s not about fixing inefficiencies after they’ve become roadblocks.

It’s about building the capacity to scale before you need it.

How do you do that?
That’s exactly what we’re covering in our roundtable with Jack Stack on February 13th.

📅 Date: February 13th
⏰ Time:10a-11a Central
📍 Link in comments

02/04/2025

The Great Game of Business vs. The EOS Business Model

The Great Game of Business explains five distinct advantages of our business coaching over the EOS business model and the different results delivered.

01/16/2025

The Ultimate Guide on How to Create & Use an Accountability Chart

The Great Game of Business explains how to create and use an accountability chart. This simple tool can make your open-book management much more effective.

12/20/2024

Happy Holidays from our team to yours. As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the connections we've made and the wins we've celebrated together. We can't wait to see how you make next year GREAT!

11/20/2024

Most companies react to recessions... at SRC, we prepare! With insights from ITR Economics, our employees don't just weather economic downturns—we leverage them.

Most companies react to recessions... at SRC, we prepare! With insights from ITR Economics, our employees don't just weather economic downturns—we leverage them.

10/31/2024

“It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

The secret to a resilient business?

Plan to be wrong.

We know that true resilience is about more than surviving downturns; it’s about thriving through them.

Jack Stack says it best: “Two sure ways to kill a company are through arrogance and through ignorance”

GGOB & contingency planning helps drive both out of your culture.

Instead of running on assumptions, we focus on building “trapdoors”—plans that prepare us for anything.

t’s a mindset shift: when you plan for the worst, you don’t just reduce fear—you make room for growth, innovation, and opportunities to thrive.

In this clip, we share how contingency planning fuels a culture of adaptability.

Join us on November 7th for an exclusive roundtable with Jack Stack. We’ll dive into the strategies and mindsets that build teams ready for anything—whether it’s a downturn or unexpected growth.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✳️Resilience through Readiness: Confidence replaces fear when teams know they’re prepared.
✳️Innovation from Adversity: High-involvement planning (HIP) turns obstacles into growth opportunities.
✳️Future-Proofed Talent: When people have the tools and foresight, they’re empowered to act boldly.

➡️ Secure Your Spot - https://bit.ly/3NNiuSF
This roundtable is free for community members—but seats are limited! Not a member yet? Start a 2-week free trial to join this game-changing discussion.

Let’s build a company culture where we’re ready for anything.

10/28/2024

**Can your team withstand the next big storm?**

➡️ In uncertain times, resilience isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity. Coming out of a high-stakes election and building on our conference theme of "Navigating an Uncertain Future," we’re hosting an exclusive roundtable on **November 7th** with Jack Stack to explore the power of radical transparency.

Many leaders hesitate to share tough news, but here’s the truth: tough conversations build stronger teams. When we communicate openly about potential challenges, we equip our teams with the foresight and confidence to respond rather than react.

🎬 **Jack elaborates on this clip**:
“We told people there were going to be hard times ahead and kept communicating. When August hit us hard, no one panicked – because we’d built a foundation of resilience through trust.”

Join us to discover how openness can empower your team to thrive in uncertainty.

💡 **Key Takeaways**:
1. **Transparency Builds Resilience**: Remove fear by openly sharing challenges.
2. **Confidence Through Planning**: High Involvement Planning (HIP) equips teams to act confidently in uncertain times.
3. **Investing in Talent**: Develop and retain skilled people for long-term success.

➡️ **Details to Register**:
This roundtable is free for community members, but seats are limited. Secure your spot by visiting our event page.
Not a community member yet? Join a 2 week free trial so you can participate! https://bit.ly/3AjhNgS

10/03/2024

Now this is what we call Servant Leadership.

Two of our GGOB teammates, Asheville residents Darren Dahl and Franzi Charen have stepped up in a big way following the devastation from Hurricane Helene.

Franzi has been making trips back and forth to deliver critical supplies to her neighbors, and Darren, featured in this video from The Weather Channel, has been boots on the ground, handing out water to those in need.

https://bit.ly/3Bo3SWT

Franzi shared: “My community is absolutely devastated. Many are trapped. [We] secured a big truck and are heading up there today. This will be the first of many, I imagine, trips. We have it chock full of supplies and will be back and forth all week. It’s unbelievable… I can’t even… “

This is leadership in action—stepping in when it’s needed most. If you want to support the recovery efforts in Asheville, consider donating here: https://bit.ly/3zMWFPR

09/18/2024

Our very own Rich Armstrong was featured on the Better Leadership Team Show with Mike Goldman sharing the game-changing impact of and how it can transform your business!

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4eqbkPC

Check out this short clip to hear a sneak peek and learn more about how transparency can drive success! ⬇️

09/18/2024

🎉 We just wrapped up an amazing GGOB conference in Arlington, Texas, where over 500 members came together to share and learn! 🌎 From insightful keynotes to hands-on breakout sessions, we tackled big topics like AI, long-term planning, financial literacy, and succession planning. Whether you missed it or want to revisit the sessions, we've got you covered!

📽️ Purchase now and get 60-day On-Demand access to all the mainstage presentations and breakout sessions starting September 30! It's the perfect way to catch up on everything from economic forecasts to inspiring leadership insights.

Don't miss this chance to future-proof your organization with the latest GGOB knowledge!

https://bit.ly/4eu6gJW

08/30/2024

Our upcoming conference is just around the corner, and we’re thrilled to have **Gerry O’Brion** as our opening keynote speaker! 🎤

Gerry is ready to help you navigate the challenges of today's business landscape with actionable insights and strategies. 🧭

📅 **Join us Sept 9-12** for a conference that will inspire and empower you to take your business to the next level.

🎥 Check out this special message from Gerry inviting you to be part of this transformative experience.

Don’t miss out—there’s still time to secure your spot!

🔗 https://bit.ly/4cOTaG6

08/21/2024

Standing out in a crowded market... yes, it's possible! Listen in on this weeks's 21 Hats Podcast

Hear what these CEOs have to say about standing out in a crowded market, navigating digital targeting challenges and handling unexpected expenses.

08/21/2024

🚀 Unlock the Power of "Sideways Leadership" 🚀

Ever wondered how to break down silos and create a culture of shared accountability in your organization?

Watch this video teaser to see what's in store! 🎥👇

Join us for an exclusive webinar featuring Chris Hutchinson, where we’ll dive into Sideways Leadership—a dynamic approach that transcends traditional hierarchies.

🗓 Date: Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM CT
📍 Where: Zoom (Event details inside the GGOB Community)

What You’ll Learn:
*How to align your team’s efforts with the overall mission.
*The “Achieve, Avoid, Preserve” framework—powerful for organizational alignment.
*Strategies to prevent teams from working in silos.

💡 This is a must-attend for leaders at all levels—CEOs, Directors, Managers, and anyone aiming to enhance cross-functional collaboration.

🔗 Free for GGOB Community members. Not a member yet? Join our free trial and access the webinar: https://bit.ly/4duiaU1

Let’s redefine leadership together. See you on the 29th! 🚀

P.S. Don’t miss out—this webinar is just an appetizer for Chris Hutchinson’s upcoming Half-Day Workshop at the GGOB Conference next month!

08/20/2024

🏆 Announcing the 2024 Healthy Company All-Star Award Winners! 🏆

The Great Game of Business is excited to celebrate the five winners and the finalists of this year’s Healthy Company All-Star Awards—organizations that truly understand the value of building a business centered around healthy finances, culture, and people.

🌟 **The 2024 Winners Are:**
- English Tea Shop, Sri Lanka
- Essential Ingredients, Inc., Lawrenceville, GA
- Keep Supply, Springfield, MO
- PurAqua Products, Inc. Rock Hill, SC
- Total Solutions Group, Maitland, FL

Each winner was selected by a prestigious panel, including:
- **Jack Stack**, President & CEO of SRC Holdings Corporation
- **Ann Rhoades*, President of PeopleInk, Inc.
- **Loren Feldman**, CEO of 21 Hats
- ** Ruzicka**, EVP of Accounting and Finance at SRC Holdings

The competition was fierce, but these companies stood out by excelling in three key pillars: **Financial Health, Cultural Health, and People Health**. Congratulations to Keep Supply and Essential Ingredients, who have now won two years in a row! 🏅

👏 **Honoring All 2024 Finalists:**
- 417 Magazine Springfield, MO
- bopi (Bloomington Offset Process, Inc), Bloomington, IL
- Hildebrandt Tree Tech Lubbock, TX
- Red Box Direct, Dublin, Ireland
- Resultant Indianapolis, IN
- Trebuchet Group International, LLC Fort Collins, CO
- Venturity Financial Partners, Dallas, TX

Join us in Arlington, TX, from September 10-12 at the 2024 Great Game of Business Conference to celebrate these remarkable organizations. The five winners will share their best practices on the main stage. 🎤

Let’s build healthier workplaces together!

Want to become a Healthy Company All-Star? Join us at the conference to connect with top-performing companies and the expert coaches and trainers who guided them to success.

https://bit.ly/3AFDrLT

At the 32nd Annual Great Game Conference, we will announce the winners of the 2024 Healthy Company All-Star Awards. This award celebrates the outstanding achievements of companies from around the globe that are committed to CHANGING THE GAME by doing business differently - through creating a winning...

08/19/2024

The CEO exclusive, CEO Summit is a one-day event designed to equip CEOs with tools needed to navigate an uncertain future ahead! Expert presentations, interactive roundtable discussion and hands-on activities will help you explore strategies to take the fear out of the organization and equip employees at all levels to plan for the unknown.

Seats are limited, be sure to upgrade your tickets to all-access and secure your spot at this CEO exclusive event! https://bit.ly/3YKK3mj

08/16/2024

When you upgrade your tickets to All Access you get access to one full day OR two half day pre-conference sessions of your choice, plus breakfast and lunch, AND entry to our networking reception including food and entertainment!

Preview Chris Hutchinson's Preconference workshop session: "The Leadership You Most Need in Your Company is...Sideways" on August 29th in the Light THEIR Torches: An Introduction to Sideways Leadership webinar hosted by Chris Hutchinson. Sign up for the webinar through our community platform to get a glimpse of all access workshops at Conference 2024!

Community members also receive half off their access upgrade cost. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your conference experience.

Upgrade your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3M2duJ3