Systems with Soul: Build Business Systems That Reflect Your Values and Bring You Freedom

Why Systems Matter for Business Freedom

Hey everyone, Eric Beck here! Today, I want to dig into something I’m passionate about: building systems in your business that not only work but actually have "soul." We’ve all heard about systems—heck, I’ve taught about them for years—but there’s a deeper level that most people miss. This is about creating systems that set you free, systems aligned with your values, and systems that can truly change your business and your life.

Systems Have Souls

First off, let’s get one thing straight—systems aren’t just mechanical processes. They have souls. Every system you build carries the values baked into its creation. Think about it: when someone designed the first door on hinges, it wasn’t just about utility; it was about safety, efficiency, and consistency. Now take that concept to your business. The systems you build reflect your beliefs, your ethos, and your mission.

So, let’s ask the tough question: What kind of "soul" do your business systems have? Are they empowering your team, fostering creativity, and serving your customers well? Or are they built on old patterns that keep you stuck in the grind, unable to break free?

Breaking Free from the Pharaoh System

In the Founders Fire Podcast, I often compare our economic and business systems to the story arc from the Old Testament: slavery, wilderness, and the promised land. Many of us are still in that "slavery" phase, trading time for money, overwhelmed by financial and relational debt, constantly bombarded by distractions in the digital age. That’s Pharaoh’s system, and it's designed to keep us in chains.

Most business owners I work with are stuck in the "wilderness" phase. They’ve escaped the 9-to-5 grind, but now they’re navigating the chaos of running their own business without clear systems. This is where building "systems with soul" comes into play.

Steps to Build Effective, Value-Driven Systems

Systems are not just a to-do list or a set of policies. They’re living, dynamic sets of relationships that produce results you can't achieve when you just focus on individual tasks. But here’s the kicker: the systems you build will shape the kind of business you have and the kind of life you live.

For example, if you build systems that only focus on profit, you might make money, but you could lose your team, burn out, and ultimately end up in a business you hate. On the flip side, if you build systems that prioritize people, process improvement, and value-driven action, you create a business that serves you, your team, and your customers in a meaningful way.

Defining the What, When, How, and Why of Systems

The key to building great systems is to start with two simple steps: defining the what and the when. Most business owners throw tasks at their team without clearly defining what needs to be done and when it needs to happen. You need to pave the paths first. Only then can you move on to the second step: defining the how and the why. When your team understands how to do their job and why it matters, that’s when real buy-in happens.

Finally, the third layer of systemization is documenting the nitty-gritty details—the procedures, policies, and training materials that support your team in executing those systems consistently.

Systems That Bring Freedom

Here’s the bottom line: building systems with soul is about creating a game worth playing. It’s about taking back your freedom and future-proofing your business. It’s about helping you move out of the wilderness and into the promised land of a self-managing, value-driven business.

I talk a lot more about these concepts in my new book, A Game Worth Playing: Take Back Your Freedom, Future-Proof Your Business, and Change the World. It’s the manifesto of the modern entrepreneur and outlines why small business can be a path to freedom for millions.

Join Me in Destin, Florida

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to join me and the Founders Fire team in Destin, Florida, from September 26th-29th. We’re hosting a special retreat, and it's at a significantly reduced price. You’ll get real technique and training to see the changes you want in your business, your life, and your leadership capabilities.

So, let's move beyond just "trying" and get into some serious "training." Your business is a game worth playing, and I want to help you build it the right way.