by Steve "The Doctor" Meek, CISSP
Podcast Doc-umentary- Episode 101 of Talk To Th3 Doc, EOS expert Eric Dykes joins Steve Meek to explain how structure unlocks growth—and why innovation in IT is just as important as uptime.
Have you ever felt like your business is running, but not moving?
In Episode 101 of Talk To Th3 Doc, I sat down with Eric Dykes, an EOS Implementer who helps leadership teams clarify vision and break through growth ceilings. Our conversation focused on what’s really missing in most small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that are stuck spinning their wheels: alignment.
Not just alignment between departments or partners—but alignment between vision, leadership, and technology.
At Fulcrum Group, this hits close to home. Too many business leaders in DFW are stuck in reactive IT loops. Their computer networks “work,” but they’re not helping the end users. There’s a critical difference between keeping the lights on and fueling strategic innovation—and that’s where our STARPower IT framework comes in.
His Real-World Wake-Up Call
Eric shared the story of a founder who, despite years of effort, still found himself wearing too many hats and fighting the same battles. He had vision—but no traction. Tech was a source of frustration, not leverage. Sound familiar (fulcrum anyone)?
What changed his business trajectory wasn’t another hire or new CRM. It was EOS—a system to align leadership, clarify roles, and measure what matters. Suddenly, decisions got easier, his priorities sharpened and then, growth accelerated.
At Fulcrum Group, we’ve seen the same happen when SMBs move from break/fix IT to realbusiness-aligned IT. When IT becomes a strategic function, not just a cost center, that’s when transformation begins.
Strategy First. Then Systems.
Eric nailed it with this quote:
“There’s hidden value in long-term thinking—when you slow down, you can actually move faster.”
That same thinking applies to technology. Yes, running servers and patching endpoints is important, but what really empowers your users is whether your IT setup supports your vision. Are your tools aligned with where your company needs to go?
Our STARPower approach to SPOT Managed IT Services focuses on more than infrastructure. We’re helping DFW companies:
- Align technology to strategy—When we meet with business leadership regularly, we can co-create a technology roadmap. A map only helps by checking where you are often.
- Innovate proactively—We’re constantly introducing new ideas, such as Microsoft Teams centric usage, app to app connectivity and AI readiness (for Microsoft Copilot for 365).
- Free up leadership bandwidth—When we understand your unique business concepts, we make better technical choices to reinforce your unique needs.
Anyone can keep your network running. The real value is in helping you run smarter for your people.
The Innovation Imperative
Here’s the hard truth: The biggest IT risk facing SMBs today isn’t downtime—it’s irrelevance.
- Cyber threats are increasingly targeting small businesses. If you think they shouldn’t target you, you may be right. But, they do target “easy”, not minding the risk makes you easy.
- Cloud sprawl is outpacing internal expertise. Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint—they’re powerful, but only if implemented strategically. And understanding how to delete, archive, secure and manage your related data is sorely needed.
- Economic uncertainty is forcing leaders to do more with less. That means IT must be lean, but also clever. A properly envisioned environment can even help fewer people do more than additional staff.
Innovation isn't a buzzword. It’s the difference between companies that scale and those that stall.
That’s why Fulcrum Group’s STARPower framework emphasizes strategic conversations—not just tech tickets. We ask: What’s next for your business? And how can your IT help get you there?
Data That Drives Decisions
Still unsure whether it’s time to rethink your IT strategy? Consider this:
- 61% of SMB leaders say misaligned or outdated technology has directly hindered growth in the last 18 months (Techaisle, 2024).
- Businesses that align IT with strategic goals are 3X more likely to exceed revenue targets (Forrester, 2023).
- Proactive IT providers resolve issues 30–40% faster and reduce downtime by up to 50% (CompTIA Benchmark Report).
In short: innovation and alignment aren’t luxuries—they’re competitive advantages.
Ready to Move Beyond “Just Working”?
If this conversation sparked something in you—if you know your IT isn’t helping drive growth—it’s time to talk.
✅ Listen to the full episode of Talk To Th3 Doc with Eric Dykes
🎧 Now streaming on Spotify
✅ Download the free Vision/Traction Organizer (VTO) tool
📄 Clarify your strategy with EOS
✅ Request an AI Readiness Assessment from Fulcrum Group
We’ll show you where your IT is enabling growth—and where it’s holding you back.
Fulcrum Group: Strategic IT for Forward-Looking Leaders
At Fulcrum, we’re not just fixing networks. We’re helping businesses across DFW use IT as a lever for transformation. That means asking the hard questions, mapping tech to strategy, and pushing for smarter innovation—not just stability.
If you’re ready to break through your own growth ceiling, let’s have a conversation.
📞 817-337-0300
💻 www.fulcrumgroup.net
📩 sales@fulcrumgroup.net
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