Most companies settle for “good enough.” They get comfortable. They keep doing what’s worked before. But according to Michael Erath, founder of Next Level Growth, that’s exactly why so many businesses plateau. They need high performance business strategies.
“Most people are satisfied with being good. You can also choose to be excellent, or you can choose to be elite. But if you choose to be excellent or elite in something, you have to have a different and special discipline and focus and drive and commitment to do things to a very high standard all of the time.”
Erath’s approach, known as The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations, isn’t about plugging your business into a rigid system. It’s about mastering a set of principles that create momentum. Principles you can tailor to your company, your team, and your market.
These are high performance business strategies you can act on immediately. And if you want to hear Michael unpack each obsession in detail, you can tune into his full episode on the Beyond a Million Podcast where he shares the exact frameworks, stories, and lessons that shaped his approach.
High Performance Business Strategies Start With the Right People
For Erath, elite organizations start with elite people.
“You have to have an obsession around filling your organization with great people… and have systems that coach people up or coach people out.”
That means doing more than running job postings and hoping the right candidate shows up. It’s about getting intentional. Defining every role with a clear mission, identifying the most critical outcome that proves ROI for that seat, and outlining 3–5 core “obsessions” that person must own daily.
When you set expectations that clearly, you don’t just hire better, you manage better. And when someone isn’t meeting the standard, you have the clarity to either help them grow or make the tough call to part ways.
High Performance Business Strategies That Inspire Purpose
Once you’ve got the right people, you need to inspire them. Not with empty slogans, but with a genuine, emotional connection to the work they do.
“If we can communicate to you an inspiring purpose… you will always bring more energy, passion, and creativity to your work because of that emotional connection.”
Purpose isn’t just an external marketing tool, it’s an internal engine. It’s telling your team who you serve, why you serve them, and what the end impact really is. Even in a commoditized industry, there’s almost always a deeper reason your business matters. When your team connects to it, performance soars.
High Performance Business Strategies Require Optimized Systems
A common misconception is that process kills creativity. Erath sees it differently.
“Optimized playbooks… free up creativity because we’ve standardized all of the normal, predictable things within the business.”
By systemizing repetitive, predictable tasks, you remove mental clutter and decision fatigue. Your team can then spend their energy on higher-level thinking and innovation. Think of it like a sports team. No player would step onto the field without knowing the plays.
High Performance Business Strategies for Strategic Cash Flow
Erath also warns that too many entrepreneurs focus on top-line revenue while ignoring the lifeblood of the business—cash. Strategic cash flow management isn’t just about survival; it’s about positioning yourself to seize opportunities without overextending.
Forecast your cash regularly. Shorten your cash conversion cycle. Build reserves so you can act fast when the right growth move presents itself. In other words, treat cash flow as a strategic asset, not just an accounting line.
High Performance Business Strategies That Measure What Matters
Finally, elite organizations obsess over the right metrics. That means moving beyond vanity numbers and tracking the data that directly proves success and ROI.
“The most critical outcome… is a lagging indicator that proves success in the mission and return on investment for the person in the seat.”
For every role, project, and strategy, ask: If we achieve this one thing, will it prove we’re succeeding? Measure that, make it visible, and review it often.
The Standard Elite Businesses Live By
The truth is, there’s no single “system” that guarantees success. In his book, The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations, Michael Erath shares how the framework was built by pulling the most effective tools from EOS, Scaling Up, and dozens of other proven systems—and then customizing them to fit each unique business.
For Erath, the real power isn’t in following a rigid playbook. It’s in knowing which principles matter most and executing them relentlessly.
“There’s not just one tool or one way to do things… it’s about executing the principle to a high standard.”
High performance business strategies don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of intentional hiring, inspiring leadership, smart systems, disciplined cash management, and a commitment to measuring what matters most—applied consistently until excellence becomes the standard.
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