To "work the system," Carpenter suggests creating three specific guiding documents to align your operations:
The concept of is based on the book by Sam Carpenter, Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less . It centers on a fundamental "systems mindset" shift: viewing your business and life not as a single messy entity, but as a collection of individual, linear processes that can be optimized. WORK the SYSTEM
: A list of core guidelines (about 30–40 points) that dictate how you and your team make decisions. It establishes the "company culture" in practical terms. To "work the system," Carpenter suggests creating three
: Step-by-step, documented instructions for every recurring task. These ensure consistency and allow tasks to be delegated easily. How to Implement the Systems Mindset It establishes the "company culture" in practical terms
: A high-level vision (usually one page) that defines exactly where your business is going and what it aims to achieve. It serves as the "North Star" for every decision you make.
By isolating and perfecting these small sub-systems, you move from "firefighting" daily chaos to managing a machine that runs itself.