Podcast Summary: Confessions of an Implementer

Episode: S2E36 | Why Action Beats Overthinking in Business with Kris Snyder
Host: Ryan Hogan (Talent Harbor)
Guest: Chris Snyder (CRO of 90, EOS Implementer)
Date: February 18, 2026

Overview

In this candid, fast-paced conversation, Ryan Hogan sits down with Chris Snyder, a seasoned entrepreneur, executive, and EOS Implementer who is also the CRO at 90, an EOS software platform. They dive deep into Chris’s entrepreneurial journey, the evolution and implementation of EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), the impact of technology (especially AI) on business models, and why taking action trumps overthinking in business leadership. The episode is packed with practical insights for implementers, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about the future of business operations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chris Snyder’s Entrepreneurial Origin Story

• Early entrepreneurship: Chris’s childhood ventures included a candy bar distribution scheme in middle school and running a landscaping business through college.
  • “I had kids distributing candy on every bus and every level of, you know, recess... The principal called me in, he's like, 'What are you doing? Are you coming here for an education or to make money?' And I'm like, 'Both. How about you? I thought he wanted a cut of the business, Ryan.'” (04:01, Chris)
• College to corporate: Built a loft bed startup in college before deliberately choosing to learn from an established corporation (McMaster Car Supply), moving through roles in purchasing, warehouse design, marketing, and finance over seven years.
• Dot Com Era: Raised venture capital and scaled a software consultancy during the tech boom, experiencing hypergrowth, busts, and post-acquisition leadership challenges.
• Learning in cycles: Chris emphasizes that many business journeys are not linear but built on compounding learning and continuous forward motion.
  • “If I stop, I'll fall. So it's like forward motion, progression.” (16:13, Chris)

2. The Power of Action vs. Overthinking

• Deliberate experience: Chris’s key to building confidence is hands-on action and learning by doing, sometimes even to prove “accepted truths” about EOS wrong.
  • “I'm going to go do it and I can learn from it and then I can really have the context to have confidence in what I'm going to go do.” (00:00 / 13:47, Chris)
• Progress as a purpose: “My purpose is progress, progression. How do I get better? How do I help those around me that I love and care about, if I can help them get better?” (16:08, Chris)
• One-way vs. Two-way Door Decisions: Chris introduces the Amazon-inspired decision-making framework, advocating for action on “two-way door” choices because they’re reversible, thus reducing overthinking's paralyzing effect.

3. Lessons from Failures and Pivots

• Company misalignment: Chris shares frustrations with boards composed mostly of financial professionals versus operators, linking stalled pivots and missed markets (like failing to move into security from mobile management) to this gap.
  • “You look around, you're like, you're all finance people. Never talk to a client... Where are the operators?” (10:42, Chris)
• Recognizing when to let go: Shutting down businesses that aren’t working and knowing when persistence is harmful.

4. Technology’s Evolving Role in Business & EOS Implementation

• The changing nature of moats:
  • “It used to be, the moat was the amount of code that you had written... Now, the creation of the software is not the issue anymore... The expense has gone down... So now, what is your real differentiation?” (20:53, Chris)
• Moats of the future: Customer intimacy, proprietary data, partnerships, and distribution networks are now the strongest protectors.
• AI and SaaS shifts: The conversation turns technical as Chris discusses how AI is changing software development, operations, and what it means for the EOS Implementer role.
  • “The actual human jobs in the moment now... they're just changing, which they've been changing over the course of your career and my career already.” (26:41, Chris)

5. Future of EOS Implementers and Software

• Technology in the room: Historically, EOS sessions prohibit technology due to distraction concerns, but Chris uses 90 actively in every session, supported by a practice manager who records and summarizes meetings for greater impact.
  • “I never touch a keyboard. I'm just like, 'Hey, Misty, let's go ahead and open up the VTO...' And then... they’ve got a good follow product.” (29:09, Chris)
• AI as session assistant: Envisions a near future where practitioners use AI “assistants” (like Iron Man’s Jarvis) to recall context, provide insights, and compile learnings for leadership teams.
• Coaching and facilitation remain essential: Despite automation of teaching, the human element in decoding team dysfunctions and driving cultural change is irreplaceable, at least for now.

6. AI, Technology Cycles, and Market Plateaus

• Pattern recognition: Like all technology, AI will likely experience boom-bust cycles, fueled by overinvestment or security/regulatory setbacks before plateauing and innovating anew.
  • “Patterns repeat... We were on a rip and run for a while until we hit a ceiling. That ceiling came from some overinvestment... AI will have its own slowdowns, but it’s a natural force to want to grow again.” (33:06, Chris)

7. Ripple Effects & Scale of Impact

• From 1:1 to 1:many: Chris is energized by the potential for technology to expand an implementer’s impact, enabling support for more businesses (from software users to cohort communities) beyond traditional consulting limitations.
  • “If you have an implementer, you grow 30% faster as a company than if you’re self-implementing.” (42:30, Chris)
• Ecosystem building: Collaborations like the EOS Self-Implementers Unite Facebook group and possible partnerships with service providers, powered by technology, enable scalable help-first mindsets.

8. Signals & Tools for Scaling Companies

• Readiness for 10x Growth: Chris looks for teams moving from “fixing” rocks to “advancing” and then “innovating.”
• Tools for clarity: Linking rocks to annual goals using software, leveraging tools like “Getting What You Want” that help teams plan backward from desired outcomes and assign ownership.
  • “Rocks do three things: fix, advance, and innovate... When I see more innovation rocks, we’re ready.” (45:40, Chris)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the necessity of progress:
  • “If I stop, I’ll fall. So it's like forward motion, progression, right?... My purpose is progress, progression, right? How do I get better?” (16:08)
• On learning by doing:
  • “I'm going to go do it and I can learn from it and then I can really have the context to have confidence in what I'm going to go do.” (13:47)
• On board dysfunction:
  • “You look around, you're like, you're all finance people. Never talk to a client. And it's like, where are the operators in the room?” (10:42)
• On the AI-powered session room:
  • “Eventually, Misty won't be my practice manager. It'll probably be an AI agent. And as an implementer, I'm just talking to it, right? It's running and bringing in the things... Like when you watch Iron Man and Jarvis and we're like, oh, it's so futuristic—it’s not that far out.” (31:05)
• On technological disruption cycles:
  • “Patterns repeat... We hit a ceiling... then it’ll pick back up again and you start to see the intersection, the alignment of some of these trends.” (33:06)
• On measurable EOS impact:
  • “If you have an implementer, you grow 30% faster as a company than if you’re self implementing.” (42:30)
• On coaching as an implementer:
  • “If it wasn't for dysfunction, we wouldn't have a job. That's a coaching moment, right? Because we all have dysfunctions.” (28:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] — Chris’s philosophy: Action breeds confidence
• [02:44] — Chris’s early entrepreneurial ventures
• [07:45] — Corporate training & dot-com startup lessons
• [10:42] — Boards, pivots, and the pitfalls of non-operator leadership
• [13:47] — Learning, self-awareness, and knowing when to learn from others
• [16:08] — Progression as purpose; overcoming inertia and self-doubt
• [20:53] — The evolution of business moats in SaaS & software
• [26:41] — The shifting role of humans with AI and automation in teams
• [29:09] — AI and the future session room; making session insights actionable
• [33:06] — Technology adoption cycles and market plateaus
• [42:30] — Implementers accelerate company growth by 30%
• [45:40] — Identifying readiness for 10x growth; innovation signals in rocks
• [48:46] — Linking tools, planning board, and software approaches for scaling
• [53:03] — Balancing feedback from self-implementers & EOS purists in product development
• [55:20] — What Chris looks for in clients now; call for more EOS implementers
• [58:39] — Connecting with Chris Snyder (LinkedIn and email)

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is energetic, insightful, and conversational, with Chris blending hard-won wisdom, practical frameworks, and tech-forward optimism. The episode appeals to growth-minded leaders, EOS practitioners, and anyone intrigued by the intersection of entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and emerging technology.

Chris’s core message: Progress comes from decisive action—imperfect, but intentional—paired with a willingness to learn and adapt in a world where technology is transforming what’s possible in organizational leadership.

Connect with Chris Snyder

• LinkedIn: Chris Snyder
• Email for EOS consultancy: chris.snyder@eosworldwide.com
• Email for 90 software/business: chris@90.io

For Prospective EOS Implementers

Chris believes the market for EOS implementers is vast and growing, emphasizing the opportunity to help entrepreneurs at scale and the importance of operator experience in a sea of financial professionals.

End of Summary