Traction vs. Small Business Flight Plan: Which Framework Is Right for You?
- Bruce Ashford
- Jun 21
- 4 min read
You’re not growing—and you’re not sure why.
That’s the moment many CEOs call me. The team is busy. The mission is strong. But the momentum that once fueled growth has quietly slowed. Maybe it’s messaging. Maybe it’s structure. Maybe it’s strategy. But something’s off—and the root cause isn’t obvious.
At the same time, I work with another group of leaders: those who are growing and want to keep it that way. These are CEOs and presidents who understand that sustained growth requires not just execution, but optimization of messaging, systems, team roles, and strategy.
Whether you’re troubleshooting a plateau or future-proofing your momentum, the key to clarity is choosing the right framework for your size, culture, and mission.
That’s where this article comes in.
Two frameworks dominate the conversation among growth-minded organizations: Traction (EOS) and Small Business Flight Plan (SBFP). Both offer structure and tools, but they aren’t created equal. And choosing the wrong one can create confusion, drag down morale, and slow your growth even further.
Let’s take a closer look at each, and help you identify which one fits your organization best.
The Problem: Growth Has Stalled—or You Want to Stay Ahead
If you’re in a season of flatlining growth, you’re likely asking:
What part of our organization is slowing us down?
Is it unclear messaging? A flawed plan? Lack of focus?
Do I need a new team member—or a new system?
And if you’re still growing, but trying to keep your edge, you may be wondering:
What could we optimize while we still have momentum?
Are there weak spots in our structure, communication, or delivery that haven’t kept up with our growth?
How can we make our organization more scalable, without making it more complicated?
In either case, what you need is clarity and a framework that’s not just proven, but also proportionate to your organization’s size, team capacity, and leadership style.
Where Traction (EOS) Excels—and Where It Overreaches
Developed by Gino Wickman, Traction is a robust operating system that brings discipline, structure, and accountability to complex, fast-scaling businesses.
Its components include:
Quarterly “rocks” and 90-day goals
Weekly Level 10 meetings
Measurable scorecards
Defined roles for “Visionary” and “Integrator” leadership
A comprehensive accountability chart
When implemented with the right team and infrastructure, Traction can create impressive alignment and execution across departments.
But here’s the challenge:
Traction assumes complexity—and infrastructure.
It’s best suited for:
Companies with $10M–$500M in annual revenue
Multi-department operations
Defined executive teams with operational maturity
A need for extensive internal coordination and control
For smaller nonprofits, colleges, or owner-led businesses, Traction often feels like overkill. You may not have the team size or internal structure to fully execute it—or you may find that it pulls energy away from mission and messaging into the weeds of process.
Where Small Business Flight Plan (SBFP) Thrives
Small Business Flight Plan (SBFP) is a lighter, more flexible framework that focuses on the core essentials every organization needs: clarity, alignment, and scalable systems. It’s especially effective for:
Nonprofits in the $3M–$50M revenue range
Christian colleges and private schools
Founder-led businesses and startups
Lean teams that need a strategic lift—not corporate complexity
Here’s what SBFP helps you do:
1. Clarify your message and mission
Using principles from the StoryBrand framework, SBFP helps you answer the most important questions:
Who do you serve?
What problem do you solve?
Why should people trust and support your work?
Most organizations overcomplicate this. SBFP gets to the heart of it, and quickly.
2. Design a focused, one-year growth plan
No binders. No jargon. Just a simple, strategic roadmap focused on marketing, communication, visibility, and development. You’ll know what to do—and what to stop doing.
3. Align and empower your team
You don’t need a 12-layer org chart. You need clarity about who owns what, and whether they’re equipped to deliver. SBFP keeps teams lean, clear, and accountable.
4. Install scalable systems
Whether it’s donor development, student recruitment, or customer engagement, SBFP helps you systematize what’s working and clean up what isn’t—so your growth doesn’t outpace your capacity.
Which Framework Is Right for You?
If your organization is:
A large, complex operation
Operating above $100M in revenue
Managing multiple departments and high operational load
Then Traction may be a fit.
But if you are:
A nonprofit CEO, college president, or small business owner
Leading a lean, focused team
Working with annual revenue between $3M–$50M
Facing stalled growth, or looking to stay out ahead of it
Then Small Business Flight Plan is likely the better framework—and a much stronger return on your time, effort, and strategic energy.
A Final Thought: The Right Fit Solves the Right Problem
You don’t need another framework that adds complexity. You need one that creates clarity.
You don’t need to manage more processes. You need to spot and remove your growth bottlenecks.
And you don’t need to reinvent your mission. You just need a way to deliver it more effectively and sustainably.
Whether you’re stalled or scaling, SBFP gives you the tools to lead with clarity—and grow with confidence.
Let’s Talk: Is SBFP the Right Fit for Your Organization?
I offer a free 30-minute strategy call for leaders who want to troubleshoot what’s slowing them down or future-proof the growth they already have.
We’ll talk through:
What’s working
What’s not
And whether SBFP is the right next move for your organization
Don’t guess at what’s blocking your growth. Don’t waste momentum on the wrong system.
Let’s figure out the right fit—together.
—Bruce Ashford
CEO, The Ashford Agency
