Unlocking Success: The Power of Rocks and 90-Day Goals

Are you winning or learning? Both are acceptable, but if you continue to learn vs win each quarter or year then maybe it’s time to decide to start winning again. Forget the endless to-do lists, the daily fire drills, and the creeping feeling that your team is busy, but not really moving the business forward. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the day-to-day grind, or like your organization is growing but not scaling, you're not alone.

Now imagine this instead: every quarter, your leadership team aligns on the top priorities that truly matter. Everyone knows what winning looks like. And 90 days later, you’re not just talking about goals, you’re celebrating what got done. That’s where we find Kevin Woeste, CEO of McSteen, which is the leading Land Surveying company in Ohio and Indiana. Earlier this year, he decided to implement EOS powered by Ninety to better align his organization around the Vision, but also to achieve healthy execution or Traction. Being less than a year into the program Kevin has this to say: “Prior to EOS powered by Ninety, I had worked with numerous programs and systems. Each had its own merit but what I have found is a complete system is game changing. No longer do I need to read more books or look for the next thing, with EOS powered by Ninety I can trust the process and I am seeing the results, each week, each quarter and now winning the year.”  

That’s the power of Rocks and the 90-Day World® in the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS). And it’s why 20,000 companies are using Ninety to run better, faster, and more accountable organizations.

What are Rocks in EOS and why do they matter?

Rocks are the 3–7 most important priorities your leadership team must accomplish in a 90-day period. The term originates from Stephen Covey’s famous metaphor: if you don’t put the big rocks in first, the rest (pebbles, sand, water) will crowd them out.

In EOS, Rocks keep your business grounded in execution. They give structure to your quarterly priorities so you’re not just reacting to daily noise. Each Rock is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely) and owned by one person.

If your team struggles with follow-through, chances are your Rocks aren’t focused or tracked.

Why does EOS use 90-day goals?

Because humans are wired for short bursts of focus. As Gino Wickman says in Traction, 90 days is about the limit for keeping teams energized and aligned. That’s why EOS teaches you to operate in a 90-Day World®.

Every quarter, your leadership team regroups, resets, and recommits to the most important Rocks — keeping momentum high and focus sharp.

This cadence eliminates the "annual plan fade" that happens in most companies by Q2.

How do Rocks help solve business pain points?

Here are the real-world issues Rocks help solve:

• Too many priorities: Rocks force focus. You pick what matters most.
• Lack of accountability: Each Rock has one owner. One name. One person responsible.
• No follow-through: Rocks are reviewed weekly in Level 10 Meetings™, and stuck Rocks go into IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) until resolved.
• Vague goals: Rocks must be clearly defined with outcomes and due dates.

When followed with discipline, Rocks give you organizational clarity, the kind that unlocks growth.

How do I set effective EOS Rocks?

Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Review your Vision/Traction Organizer® (V/TO®): What needs to happen this quarter to stay on track? Ninety’s V/TO makes this crystal clear.
2. Set the next date ~90 days out. Then ask what does success look like and what needs to be true for us to have won the quarter?
3. Identify Rock Candidates: What issues, opportunities, or milestones are most critical to winning the quarter?
4. Prioritize and Set 3–7 Company Rocks: Less is more. Get alignment.
5. Assign Ownership: Every Rock must have ONE owner/accountable person. However other team members can own milestones along the way. 
6. Cascade Rocks to Departments: Ensure alignment across the company.
7. Track Weekly: Review progress in Level 10 Meetings. Drop stuck Rocks into IDS.
   
   

What’s the link between Rocks and Level 10 Meetings?

Level 10 Meetings are the weekly ritual that keeps Rocks on track.

Each week, teams:

• Review Rock status (On Track / Off Track)
• IDS issues blocking Rock progress
• Celebrate Rock completion

It’s a pulse check for your execution. And with Ninety’s integrated platform, it becomes second nature.

How do EOS Visionaries and Integrators support Rock success?

Visionaries create the future; Integrators make it happen. This dynamic duo is key to your Rock discipline.

• The Visionary helps ensure Rocks align with the long-term vision.
• The Integrator drives execution and holds the team accountable.

If the Visionary lives in the clouds, Rocks bring them back to ground level — and the Integrator keeps everyone climbing together.

Rocks powered by Ninety?

Ninety makes EOS tools, especially Rocks, more usable, visible, and actionable across the organization.

In Ninety, you can:

• Set and assign Company and Departmental Rocks
• Tie Rocks to your V/TO
• Leverage AI/Maz to help you make Rocks SMART
• Track Rock progress visually each week via Milestones
• Review and rate Rock completion at the end of each quarter

The result? No more spreadsheets. No forgotten goals. Just traction.

How to Start Using EOS Rocks Right Now

Here’s your blueprint:

1. Reconnect to your Vision
   Revisit your V/TO®. Where are you going, and how does this quarter move the needle?
2. Set 3–7 Company Rocks
   Review your top Issues and 1-Year Plan. What absolutely must get done this quarter?
3. Assign Ownership
   Every Rock gets one name. Not a department. Not a team. One accountable person.
4. Cascade Rocks
   Departments and individuals set their own supporting Rocks to align.
5. Track Weekly
   Use Ninety’s platform to review progress during your weekly Level 10s.
6. Rate the Quarter
   At the end of 90 days, score your execution. Then reset and repeat.

For more ways to get started, check out the resources below:

• 📘 How to Implement EOS Rocks for Business Success
• 📘 The EOS Quarterly Meeting: How to Operate in a 90-Day World
• 📘 Lead World-Class Level 10 Meetings Powered by Ninety

You are a competitor, you want to win. If this is you, then it's time to move beyond keeping score and knowing the game that you are playing every 90 days. Rocks enable you to focus on the most urgent and important items that keep or position you for the win. Take the next step and start with Ninety, the platform built to help you and your team Focus, Align, and Thrive for the Win. 

This isn’t just a framework. It’s a discipline. One that, when followed, builds unstoppable momentum.

You’ve got 90 days. Will you win or learn again? Or will you Rock the quarter?

Let’s build something great, one Rock at a time.