How Drew Larison Used EOS to Transition to Visionary CEO

When growth outpaces clarity, leadership must evolve.

You’ve scaled. You’re leading. But behind the scenes, the weight of constant decision-making, team bottlenecks, and systems duct-taped together by your own energy has taken a toll. You know something has to change—not just operationally, but internally. That’s what this episode delivers. It’s a direct look at the shift from operator to visionary CEO.

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From Operator to Visionary CEO: How EOS Rewires Leadership for Scale

Drew Larison, founder of Five Door Media, shares what it really looks like to make the shift from overwhelmed operator to visionary CEO. He didn’t just build an agency—he built legacy, clarity, and systems that scale. And the key that unlocked that transformation? EOS.

Drew’s story is packed with practical wisdom for digital agency owners who are growing fast but stuck in fulfillment. If you’ve ever wondered how to lead without burning out or how to build a business that thrives without you managing every detail, this conversation will land deeply. It’s about more than EOS—it’s about the kind of leader you’re becoming.

Vision, Identity, and the Real Work of Scaling

As an executive coach, I often walk with leaders through the shift from tactical operator to strategic architect. It’s not just about delegation—it’s about identity.

What Drew described in this episode is something I see with high-performing agency founders again and again: the moment they realize that their agency needs a different version of them to grow further. Implementing EOS gave Drew language, structure, and accountability—but what mattered more was his willingness to release the old metrics of success. He stopped measuring by task completion and started measuring by impact.

That’s a courageous move. Because to lead at the next level, you must redefine what leadership looks like. Not just for your team—but for you.

The shift from overwhelmed operator to visionary CEO is one of the most powerful transformations a business owner can experience. It’s not an overnight fix—it’s a leadership evolution. But the clarity, energy, and momentum it unlocks is worth everything. Becoming an operator to visionary CEO is what allows sustainable growth to take root.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to move from agency operator to visionary CEO without losing control
• What EOS implementation looks like inside a growing digital agency
• How to diagnose where your client campaigns are breaking down
• Why agency growth depends on your identity shifting—not just your strategy
• What legacy-driven leadership looks like when done right

Episode Highlights & Timeline

00:00 – Guest intro and the legacy behind his leadership lens
06:56 – Servant leadership and multi-generational impact
09:25 – The real origin story: music, marketing, and Subway sandwiches
14:51 – How Five Door Media scaled with structure and a home service niche
19:23 – The Five Door Method: A practical way to identify campaign breakdowns
26:05 – Why EOS was the turning point in Drew’s role as a CEO
33:12 – Legacy, leadership, and the shift that changes everything

🔑 Leadership Shifts or Takeaways:

EOS Isn’t a System—It’s a Shift

EOS provided Drew with structure, but the transformation was deeper than tools. It required a mindset shift—a willingness to stop doing and start leading. The visionary role demanded he stop looking for checklists and start making space to think.

Legacy Is Built Through Daily Leadership

The story of Drew’s father and grandfather left an imprint—not just emotionally, but operationally. Legacy-driven leadership isn’t built through tactics. It’s built through how you show up every day, how you treat your people, and what you’re willing to let go of.

Frameworks Create Clarity

Drew’s Five Door Method isn’t just a client tool—it’s a model for internal alignment. It shows how great leaders take complex problems and build repeatable systems that empower others.

Vision Requires Letting Go

You can’t lead if you’re still managing. Drew’s honesty about the discomfort of stepping into the visionary seat is something many high-level agency owners need to hear. The seat feels empty at first—but that’s where strategy begins.

Connect with Drew Larison

Follow Drew at @MrDrewLarison on Instagram or LinkedIn, and learn more at fivedoormedia.com. Be sure to check out The Five Door Media Podcast for deep-dive agency growth strategies.

Books Mentioned

• Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
• 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
• The Five Door Method (internal agency framework)
• EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)

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About Dr. William Attaway:

Dr. William Attaway is a seasoned Executive Mindset and Leadership Coach who helps 6-, 7-, and 8-figure digital agency owners scale their businesses with clarity, systems, and confidence. With nearly 30 years of experience, he equips growth-driven entrepreneurs to build high-performing teams, implement scalable systems, and transition from freelancer to CEO.

He hosts the Catalytic Leadership™ Podcast—ranked in the Top 2% of podcasts globally (source: Listen Notes)—with a weekly reach of over 50,000. Each episode features elite agency owners and top digital entrepreneurs sharing what actually works when scaling a service-based business.

From leadership development and visionary thinking to mindset transformation and team optimization, Dr. Attaway empowers agency leaders to build a business that thrives without their constant oversight—and a team that flourishes under intentional, scalable leadership.

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