If you have ever tried setting company goals but struggled to achieve them, you are not alone. Most founders start a quarter with good intentions, only to watch their goals fade into the background as the whirlwind of daily work takes over. The problem is not ambition. The problem is structure.

This is why the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) introduced Rocks.
Rocks solve the execution gap by helping companies focus on the most important priorities every quarter. They simplify planning, bring clarity to your team and ensure real progress gets made.

But many leaders still wonder what Rocks actually are, how to set them effectively and how to keep them on track. This guide breaks it all down using practical steps, examples and clear principles your team can apply immediately.

What Exactly Are EOS Rocks

Rocks are the three to seven most important priorities your company must complete in the next 90 days. They are the commitments that drive momentum, solve major problems or push the business closer to its long term vision.

Rocks are not tasks.
Rocks are not nice to haves.
Rocks are not low level work.

Rocks are the big, meaningful, strategic priorities that move the business forward.

When set correctly, Rocks create:

• Focus
• Clarity
• Alignment
• Accountability
• Predictable progress

They turn the next 90 days into a powerful window of execution instead of a chaotic sprint of endless tasks.

Why Rocks Matter

The purpose of Rocks is simple.
Most teams try to do too much, so they finish too little.

When you choose only a few priorities, you create the discipline needed to:

• Say no to distractions
• Protect the most important work
• Connect daily actions to long term goals
• Keep your team aligned
• Make measurable progress each week

Teams that follow quarterly planning consistently outperform those that do not. McKinsey research shows that companies with clear, quarterly priorities deliver up to 3 times more progress toward their annual goals.

Rocks make your strategy real.

How to Set Great Rocks

Not all Rocks are created equal.
A good Rock is clear, owned and achievable within 90 days.

Here is the framework for setting effective Rocks.

1. Start With Your Long Term Vision

You cannot choose the right 90 day priorities without knowing where you are going.

Look at:

• Your 1 year goals
• Your 3 year picture
• Your strategic direction

Ask yourself:
“What must happen in the next 90 days to move meaningfully toward the vision?”

Rocks become obvious when anchored in direction.

2. Identify the Biggest Constraints or Opportunities

Great Rocks typically fall into three categories:

A. Removing constraints

Examples:

• Fixing a sales pipeline problem
• Completing a critical hire
• Improving onboarding
• Eliminating a workflow bottleneck

B. Pursuing opportunities

Examples:

• Launching a new feature
• Opening a new channel
• Strengthening a partnership
• Improving customer experience

C. Building capabilities

Examples:

• Creating SOPs
• Documenting a core process
• Improving reporting
• Implementing a system or tool

A Rock should solve a meaningful business problem or unlock new growth.

3. Ensure Rocks Are Measurable and Clear

A Rock must answer these questions:

• What exactly does “done” look like
• How will we measure it
• Who owns it
• What is the deadline

Vague Rocks fail.
Clear Rocks succeed.

Example of a bad Rock:
“Improve customer onboarding”

Example of a good Rock:
“Redesign onboarding process to reduce time to first value from 14 days to 7 days by June 30, owned by Sarah.”

Clarity is what turns Rocks into outcomes.

4. Assign One Clear Owner

This is where most Rocks break down.
A Rock with multiple owners is a Rock that will not get done.

The owner is responsible for:

• Driving progress
• Updating status weekly
• Removing barriers
• Asking for help when stuck
• Ensuring completion

Ownership is not about doing all the work.
It is about owning the outcome.

5. Break Rocks Into Manageable Actions

A Rock without supporting actions is just a hope.

Break each Rock into:

• Milestones
• Key steps
• Supporting tasks
• Weekly checkpoints

Wave supports this automatically by connecting Rocks to tasks, measurables and weekly meetings so nothing gets lost.

6. Review Rock Progress Every Week

This is the crucial part.
Rocks fail when teams set them in January and do not revisit them until March.

Weekly review prevents drift and creates accountability.

Each week ask:

• Is the Rock on track
• What is blocking progress
• What support is needed
• What is the next step

Teams that review Rocks weekly are significantly more likely to complete them, according to EOS Worldwide research.

This is why Wave connects Rocks directly into your weekly meetings, scorecards and accountability cadence.

Common Mistakes Teams Make With Rocks

Most Rock failures come from predictable issues:

• Setting too many Rocks
• Setting vague Rocks
• Choosing tasks instead of priorities
• Not assigning one owner
• Forgetting to connect Rocks to tasks
• Never reviewing Rocks after planning day
• Tracking Rocks in scattered tools

Avoid these mistakes and your Rocks will gain traction quickly.

Examples of Great Rocks for Startups

Leadership

• Hire a Head of Sales
• Finalize updated company vision
• Document the core processes

Product

• Ship Version 2 of onboarding flow
• Reduce bug backlog by 50 percent

Sales

• Increase qualified pipeline to 300k
• Implement a new outbound workflow

Marketing

• Launch the new website
• Create 12 high value content pieces

Customer Success

• Improve NPS from 30 to 50
• Build customer training playbook

These are strategic priorities, not tasks.

How Wave Helps Teams Execute Their Rocks

Wave was built around strong quarterly execution.
Instead of spreadsheets, scattered tools or forgotten goals, Wave connects your entire Rock process inside one unified operating system.

Wave helps your team:

• Set clear, measurable Rocks
• Assign ownership
• Break Rocks into tasks
• Review progress weekly
• Connect Rocks to scorecards
• Discuss blockers in meetings
• Keep priorities aligned

Your Rocks become a living part of the company rhythm, not a forgotten document.

Wave turns planning into execution and execution into predictable results.

Final Thought

Rocks are powerful because they bring simplicity and discipline to your company. When your team has three to seven clear priorities, one owner for each and a weekly cadence to review progress, everything becomes more focused, aligned and achievable.

Great results do not happen by accident.
They happen because strong systems support them.

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