How a Lunch Napkin Mapped 19 Years of Growth

Nineteen years ago, I drew an org chart on a napkin.

I was at lunch with the owner of a window and gutter cleaning company. Six employees, and every one reported directly to him. I told him a day would come when he'd need managers. He couldn't picture it, so I sketched it: owner, VP, general manager, supervisors, trainers.

Today that company has over 75 people, and its structure looks remarkably like that napkin.

I'm not clairvoyant. Organizations grow in surprisingly predictable ways. The trouble is that many owners try to solve today's problems with yesterday's structure, then wonder why everyone keeps stepping on each other's toes.

If everyone in your business still reports to you, grab a napkin. Sketch what it could look like in five years. Then ask: what's the very next layer I need to build?

Owners, what's kept you from building yours?