In this episode of Traction Talks, Kieran James (CEO of Stride Accountancy) chats with Kelvin Gieck CFA, founder of TwentyEighty — a fractional finance firm based in Calgary, Canada. Together they dive deep into the Vision component of EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) and what it means to build a business that runs without relying solely on the founder.
Kelvin shares how the journey of implementing EOS—his own way—was a turning point in shifting from burnout and chaos to clarity and sustainable growth. He opens up about blending personal vision with business strategy, using tools like vivid visioning, Colby assessments, and accountability charts to create structure while still leading with purpose.
Whether you're an EOS purist or just trying to build something that doesn’t break you, this episode is a raw, practical look at mastering vision as a business owner.
✅ You don’t need to follow EOS by the book to benefit from it—adapt it to suit your strengths
✅ Vision isn’t just a sentence—it’s a story that drives culture, hiring, and long-term growth
✅ Founders often are the vision—especially in the early years—and that’s okay
✅ Tools like vivid vision, lifeline exercises, and eulogy writing can unpack personal clarity
✅ Balancing visionary chaos with systems and integrators is crucial for scale
✅ Creating a clear, compelling vision helps attract and retain great people
💬 “We’re truly running a business now, not just me flaming out with two admins.”
💬 “Your business should serve you. If it’s not, you’ve got it backwards.”
💬 “Even if EOS feels heavy, the foundation is solid: have a plan, and follow through.”
💬 “For smaller firms, the founder’s personal vision and the business vision are often the same.”
💬 “Once the vision was clear, the rest of the business started falling into place.”
Kelvin is the founder of 2080, a fractional finance firm based in Calgary, Alberta. His team supports small and mid-sized businesses with bookkeeping, compliance, tax, managerial accounting, and high-impact advisory services including fractional CFO and controllership work. With 11+ years of experience and a strong belief in structured growth, Kelvin has built 2080 from 3 to 16 people in just a few years. He’s passionate about helping business owners gain clarity, build sustainable systems, and create companies that work — even when they’re not in the room.
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