This article is part one of a multi-part excerpt from our latest downloadable guide, From Chaos to Clockwork: A Peachtree VA Implementation Guide.
Running a business well is not about doing everything yourself. It’s about building systems, trusting your team, and making smart decisions about where your time actually goes. That is the central thesis of Like Clockwork by Sam Goodner, a serial entrepreneur and former Swiss Army officer who spent decades learning how precision, structure, and delegation can transform an organization.
Our resource, created in partnership with Sam Goodner, distills nine of the book’s most actionable chapters and pairs each with a practical breakdown of how to implement these principles in your own business, specifically showing how a virtual assistant can help you get there faster.
Download the full guide for all nine strategies! →
Whether you are a founder still wearing every hat or a growing company trying to scale without chaos, Sam’s book meets you where you are. You do not have to implement every chapter at once. Start with the principle that would make the biggest immediate impact on your business and build from there.
Want to go deeper? Pick up the full book:
Like Clockwork: Run Your Business with Swiss Army Precision by Sam Goodner →
Strategy 1: First Impressions Matter
“The first days can determine how well a new person starts in your company, how well they settle in, and whether they stick around or not. This new employee might someday turn out to be an all-star, but that first day could set them on course to leave your company as soon as they find a better opportunity.” – Sam Goodner, Like Clockwork Chapter 1
The difference between a great first day and a forgettable one is not luck. It’s intentionality. New hires arrive nervous, hopeful, and impressionable. A structured, welcoming onboarding experience signals that you value them. A chaotic or indifferent one plants seeds of doubt that are hard to uproot.
Onboarding Tips for Busy Leaders:
- Personal touches matter. A welcome banner, company swag, and a lunch with the manager go a long way.
- Send a first-day checklist in advance, including what to bring, what to expect, and their first assignment.
- Pair new hires with a buddy or mentor who can guide them informally through their first few weeks.
- Meet with new hires (individually or as a group) personally to walk through company culture and expectations.
Implementing a Seamless Onboarding Strategy
Ensuring new team members are properly onboarded is a time-consuming and iterative process. You can leverage a virtual assistant (VA) from Peachtree VA to own this operation.
Your VA can:
- Brainstorm onboarding touchpoints and materials with you to define what a great first week looks like.
- Build and maintain a comprehensive onboarding workflow.
- Schedule introductory meetings, lunches, and check-ins on behalf of leadership.
- Prepare welcome materials, send first-day checklists to incoming hires, and order welcome swag.
- Create written training resources so leadership can show up, prepared and present.
- Meet with you to review and update the onboarding process regularly as the team grows.
From Idea to Implementation
Your VA can bridge the gap between strategy and implementation. Once you establish how you want your onboarding process to look, your virtual assistant can handle the rest and keep you informed, so you can rest easy knowing nothing is falling through the cracks.
If you’re ready to get ideas out of your head and into your business, get the right support to help you get there. Schedule a no-obligation consultation with Peachtree VA to learn more about how a virtual assistant can help you and your business!
If you want to dive deeper into the other strategies from Sam’s book, stay tuned for part 2, or download our joint resource:
From Chaos to Clockwork: A Peachtree VA Implementation Guide →
