I was in a cult (not clickbait) and it taught me A LOT about systems
I used to be in a cult.
And I really loved it because they were ALL ABOUT SYSTEMS!!!!!!
It wasn’t, like, a full-on-religious-alien-sex-cult (at least, not that I know of—I bailed before it got that weird)
This place actually did some seriously amazing stuff for the community, but man, it was DEFINITELY a cult.
Slowly isolated me from my regular life until all I had was this organization? CHECK.
Tried to make me quit my job to be financially dependent on them? CHECK.
Super secretive, no website, and insisted on using old typewriters? CHECK.
Major strategic emotional manipulation? CHECK.
They even preemptively brainwashed us to dismiss anything negative we might stumble upon online (if only I'd Googled them sooner)
I could write a whole book on my short stint there (actually someone already did)
but here's the part I want to tell you about today—
this place had a room chock-full of binders.
Binders, binders, and more binders.
These weren't just any binders; these binders contained the most detailed and structured procedures I have ever seen and will probably ever see.
Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, in the organization had a strict process. Even mealtime had its own protocol.
These binders were like the organization's holy text - but for Systems.
They were a source of procedural truth that we did NOT stray from.
Anyone could show up, follow the steps in the binders, and seamlessly join the cause.
I sh*t you not, I was training ten volunteers and running a food drive on my second day.
They didn't interview me about what my skills were - they just handed me a binder and sent me in.
Their motto was simple: "If we all vanished from the face of the earth, anyone could stroll into our offices and pick up exactly where we left off."
Now, my love for structure has evolved from cult-level enthusiasm to something more... practical.
I took away a powerful lesson – the art of crafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that anyone can follow, no matter what.
That's why I'm so obsessed with SOPs, and it's a pivotal part of the systems I design and build for my clients.
Systems, when done right, can revolutionize your business. (Or the cult you want to start)
Either way, Systems should be:
🗄️ Easy to access (like walking into a room full of labeled binders or a shared drive)
🗄️ Easy to follow (like reading a detailed step-by-step guide in a binder or an SOP)
🗄️ Easy to implement (aka heavily detailed, so you can seamlessly run a food drive on your second day without any help OR your VA can start implementing your contract creation process without Slacking you)
If you're ready to take your business on a thrilling ride toward success with the power of systems, apply to work with me!
I promise I won't pull you into anything too weird - those days are behind me 😀
To being cultishly systemized,
Devin
