The business operating system
CoreOS is the operating system behind the plan
Strategy, accountability, mindset and systems: the framework Nick Thorpe built over 16 years as a British Army officer and a decade running his own companies. It is what keeps a twelve-month plan alive after the excitement of writing it wears off.
Free · seven questions · a twelve-month plan built from your answers
The 7 Questions, adapted from an Army planning method
Before CoreOS installs anything, you need a plan worth installing it against. The seven questions are adapted from the Combat Estimate, the process Nick used for 16 years to plan under pressure with incomplete information, which describes most weeks in an owner-led business fairly well.
Answer them and you get a twelve-month business battle plan built from your own answers, not a template. That plan is the mission. CoreOS is what keeps you on it after the plan stops being new.
Answer the 7 questionsFree · seven questions
Business and planning questions first, so the plan reflects your business before it asks for your name. Takes a few minutes. No charge, no obligation.
The output is a written twelve-month plan, not a lead form in disguise: something you could print and pin above your desk.
Nearly every problem traces back to one of four things
Strategy, accountability, mindset and systems. Deliberately plain. No jargon to memorise, no certification to buy.
| Element | What it covers | The question it answers |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy | Direction, priorities, the plan for the next 90 days, what you say no to | Are we working on the right things? |
| Accountability | Weekly numbers, commitments made and kept, someone outside the business checking | Did we do what we said we would? |
| Mindset | The owner's thinking: decisions, confidence, the habits that set the ceiling | Is the owner the constraint? |
| Systems | Processes, delegation, a business that runs without the owner in every room | Does everything depend on you? |
CoreOS was originally taught as eight principles. They now sit grouped under these four elements, because four things are easier to hold in your head under pressure than eight. Nothing was removed. The full history is in what is CoreOS.
The plan sets the mission. CoreOS installs the rhythm.
01
The planner
Seven questions become a twelve-month business battle plan. This is the mission: what you are actually working towards and why. Build your plan.
02
CoreOS
Strategy, accountability, mindset and systems installed against that plan in a set order, checked every week. This is the operating rhythm that stops the plan from gathering dust by February.
“Every session left me with clarity, practical steps, and a renewed sense of direction. I’ve noticed real, tangible changes in my mindset, confidence, and decision-making since starting.”
“Working with Nick has been a game-changer for us. He’s helping us move from being busy owner-operators to thinking and acting like true business owners.”
“Nick has been amazing and a breath of fresh air. He has been mentoring me for the past 3 years and it’s safe to say I am here for the long run. Nick is great at cutting through the noise and giving actionable advice that will push you forward.”
Read the guides behind CoreOS
Frequently asked questions
What is CoreOS?
CoreOS is Nick Thorpe's business operating framework, built over a decade of running his own companies. It has four elements: strategy, accountability, mindset and systems. It is applied through Momentum coaching and The Cabal mastermind, and you can start with the free business plan at /plan.
Is CoreOS the same as EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System?
No. EOS is a separate, widely used system delivered by licensed implementers and built around a leadership team. CoreOS is Nick Thorpe's own framework, built around the owner, and applied personally through his coaching. See the full comparison in the CoreOS vs EOS guide.
Do I need to be a coaching client to use CoreOS?
No. The seven-question business planner and the CoreOS Scorecard are both free, at /plan and /resources#scorecard. Coaching through Momentum or The Cabal is how CoreOS gets applied with accountability, but the thinking itself is open to anyone.
How do I start with CoreOS?
Start with the planner. Answer seven questions and get a twelve-month business battle plan built from your answers. That plan sets the mission; CoreOS is the operating rhythm that keeps you on it.
What does it cost to work with Nick on CoreOS?
Momentum and The Cabal are both application only, so pricing is discussed once Nick understands your business. For a full breakdown of UK coaching costs, including Core Business's own published fees, see what a business coach costs in the UK.
Build the plan CoreOS installs against.
Seven questions, a twelve-month business battle plan, free.