By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Once upon a time in the wild frontier of Small Business Town, there lived a man named Jack, a small company owner who found himself in a bind. Jack was a visionary, the kind of person who could dream up grand plans and see the potential in every nook and cranny of his modest enterprise. But there was one thing he just couldn’t figure out: how to draw the line between running a laid-back, laissez-faire operation or becoming a hard-nosed, micromanaging tyrant in the style of Elon Musk. Jack knew he needed someone tough—a heavy—to enforce the rules. That’s when he heard of Bob Bonney.
Bob Bonney was the stuff of legends. He was the man you called when you needed to draw a line in the sand—and make sure it stayed there. Some said he once stared down an entire board of directors without blinking. Others whispered that he could out-stubborn a mule. But one thing was certain: Bob Bonney didn’t believe in half measures. He believed in order, in control, and in the kind of trustless system where trust was placed in the processes, not the people.
Chapter 1: The Laissez-Faire Saloon
Jack’s first problem was his employees. They were good folks, talented even, but they were as free-spirited as tumbleweeds on a windy day. They came and went as they pleased, sometimes rolled in late, and more often than not, they’d vanish during crunch time, leaving Jack holding the bag.
Jack thought maybe if he just let them be, they’d find their own way—after all, wasn’t creativity born from freedom? So he set up the Laissez-Faire Saloon, where employees could come in when they wanted, do what they pleased, and leave without so much as a “howdy.” At first, it seemed to work. The ideas flowed like whiskey, and the camaraderie was strong. But as time passed, Jack noticed something troubling: the deadlines were slipping, the quality was dipping, and the only thing flowing freely was excuses.
That’s when Jack called in Bob Bonney.
Bob took one look at the situation and shook his head. “Jack,” he said, “you can’t run a business like a saloon. Folks need direction, structure—heck, they need to know where the front door is.”
Chapter 2: The Elon Musk Marshal’s Office
Jack, ever the quick learner, decided to swing to the other extreme. If the Laissez-Faire Saloon was too loose, then maybe what he needed was the Elon Musk Marshal’s Office: a place where every detail was scrutinized, every move monitored, and every employee knew that Jack was watching them, always.
Jack became the Marshal in Chief. He installed cameras, tracked keystrokes, and sent out emails at all hours of the night demanding progress reports. The whip cracked, the employees toiled, and the numbers started to look good. But as the weeks wore on, Jack noticed something else: the atmosphere was colder than a prairie winter. The creativity dried up, and all that remained was the grinding sound of cogs in a machine.
Jack was puzzled. He’d done everything by the book—if not his own book, then surely Elon’s. So why did it feel like the soul of his business had been sucked dry?
Chapter 3: Bob Bonney’s Line in the Sand
Bob Bonney, seeing Jack’s dilemma, stepped in again. “Jack,” he said, “you went from a saloon to a prison. What you need is a frontier town—a place where folks know the rules but still have room to breathe. That’s where I come in.”
Bob took out his six-shooter, metaphorically speaking, and laid down the law. First, he set up what he called “The Line in the Sand.” It wasn’t about micromanaging or letting everyone run wild—it was about creating a system. A system that trusted employees to do their jobs, but where the trust was built on clear expectations, regular check-ins, and, most importantly, accountability.
Bob explained that a trustless system doesn’t mean you don’t trust your people—it means you trust the system you’ve put in place. If the system is strong, then everyone knows their role, understands the expectations, and can operate within those boundaries without fear of arbitrary judgment. They know that if they step over the line, Bob Bonney is there to remind them where it is.
Jack implemented Bob’s system. He set up regular team meetings where progress was discussed openly. He established clear goals with timelines and allowed his employees the freedom to meet those goals in their own way. But he also made it clear that if anyone failed to meet their commitments, there’d be consequences—fair, consistent, and unyielding.
Chapter 4: The Happy Medium: Frontier Town Thrives
Slowly, the mood in Small Business Town began to change. The employees, once wayward or terrified, started to find their footing. They knew where the line was, and they knew Bob Bonney would be there to enforce it if necessary. But they also knew they had room to maneuver, to innovate, and to be themselves within the bounds of the system.
Jack saw the results almost immediately. Productivity increased, but so did creativity. The employees weren’t just working—they were thriving. And Jack? Well, he could finally breathe easy, knowing that the balance was struck.
Epilogue: The Moral of the Story
Jack learned a valuable lesson: running a business isn’t about being a laissez-faire bartender or a control-freak marshal. It’s about being a frontier town sheriff, with a trusty Bob Bonney at your side, keeping things in line. Trust your people, but build a system that earns their trust and respect. Draw your line in the sand—and make sure it’s one that everyone can see. And remember, in the wild frontier of business, it’s not about ruling with an iron fist or letting the wind take you where it may—it’s about finding that perfect balance between freedom and order, where your business can truly thrive. That balance is in a trustless system, enforced with vigor, ensuring that your frontier town of a business stays prosperous and true.
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a globally recognized public accounting and management consultancy firm. Under his visionary leadership, JS Morlu has become a pioneer in developing cutting-edge technologies across B2B, B2C, P2P, and B2G verticals. The firm’s groundbreaking innovations include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), setting new industry standards for efficiency, accuracy, and technological excellence.
