The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less

Fourth Edition

Bricks and mortar, virtual, retail, construction, service and/or product-producer, owner-operated, large or small staff: It doesn’t matter. Whatever the business type, dysfunction has its roots in the same foundational weakness: a fire-killing, non-systematic approach.

The Work the System methodology takes a simple yet deep tact, one that begins with a single “tweak” in the leader’s perspective of how the business (and life!) mechanically unfolds. With this new “one layer deeper” vantage point, internal and external processes are starkly visible, and subsequent necessary actions obvious.


Hear Sam Carpenter’s audio narration of the Preface to the Fourth Edition of his book Work the System: the Simple Mechanics of making More and Working Less.

This 28 minute recording will give you a solid overview of the systems mindset. Listen via the player below or download it.

A Simple Explanation of the Work the System Method


Sam’s second book, The Systems Mindset: Managing the Machinery of your Life, is for those who don’t own or manage a business. See www.thesystemsmindset.com.

The Book

Sam Carpenter’s Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less is now in its fourth edition (February 2021). Since the first edition was published in 2008, tens of thousands of business owners have used the Work the System Method to quickly eliminate disorder, systemizing their businesses and their lives into super-efficiency.

To Reach Sam

Sam Carpenter
Podcast and media interviews, culture transformation analysis and discussion.

Work the System Consulting

Josh Fonger from WTS Enterprises: Work the System coaching, consulting or certification
Josh Fonger
For Work the System training, coaching, consulting or certification, visit:

Business Documentation Software

BDS exactly conforms to the Work the System Method. It’s an intuitive and simple platform designed to make it easy for you to create, tweak and store your three primary documents as described in Part Two of Sam’s book.
BDS is simple to use. There’s no fluff or excess. It’s about “bottom up,” point-of-sale, and never-ending system improvement.

Work the System is integral to the Mindvalley operation. Simple and powerful…essential reading for the CEO.

Vishen Lakhiani

I am looking down at my business, seeing all the moving parts.

Eleanor Pinkney

Mandatory reading. Work the System liberates…

Perry Marshall

One of the most useful business books you’ll ever read.

Josh Kaufman

If you think your business can benefit from organization, efficiency and predictability, then you need to read this book.

Luke A. Mosch

Investing in WTS has been one of the most profitable decisions we’ve ever made.

Sharon Desjarlais