---
title: "Getting your house in order"
description: "The engineer's approach Caudwell used to fix the chaos from rapid growth."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/love-pain-and-money/getting-your-house-in-order/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Getting your house in order

> The engineer's approach Caudwell used to fix the chaos from rapid growth.

John Caudwell's framework, from Love, Pain & Money, pp. 132 to 139.

Framework 5 of 7 from [Love, Pain & Money](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/love-pain-and-money/index.md) by John Caudwell. Category: Systems and operations.

## The steps

1. **Strip it back.** Remove the mess so the working parts and the faulty parts are visible.
2. **Clean the pieces.** Fix inefficient order and stock systems and build a dealer database.
3. **Fix any damage.** Repair or replace what is not working.
4. **Put it back together.** Reassemble the business and watch it run smoothly.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: Chapter 16_SNAKES IN THE GRASS, pp. 132–139

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/love-pain-and-money/getting-your-house-in-order.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/love-pain-and-money/getting-your-house-in-order-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/love-pain-and-money/getting-your-house-in-order.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/love-pain-and-money/getting-your-house-in-order-dark.png