Constantly scrambling to put out fires means clients have all the power, creatives don't have the time to do their best work, and no one can enjoy a more balanced life. In this piece I recently contributed to MediaPost.com, I discuss how some agencies are moving past the pedal-to-the-metal mindset and opting for a six-week [...]
Early in my life as an agency owner, I was convinced I could do it all. And I was equally convinced that the fewer people we paid to do things, the better. I was handling clients during the day and doing my owner work at night. Oh yeah, and I was doing all of the [...]
In the agency marketing world, the caliber of everything we produce is based on the caliber of the people who work for us. The only way to knock every project out of the ballpark is to hire 5-star employees. In this piece I recently contributed to SpinSucks.com, I discuss how to identify top talent and [...]
Most people think that once you "niche down," you're stuck. It's not true. When you run a successful niche business, you can speak to an incredibly specific audience on topics they care deeply about. That kind of personalization is increasingly sought these days, as 71% of consumers say they crave individualization from their brand interactions. In this piece I recently contributed [...]
Sometimes, being the leader isn’t the only role you want to have in your agency or organization. Maybe you’re interested in being the creative director, the chief copywriter, or the guru of account services. That’s not unusual. Most leaders have other talents that give them enjoyment. The freedom to play any role in your organization is [...]
When it comes to building strong relationships with clients, you must consider their unique worldviews to fully understand and meet their needs. In this piece I recently contributed to Entrepreneur.com, I discuss three steps you can take to forge a stronger alignment with your clients.
Every industry has its annual patterns, and the agency world is no exception. Luckily, trends from the second quarter of 2022 look promising. There are some challenges to be aware of, but many marketing agencies are sorting through a wealth of opportunities. In this piece I recently contributed to ModernMarketingToday.com, I discuss several reasons why [...]
The bottom line is that you can’t achieve success if you don’t foster a high-trust team. When people work in environments where they mistrust or fear leaders, they react based on the possibility of punishment. They’re stifled, not motivated. Over time, their commitment and enthusiasm will wane. If you want to retain high performers amid [...]
When I left my last agency job to start my own shop, I was the perfect combination of ignorant and arrogant. I assumed that if my doofus of a boss could run an agency, I could too. I found out many years later that he ran it right into the ground. So perhaps, not the [...]
When you control your time, you control several other factors: your efficiency, your quality of work, your anxiety levels and your professional reputation. No one wants to be seen as a leader whose procrastination keeps putting the business at risk or leading to missed opportunities. In this piece I recently contributed to Forbes.com, I discuss [...]
