The first project I ever led was a debacle. The design didn’t work; the product shipped late with huge cost overruns. Then it failed in the market – no one wanted to buy it. I got my first chance to lead a company just as my marriage was falling apart. I quit the job I…
I was at a holiday party last month, and it was full of agency owners. As I walked through the crowd, I must have heard this snippet of conversation a dozen times. “How are you?” “Oh, I’m so busy, just slammed. It’s really overwhelming…” Each time I heard it, I got more disturbed. Why do…
Many folks are making predictions for the coming year this time of year, so I thought I’d make a few of my own. With over 20 years working with agency founders, I’m very confident that you’ll find that these predictions will hold up. 1. More change is coming Sure, the last two years have brought…
In the last three years, I’ve worked with several founders who made their businesses smaller, intentionally. Their businesses had grown in ways that became a burden. For some, it was generating the work to cover everyone’s salaries. For others, their size created a firm that was no longer a fit for the work they loved…
This time of year, I’m working with folks who are setting goals for the coming year. We might look back over last year’s goals, then look forward toward accomplishments for the coming year. As we look back I hear a lot of, “Geeez, I forgot about that goal!” or “I don’t even know why I…
You have a conversation scheduled with a potential new client, and you’re excited. You get on the phone, and everything goes well; the next step is for your to write a proposal…that’s when all the energy and excitement drains out of you. Writing proposals is a drag. It takes too long; it’s tedious but somehow…
I was listening to Rachel Rogers and Corey Arvinger talk on the Hello7 Podcast, and this section caught my ear! Rachel: And I think making quick decisions is the mark of a powerful CEO, right? A lot of people think about it forever, hem and haw for months. And it’s like the opportunities are passing…
Would you be willing to take 30 seconds to do a little experiment with me? Think back to a time in the last few weeks when you were in top form. Everything was clicking, you were at your best, and you could feel it. Do you have an example in mind? What did that moment…
Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. – George Addair Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve heard clients say: “How much should I worry about [ fill in the blank ]?” “Even the idea of this conversation terrifies me!” “Looking at my financials makes me anxious, so I avoid them!”…
There’s a lot of alarming economic news out there! Just look at these headlines! More Americans are worried about inflation. Consumers are becoming substantially less confident about the economy. US economic growth to slow sharply with higher unemployment in 2023. More than 52,000 workers were laid off in the tech sector. When you read those…