Working ON the Business, Not IN the Business: What It Takes to Be a Leader
The only way for a creative agency to grow its sales is for the business owner to work on the business, not in the business. That’s why a business dashboard is key.
It is possible to be indistracable?
We’ve been talking all week about staying focused, even when it feels like our efforts aren’t producing big breakthroughs. As I was thinking about this, I came across an interview with Nir Eyal. He wrote a book about becoming indistractable. Here’s what he says: All distractions have an internal trigger — a feeling that underpins…
One big change that’s improved my focus and productivity
I have a love-hate relationship with my calendar. When my calendar works well, it tells me where I should be and what I should be doing. Unfortunately, I’m terrible at filling in calendar appointments correctly. I’m always setting them up for AM when they should be PM or putting them on the wrong day or…
Stop Overwhelming Yourself: A Leader’s Guide on How to Get Out of Your Own Way
As a creative agency owner, you get busy, right? I mean, it goes with the territory, doesn’t it? But if you don’t learn how to get out of your own way, your business will never grow, and you’ll always be too busy.
How Steve Jobs ruined one of the most important days of my life!
When I was 13, my best friend and I were nuts about Star Wars. We were determined to be at the very first screening of the sequel Empire Strikes Back at the big 70mm Dolby Equipped theater in nearby Cupertino. We arrived at the theater 4 hours before the first show to get in line…
Do you have a monkey running your life?
In our last two conversations, we talked about how easy it is to get captivated by our business. So much so that it can be hard to stop working. But even when we do get the chance to take a break, it can be hard to rest. If you’re like me, the challenge of quieting…
How I learned to love time off
In my last email, I talked about how intoxicating it can be to work hard at something you are fully engaged in. Especially when you can see how your extra effort results in quick wins for your business. It feels great. It is so great that I will give up rest, time with my family,…
The future is not guaranteed
“No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.” ~ Alan Watts There’s something special about owning your own business. Every additional ounce of effort you put into it directly drives your success. You can see it right at the moment. It’s so intoxicating and invigorating…
Do you ever feel overwhelmed?
When listening to business owners, I often hear them talking about feeling overwhelmed. It can feel like you are juggling a million balls a once, client calls, employee needs, cash flow, business development… But it’s not just business stuff; your son’s birthday is coming up, your car needs an oil change, you haven’t been on…
Are interruptions killing your productivity (and your company’s growth)?
How many times a day is your work interrupted by questions or problems brought to you by your employees or clients? Take a minute to think about it, how many people walk into your office, or call you, or send you a text, email, or Slack message that interrupts your flow, that you take time to…