Happy Friday, folks.
I ordered a coffee on my way home from the doctor’s this morning.
I wanted to celebrate being cleared to work out again.
What I wasn’t expecting was this note on the cup:
Now, it’s probably just a line from a bunch they choose from to throw on the cups. But I’d been thinking about my business and some of the opportunities that have surfaced lately.
From sales to partnerships, all of these have come up because the timing was right.
People saw a post at the right time and decided to book a call.
Someone sends an opportunity that a month ago wouldn’t have fit the schedule.
Our situations are constantly changing. But that’s why it’s important to remain consistent in the actions we know will push towards success.
Keep writing content. Keep putting yourself out there. Keep doing everything you can to make your clients successful.
Because while you’re doing all of this, the timing is lining up for other opportunities. But if you’re not in the situation to accept it, it’ll pass you by.
Keep putting in the work.
Have a great weekend!
Lessons of the Week:
1. Expectation management is your most important skill.
I’ve probably said this a thousand times, but here it is again.
In the agency game (in a lot of games, actually), how you manage expectations determines how successful you can be.
You need to manage the expectations of your clients, your team, and yourself.
When engagements fail and team members are unhappy, it often comes down to this as the reason.
2. The need for Market Access.
The reason most agencies flop in their initial positioning is that they have no market access.
They want to work with manufacturing companies, but they’ve got way to talk to these people.
They want to work with medical providers, but the only person they know is their doctor.
You need some way to access the people you want to market too, otherwise you’re never going to get business.
3. AI is a force multiplier. Maintain the multiple.
I’m still seeing it.
“I cut my team of 15 down to 2 people because AI makes them 5x more efficient.”
Simple math. 2x5=10. So even though you’re saving money, you’re actually less efficient.
But more importantly, this ignores how fast your team can improve with the tool by keeping everyone employed.
15 people figuring out new and better ways to use AI will increase the multiplier from 5x to 8x or 10x.
Now, that’s potentially the efficiency of 150 people instead of the 2 you just cut to.
Since your margins would improve more with the efficiency bonus than from cutting, I think the path to incorporating AI is obvious.
Quote That Slaps:
“Live each day like it’s your second to the last. That way you can fall asleep at night.” – Jason Love
Content Roll Up:
The 5 Fears That Keep Agencies Stuck in Generic Land
I've been working with agencies for years, and I keep seeing the same pattern. Leaders know they need to position their agency in a specific niche, but they keep putting it off. They'll say things like "we're just not ready yet" or "maybe next quarter."
Have a great weekend!
Comment and share any of your learnings this week!
