4 Common Attributes
We are excited to announce the recent launch of the 28th episode of An Agency Story podcast! As an agency owner, you understand the value of networking and learning from others. Over the last year, I have had the pleasure of speaking with dozens of successful agency owners and I want to share with you four common attributes that consistently appear among the most successful agencies over the next several newsletters.
As we welcome the arrival of Spring (sorry to those still experiencing snow!), let’s dive into the first attribute – discipline.
Discipline
What comes to mind when you hear that word? For some, it’s as refreshing as a cool breeze on a summer day. And for others, a cool breeze when you just finished a polar plunge in the North Pole in winter. Whichever cool breeze analogy fits your liking, let’s be honest, discipline is unavoidable if you want to create a successful business. And I’m not talking about toxic discipline of the all work, no quit serial entrepreneur. You know, the one that goes to bed at midnight, wakes up at 1am, works out for 3 hours, makes 100 phone calls, writes 2 books…you get the picture, and all before the sun rises no less.
I’m referring to the discipline needed to ensure critical business functions are regularly and consistently executed. Let’s take a look at a few of these critical functions:
Finance
One of the biggest surprises is how many business run on inconsistently updated financials and forecasting. I know this can be a PITA for some but it’s like flying an airplane with no instruments. I’m haven’t talked to a consistently profitable agency owner yet that didn’t have a firm grasp on all things financial metrics and ensuring they are looking at said metrics on a consistent basis.
CRM & Sales Tracking
Let’s be real, does anyone actually enjoy updating their CRM? I know I certainly don’t. It’s a tedious and often thankless task, but it’s essential for keeping track of all those valuable contacts you’ve made over the years. Without a well-maintained CRM, how can you hope to nurture those leads and turn them into loyal clients? Trust me, I know the struggle all too well. But successful agency owners understand that investing time and effort into their CRM is a crucial step towards breaking free from the limitations of referral-based lead generation.
Process/SOP
Well, this one’s a doozy. Let’s face it, building out processes can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re just trying to get things done in the moment. And let’s be real, even if you do put in the time and effort to create them, getting everyone to actually use and follow them can feel like pulling teeth. But here’s the thing believe it or not: there are some agency owners that have cracked the code on this one. They know that having a process for their processes is key to staying on top of things and avoiding chaos.
Got Discipline?
Discipline is really just old fashioned habit building. While some of you might not think you are naturally disciplined, everyone runs on habits. Habits take the mental load off of doing something you might not otherwise be inclined to do.
Crawl, walk, run baby. Start small, consistency is key. A consistent forecast may just start with writing on a napkin but once you get going you’ll want to improve from there. Many of you may have heard of the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s an excellent read (or listen) to give you some practical advice on implementing some new habits for those pesky financials, tiring CRM work, illusive process mechanics, and so much more.
An Agency Story – Featured Episode
Anna and Erika’s story represent the dichotomy of a wonderful partnership. Anna runs on discipline and Erika on creativity to blaze trails out in West Texas.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Russel
“The Backboard”
PS. If you ever want to chat about any of the above topics and discuss ideas to improve these specific functions (or others) within your agency, just smack that reply button and we’ll have a convo. You can also schedule time with me via Calendly.
PSS. Follow An Agency Story on the gram for the latest show updates and more.
