Lately, I’ve heard a lot of grumbling that nobody trusts good news anymore because it’s been followed by bad news time and time again. Well... that’s not good!
Our ability to make sound decisions quickly is vital to our business and personal health. But many of us are struggling with past experiences and allowing them to influence our current situations. The ups and downs of life, work, and the economy have left many of us with lingering uncertainties since the pandemic. It's time to break free from the past and focus on the present to drive better decision-making and be better leaders. But... how do we do that?Recently, there was a great discussion in the Bureau Slack on how to handle late payments. It got me thinking about how many times I had to "make the call" to a client and ask what the holdup was. Sometimes, it was legit, and sometimes, they were playing games. But every single time, I got to decide how I was going to act. And you get to choose the same. So read on and hear what the community and yours truly think about clients who miss payments.
Recently, there was a great discussion in the Bureau Slack on how to handle late payments. It got me thinking about how many times I had to "make the call" to a client and ask what the holdup was. Sometimes, it was legit, and sometimes, they were playing games. But every single time, I got to decide how I was going to act. And you get to choose the same. So read on and hear what the community and yours truly think about clients who miss payments.
As we get close to the midpoint of the year, it’s a great time to look back at where you were in January, and how far you’ve come. I hope you’ve seen some real progress personally and professionally, and that you can see a clear path to where you’re trying to get to by the end of the year. Every week the Bureau sends out a newsletter focused on helping you achieve these goals so you and your business are headed in the right direction. If that sounds good, take advantage of our no-spam guarantee and sign up for it here. Want to see a quick glance of what we put out there in May? Read on, my friend.
Last week at Owner Camp England, an attendee shared how they tackle being afraid of the unknown. And I have to admit I get scared sometimes too. There's always something lurking in the shadows of any business, and the only way to take control is to confront the monsters in our leadership closets! So grab your flashlights. It's time to take a deep breath, open that creaky door, and see what's really lying in wait for us.
Figuring out what's going on in the world of digital services can be tough to master. But we're going for it. In February we asked for info on how 2024 is trending and what is selling. And two weeks ago we asked again! With over 100 shops reporting in both times, we can now start to see not only how things are going, but how they're trending too. Enlightenment awaits those who read on.
Today, we look at the never-ending evolution of the digital agency. Some folks argue there is no such thing as a "digital" agency. That we're all just different flavors of marketing or software shops. I see many variations, though. From generalists to marketing to eComm to video to search to software to _______. And while I am in the "AI is another tool in the box" camp, there's something more happening here. Similar to when "web shops" spun out of advertising agencies in the early 2000s, I predict AI shops will form a new category focusing exclusively on AI for customers and beyond initial offerings like content generation.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and has been since 1949! Who knew?
We've all got a lot going on, and we could use a break, Especially from the nonstop distractions.
The thing is, some of the distractions are real, and some we create. We've trained our brains to think that boredom and being still are bad. But that's so far from the truth. In those moments when screens don't overstimulate us, we give ourselves the opportunity to create real solutions.
Spring has sprung, and with it comes a new sense of optimism about the work we do, especially here at the Bureau. We have a dedicated group of business leaders helping one another succeed, and every week I share an email newsletter containing words of wisdom from these fine people (okay, and from me). I think it’s a highly useful resource, if I do say so myself, and I’d recommend signing up for it here. But I’ve also collected the tl;dr of our April newsletters here, so read on for the distilled goodness!
Each week I'm looking through Slack conversations to find the hot topic the community is engaged in. This issue, it's a perennial discussion that is always changing. What are the best project management tools?
Let's take a look at what the pros, cons and costs are of 10 tools the community has talked about in nearly 500 messages over the last 6 months.
Each week I'm looking through Slack conversations to find the hot topic the community is engaged in. This issue, it's a perennial discussion that is always changing. What are the best project management tools?
Let's take a look at what the pros, cons and costs are of 10 tools the community has talked about in nearly 500 messages over the last 6 months.
This week's hot topics included pricing for emergency support, setting goals for biz dev, cost management and digital brand guidelines. But the conversation I chose to dig into was on writing better proposals. It's a perennial topic with a lot of value. And one with over 1,000 messages in the Bureau Slack. So, let's see what members, new and old, have had to say on winning the day!
I rarely find someone in our industry who isn't passionate about the work they do. That passion brings with it strong opinions on how things should be done. Add to that the fact that many humans avoid conflict and others like to argue, and it can stall initiatives both big and small.
And that's where the GAF Index comes in. I first heard about this unique model of decision-making back in the days of my first shop, nGen Works. And today, I'd like to share with you how it works, why it works, and when it works. Let's go!
I can’t believe the year is already a quarter of the way over. For my part, there have already been triumphs and failures, and I’m really looking forward to some of the events the Bureau has coming up over the next few months. If you’d like to be in the know on how you can hone your leadership skills, I recommend signing up for our email list here. Each newsletter gives a rundown of upcoming events, as well as helpful resources. But I also collect the best of those resources here each month, so without further delay, let’s check out the best of the best from our March newsletters.
I just returned from the Bureau's Owner Excursion: Kentucky Bourbon Trail. I learned a lot, but one thing really stuck out. This quote from Pappy Van Winkle, a legend in the history of Bourbon, summed up how I feel about being a creator.
"We make fine bourbon at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always fine bourbon."
It's a classic dilemma: the clients we have today might keep the lights on but aren't the dream clients we yearn for. So it can be easy to phone it in. Yet, every project has a hidden opportunity, no matter how far it seems from our ideal. It's about leveraging the now for a brighter, better tomorrow. Here's how going above and beyond on our current gigs can lead us to the work we've been dreaming of.
I recently finished reading Bruce Lee: Artist of Life and there are so many gems that relate to being a leader. Perhaps none as powerful as stop thinking so much. When you're thinking in a fight, someone else is making a move, and that's when you get punched in the face.
Overthinking can cloud judgment, delay decisions, and hinder progress. So let's explore what triggers overthinking and the challenges it presents. Then, we can find practical ways to get through these mental mazes and take clearer, more decisive actions.
As we see the first quarter coming to a close, it’s time to tackle the ever-present mystery of client payments. While most of us would prefer improving employee benefits or planning the next team retreat, without healthy cash flow, all the good things we want to do become a battle. And the worst is when we commit to our team and can’t come through because of sluggish receivables. If only there were a magic spell to keep clients paying on time. Well, maybe this isn’t a fantasy?
Steering your team through these recent rough waters requires more than just a firm grip; it demands a whole new way of seeing things. That's where emotional reframing comes into play, transforming not just how you lead, but how you see your team's challenges. Read on to see how this superpower can improve your leadership impact especially when all hell breaks loose.
Ah, l’amour. We just finished the most romantic month of the year (unless you’re like me and secretly find Arbor Day romantic), and there's nothing I love more than sharing useful info with fellow business leaders. In fact, I care so much that I can't help but send out a weekly newsletter as a token of my affection.
I haven't met anyone yet who doesn't think AI is going to change how they work. Some are happy about it, and others are worried. But most acknowledge it's here and we better adapt or get left behind. One thing I'm not seeing many people talk about is how it impacts the cultures we've worked so hard to protect and nurture. SO let's give the humans a little love while we improve the bottom line.
Most of us have had times when a relationship ended and we were wondering what to do with ourselves. But while eating your weight in gummy bears is tempting, it won’t bring you satisfaction. Instead, taking some time to work on yourself will get you in a better place to succeed in future relationships. This week we’re talking about how to make the most of a break in client work.
