In episode 149, I sit down with David Wain-Heapy, founder of Prodigy, a company that helps agencies and digital businesses build flexible, scalable remote teams through global talent sourcing.

David spent 14 years building and running a Magento-focused e-commerce agency out of central London before selling it to Brave Bison PLC. We talk through what that exit process actually looked like, why the right acquirer matters as much as the right offer, and how building systems independent of the founders made the transition possible.

From there, we get into the real substance of what David does now: helping agencies shift from an outsourcing mindset to an offshore hiring mindset. There's a difference, and it matters. Agency owners will come away with a clearer framework for when and how to integrate global talent, how to think about time zones, which roles translate well offshore, and what AI is actually doing — and not yet doing — to development teams in agencies right now.

Key Bytes

• Outsourcing and offshore hiring are not the same thing — one is a handoff, the other is a hire.

• The fix for a failed first attempt wasn't better talent, it was better integration — sprints, tools, and cadence.

• Building a business that runs independently of you isn't just good leadership, it's what makes you acquirable.

• The right acquirer matters as much as the right offer — alignment on team and culture is what made a six-month handoff possible.

• East Coast agencies fit well with Eastern European talent; West Coast agencies are better served by South and Central America.

• AI handles contained tasks well, but it still can't hold the context of an enterprise-scale project.

• The people who will thrive in an AI-augmented world are the ones who bring real creativity — the architects and problem-solvers, not just the executors.

Chapters

00:00 Why this conversation matters for agency owners right now

01:45 David's 14-year agency journey and building in a competitive London market

05:10 The first attempt at offshore talent and why it failed

08:30 Selling to Brave Bison: what the exit process actually looked like

13:15 Choosing the right acquirer and making a clean handoff

17:00 Outsourcing vs. offshore hiring: why the mindset shift changes everything

21:30 How to think about time zones when sourcing global talent

24:45 What systems agencies need before hiring offshore

28:00 Where AI is actually helping agency dev teams right now

33:20 Which roles work well offshore and which don't

37:50 Rapid fire: surfing in Bristol, letting go of control, and a risky bet that paid off

David Wain-Heapy is an experienced founder currently focused on building remote teams for digital businesses with Prodigi.

Having sold my digital agency to Brave Bison PLC, I am now working to provide a flexible and scalable solution that enables companies to take control of hiring by looking at a global talent pool.

I have many years experience building globally distributed teams of digital professionals and leading them to help great businesses win in the race for attention and accelerate their digital growth.

Contact David:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-wain-heapy/

http://www.prodigi.team

In episode 148, I sit down with Cameron Herold, founder of COO Alliance and one of the most recognized voices in operational leadership, to talk about the mindset shift agency owners desperately need right now: stepping into the role of CEO and building a true COO mindset inside their business.

Cameron has helped scale companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK and advised hundreds of growth-stage businesses, and in this conversation, we unpack what it really means to work on the business instead of being trapped inside it. We talk about the operator’s lens, how founders accidentally become bottlenecks, and why operational maturity is often the difference between a lifestyle business and a scalable asset.

If you’re an agency owner who feels stretched thin, stuck in delivery, or unsure how to elevate your leadership team, this one is a masterclass in stepping up and leveling up.

Key Bytes

• The CEO’s job is vision. The COO’s job is execution. Most agency owners are trying to do both — and burning out.

• Operational discipline isn’t about bureaucracy — it’s about freeing the founder from the day-to-day.

• If you’re still the glue holding everything together, you don’t have a scalable business — you have a dependency.

• Working on the business requires intentional systems, delegation maturity, and the courage to step back.

• Strong operators build companies that can grow, sell, or run without the founder in the weeds.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Cameron’s Scaling Background

04:12 The Difference Between a Founder and a CEO

09:48 Why Most Agencies Don’t Truly Work “On” the Business

16:35 The COO Mindset Explained

23:10 Founders as Bottlenecks

31:42 Building Operational Discipline Without Red Tape

40:18 Hiring & Developing Strong Operators

49:03 Scaling vs. Lifestyle Businesses

57:25 Final Advice for Agency Owners

Cameron Herold is the mastermind behind the exponential growth of hundreds of companies globally. Founder of the COO Alliance, and Invest In Your Leaders training.  Cameron is known as the "CEO Whisperer", and is also the former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, where he engineered the company's spectacular growth from $2 million to $106 million in revenue in just six years.

The publisher of Forbes magazine, Rich Karlgaard, stated "Cameron Herold is the best speaker I've ever heard...he hits grand slams”.   Cameron is

the host of the Second In Command podcast, author of 6 bestselling books, including The Second In Command, Vivid Vision, Meetings Suck, Free PR, Double Double, and The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs.

Cameron is a top-rated international speaker and has been paid to speak in 26 countries and on all 7 continents, including Antarctica in early 2022.

www.cooalliance.com

www.cameronherold.com

https://www.instagram.com/cameron_herold_cooalliance

https://www.facebook.com/COOAlliance/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronherold

https://www.linkedin.com/company/coo-alliance/

https://twitter.com/cooalliance

https://www.youtube.com/@CameronHerold?sub_confirmation=1

https://cooalliance.com/vivid-vision/

In episode 147, I sit down with Amy Hood, designer and co-founder of Hoodzpah Design, the Southern California brand identity studio behind work for Disney, Nike, Netflix, Target, and the Lakers. Amy and her twin sister Jen built Hoodzpah out of necessity after realizing they were “unhireable on paper,” and turned it into a nimble, right-sized studio that’s intentionally stayed small to protect speed, momentum, and creative quality.

We talk about why “make the work you want to get” is still the most reliable path to better clients, how relationships compound when you lead with curiosity (not strategy), and why creatives have to treat marketing as part of the job if they want opportunities to find them.

Amy also shares the story behind Hoodspa’s Adobe MAX banner plane stunt (“No more broke creatives”), what they learned from taking a big marketing swing, and how they’re shifting from service work into products like their updated book Freelance, and Business, and Stuff and the Fort font subscription app.

Key Bytes

• Making the work you want to get is still the fastest way to change the caliber of clients you attract.

• Staying small on purpose can be a growth strategy — speed and momentum beat bureaucracy.

• If you don’t share your work, people can’t refer you because there’s no proof you exist.

• Spectacle marketing works when it’s aligned, intentional, and captures attention in a sea of noise.

• Diversifying income through products creates longevity — especially when your body can’t grind forever.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome + who Amy Hood is

01:05 Hoodzpah’s origin: “unhireable on paper” to studio owners

02:59 Twin partnership: dividing roles and avoiding scorekeeping

08:41 Staying small on purpose (and why bigger can be slower)

11:18 Landing better clients by making the work you want

18:03 Dream clients + putting your hat in the ring

21:00 Adobe MAX banner plane: “No more broke creatives”

28:40 From service to product: book, fonts, and Fort app

31:48 Font licensing fear and why clients are gun-shy

38:44 Rapid fire: resets, creative myths, and boundaries

Amy Hood is a designer and co-founder of Hoodzpah, Inc, a brand identity studio in Southern California that has worked with companies like Disney, 20th Century, Nike, The Lakers, Target, and Netflix. Amy's logo and identity work centers around custom lettering solutions. She is the font designer behind Palm Canyon Drive, Beale, and Beverly Drive. When she's not stress-watching Laker games, Amy can be found at the beach plein-air doodling and practicing her Smashball back hand. She co-authored the book “Freelance, and Business, and Stuff: A Guide for Creatives” (and it's related online course) with her sister Jennifer based on the Professional Practices class they taught at Laguna College of Art & Design.

www.hoodzpahdesign.com

instagram.com/hoodzpahdesign

youtube.com/hoodzpah

In episode 146, I’m joined by Doreen Morin-van Dam, a content strategist with more than 15 years of experience helping brands grow through smart, sustainable marketing. Doreen works with teams on how to use AI responsibly and effectively, hosts the Strategy Talks video podcast, and is known for blending emerging tech with deeply human content strategies.

We dig into what really happened when companies rushed to replace humans with AI in 2025—and why many of them quietly reversed course by Q4. Doreen shares what she’s seeing brands regret most, how “AI slop” became a real problem, and why human-led content is becoming a competitive advantage again. We also explore how agencies can use AI as a strategic partner (not a shortcut), why long-form content matters more than ever, and how organic and paid media must work together. This is a grounded, practical conversation for agency owners trying to navigate AI without losing trust, quality, or their voice.

Key Bytes

• Why replacing humans with AI backfired for many brands in 2025

• How AI slop diluted trust, performance, and differentiation

• Why humans must remain the source of truth in content strategy

• How to use AI to analyze, enhance, and scale—not replace—expertise

• Why long-form, opinionated content performs better with LLMs

• How organic social still drives testing, trust, and paid performance

• Why being different beats being “better” in crowded markets

• How agencies should rethink in-house marketing investment

Chapters

00:00 Why 2025 became the “AI correction year”

02:30 What brands got wrong when they replaced people with AI

05:45 Why agencies must treat themselves as their best client

08:55 AI avatars, ethical concerns, and consumer trust

11:30 From AI slop to human-led strategy

15:05 Humans as the source of truth in content

19:45 Why long-form content matters for AI discovery

21:20 Organic social isn’t dead—it’s misunderstood

26:25 Organic + paid: why they must work together

28:00 Rapid-fire questions and practical takeaways

Dorien Morin-van Dam is a Vermont-based content strategist with over 15 years of experience helping brands grow through smart, sustainable strategies. A Certified Social Media Manager and Agile Marketer, she also consults on AI strategy for small businesses, showing teams how to use AI in marketing responsibly and effectively. Dorien turns organic content and emerging tech into measurable results, speaks internationally, and hosts the Strategy Talks video podcast. You’ll recognize her on stage and online by her signature orange glasses, a nod to her Dutch heritage.

https://www.moreinmedia.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/moreinmedia/

https://www.youtube.com/@DorienMorinVanDam/podcasts

In episode 145, I sit down with Jessica Hische—a world-renowned lettering artist, New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most thoughtful creative voices of our generation. And full transparency: I’ve been a huge fan of Jessica’s work for a long time. Her ability to pair obsessive craft with clarity, intention, and humanity has influenced how I think about creative work for years.

This conversation goes far beyond tactics or tools. We dig into what it really means to answer a creative calling—and then protect it. Jessica shares how she’s built a career that honors her instincts, values her time, and stays deeply connected to her craft, without burning out or selling out. We talk about the choices she’s made to stay true to her creative voice, even when external pressure—clients, platforms, trends, or scale—could easily pull things off course.

We also explore the less romantic but absolutely essential side of creative freedom: boundaries, systems, pricing, and self-advocacy. Jessica opens up about how she’s learned to put structure around her work not as a constraint, but as a way to preserve joy, sustainability, and long-term creative integrity. Whether it’s choosing the right projects, saying no without guilt, or building tools that support creatives instead of exploiting them, her through-line is clear: creativity thrives when it’s respected.

For agency owners and creative leaders, this episode is a powerful reminder that building a business—or a career—on your own terms isn’t about sacrificing ambition. It’s about defining success for yourself, staying grounded in your craft, and making intentional choices that allow your work, and your life, to evolve together.

This one felt special to record—and I think it’ll resonate deeply with anyone trying to build something meaningful, creatively and personally.

Key Bytes

• Why answering a creative calling is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time decision

• How staying true to your craft doesn’t require self-sacrifice

• The role boundaries and structure play in long-term creative freedom

• Why defining success for yourself is the real creative advantage

• How creatives can grow without burning out or losing their voice

Chapters

00:00 Following a creative calling

06:40 Staying true to your craft over time

14:10 Defining success on your own terms

22:35 Boundaries, pricing, and protecting creative energy

31:20 Structure as a support, not a constraint

40:05 Evolving creatively without losing yourself

48:30 Advice for creatives building sustainable careers

Jessica Hische is a lettering artist and New York Times Best-selling author based in Oakland, California. She specializes in typographical work for logos, film, books, and other commercial applications. Her clients include Wes Anderson, The United States Postal Service, Target, Hallmark, and Penguin Books and her work has been featured again and again in design and illustration annuals both in the US and internationally. She’s been named a Print Magazine New Visual Artist (20 under 30), one of Forbes 30 under 30 in Art and Design, an ADC Young Gun, a “Person to Watch” by GD USA, and an Adweek “Creative 100”. She's also the co-founder of Studioworks, invoicing software for creatives by creatives.

@jessicahische (threads and instagram)

jessicahische.is/awesome

studioworks.app

Ep 137 – Jennifer Spire, Preston Spire – Built to Last: The 75-Year Agency Still Breaking Rules

In episode 137, I sit down with Jennifer Spire, Partner and CEO of Preston Spire — a 75-year-old agency that’s somehow still pushing boundaries while many newer shops flame out. Jennifer shares how she modernized a legacy company without losing the cultural DNA that kept it alive for three-quarters of a century. We get into leadership transitions, building a values-driven agency, navigating generational shifts in talent, and how she’s shaping the next era of a Midwest powerhouse.

Key Bytes

• The hidden advantages legacy agencies have but often ignore

• Why values act as a competitive moat — but only if they’re enforced

• How Jennifer leads change without blowing up culture

• The reality of modernizing 75-year-old processes

• Where agencies underestimate the work of staying relevant

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:20 What it means to run a 75-year-old agency today

05:05 How Jennifer modernized Preston Spier without breaking it

09:40 The cultural DNA that actually drives retention

13:55 Why “values” only matter when leaders enforce them

17:48 Leadership evolution: from partner to CEO

21:30 What younger talent expects from an established shop

25:18 Staying relevant in a fast-changing industry

29:55 How Preston Spire balances legacy and innovation

33:42 Advice Jennifer wishes she had earlier

38:10 Closing thoughts

Jennifer Spire is partner and CEO at Preston Spire, an Ad Age Best Place to Work and Midwest Small Agency of the Year. She is an accomplished agency leader with over 25 years of experience in both consumer and B2B marketing for just about every industry out there. At Preston Spire, Jennifer has played the leading role in reshaping the framework that defines the agency, focused on a strong vision, values and purpose. She has been a speaker at dozens of local and national conferences, has authored articles and thought pieces on various marketing subjects, and has been a board member of several nonprofit organizations. Jennifer was an east coast native before calling Minneapolis home. She was an NCGA gymnast and a gymnastics coach, who also had advertising in her blood, thanks to her grandfather being one of the founding fathers of Madison Avenue.

Contact Jennifer:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-spire-a992462/

https://www.prestonspire.com/

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Ep 136 – JP Holecka, Power Shifter Digital – Building the AI-Driven Agency: Lessons from Power Shifter’s Evolution

In episode 136, I sit down with JP Holecka, founder and CEO of Power Shifter Digital, a Vancouver-based agency leading the shift toward AI-driven digital products and content creation. With over 30 years of experience in design, film, and technology, JP has guided multiple teams through successful AI rollouts—transforming workflows, scaling creativity, and redefining how digital agencies deliver value.

We talk about what it really takes to evolve your agency for the AI era, how to navigate the culture shift that comes with automation, and why embracing AI is less about replacing people and more about amplifying what they’re capable of.

KEY BYTES

• AI isn’t replacing creativity—it’s amplifying it

• True transformation starts with changing workflows, not job titles

• The most successful AI rollouts start with internal adoption before client delivery

• Leadership has to model curiosity and experimentation

• Agencies that treat AI as a tool, not a threat, are finding their competitive edge

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

02:01 JP’s background and the evolution of Power Shifter

06:32 The first AI experiments that changed everything

10:45 Getting team buy-in and overcoming initial skepticism

14:58 Building processes around AI rather than forcing it in

20:10 Human creativity in the age of automation

25:36 How AI has changed client expectations

31:12 Leadership lessons from scaling an AI-driven agency

36:45 The next frontier of digital work

40:30 JP’s advice for agency founders starting their AI journey

43:00 Rapid Fire Questions

JP Holecka is the founder and CEO of Power Shifter Digital, a Vancouver-based agency leading the shift toward AI-driven digital products and content creation. With over 30 years of experience in design, film, and technology, JP has guided multiple agencies through successful AI rollouts—transforming workflows, scaling creativity, and redefining how teams collaborate with generative tools.

https://www.powershifter.com/studio

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpholecka/

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In episode 135, I sit down with Drew McLellan, CEO of Agency Management Institute and host of the Build a Better Agency podcast. Drew’s been in the business for over 30 years and has coached thousands of agencies on how to grow profitably, attract better clients, and actually enjoy the perks of ownership.

In this conversation, we unpack what the real job of an agency owner is — and how easy it is to get lost in the weeds doing everyone else’s. Drew shares how founders can move from day-to-day chaos to the higher-level work of vision, leadership, and building a pipeline that doesn’t depend on them. We also talk about the mental shift from “founder hustle” to “CEO clarity,” and what it really means to build an agency that serves your life, not the other way around.

Key Bytes

• The three things only the owner can and should do

• Why your agency’s profit tells the truth about your leadership

• Building a self-sustaining pipeline that runs without you

• How to structure your week around the owner’s actual job

• The difference between running an agency and owning a business

• What makes an agency truly “sellable”

• Common traps that keep founders stuck in the weeds

• How to get your time back without losing control

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Drew’s background

04:12 The evolution from founder to true agency owner

09:45 What the “owner’s actual job” really is

14:58 Why agency profit is a mirror of leadership

20:17 Building systems and pipelines that aren’t you

26:04 The importance of clarity and delegation

31:42 Common mistakes that limit scalability

38:27 How to build an agency that can thrive without you

44:10 Preparing for eventual sale or succession

49:22 Drew’s advice for new and seasoned agency owners

Drew McLellan has worked in advertising for 30+ years and started his own agency, McLellan Marketing Group in 1995 after a five-year stint at Y&R and still actively runs the agency.

He spends the lion’s share of his time running Agency Management Institute (AMI), which he also co-owns/runs with his wife Danyel.

AMI serves thousands of agencies small to mid-sized agencies (advertising, digital, marketing, media and PR) every year, so they can increase their AGI, attract better clients and employees, mitigate the risks of being self-employed in a such volatile business and best of all — let the agency owner actually enjoy the perks of agency ownership.

AMI is the only agency network that is run by an active agency owner. It offers:

Public workshops for agency owners, leaders and account service staff

Owner peer networks (like a Vistage group or 4A’s forums)

Private coaching/consulting for agency owners

Annual primary research with CMOs and client decision makers about their work with agencies

The highly praised podcast Build A Better Agency

The only conference built for small to mid-sized agencies – the Build A Better Agency Summit

Drew often appears in publications like Entrepreneur Magazine, New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, AdAge, CNN, BusinessWeek, and many others. The Wall Street Journal calls him “one of 10 bloggers every entrepreneur should read.”

He’s also written several books, the most recent being Sell with Authority (January 2020). The latest book has garnered rave reviews and has been the guidebook for agency growth and business development in today’s world.

Drew also speaks at leading agency and marketing conferences like Inbound, Content Marketing World and MAICON and is often cited in agency centric content for his expertise in the industry.

When he’s not hanging out with clients or agency owners and their staff, Drew spends time with his wife, their blended family and following his beloved Dodgers.

http://agencymanagementinstitute.com

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In episode 134, I sit down with Jen Moss, Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of JAR, where she helps brands and agencies craft podcasts that move people—not just metrics.

Jen calls herself a podcasting doula, guiding clients through the messy middle of creative storytelling. In this conversation, we dive into how to create audio that actually connects, what makes a podcast worth listening to, and why “Job, Audience, Result” is the framework every agency should adopt before hitting record.

Jen and I explore why most branded podcasts fizzle, how to define success beyond downloads, and the difference between authenticity and algorithm-chasing. If you’ve ever thought about starting a podcast for your agency—or making your current one work harder—this episode’s for you.

Key Bytes

• The JAR method: Job, Audience, Result—a simple framework for podcast strategy.

• Why authenticity and storytelling beat reach every time.

• How agencies can use podcasts as pillar content that drives real relationships.

• Common landmines when launching an agency podcast.

• Why generosity and curiosity build audience trust.

• The most meaningful metrics: engagement, consumption rate, and return listeners.

• When to use internal vs. external hosts—and why it depends.

• The role of creative courage in a crowded podcast space.

• Why “connection” should always be your North Star.

Chapters

00:00 Intro – Meet Jen Moss, podcasting doula and CCO of JAR

02:00 From theater to radio: Jen’s storytelling roots

06:00 The JAR framework explained: Job, Audience, Result

09:30 The real “why” behind launching a podcast

12:30 How agencies can use podcasts as strategic marketing tools

16:30 Internal vs. external hosts: what actually works

19:45 Common landmines and why most podcasts fizzle

22:00 Authenticity, generosity, and giving value away

24:30 Is podcasting too saturated? Finding signal in the noise

27:45 Connection over clicks—how to stand out

31:00 The metrics that matter: consumption, return, and reach trends

33:50 Rapid Fire with Jen Moss: storytelling, creative courage, and dream guests

In her role as Chief Creative Officer of JAR, Co-Founder Jen Moss loves bringing stories to life. With her clients, Jen acts as a “podcasting Doula,” helping them harness their strengths in service of great storytelling. Deeply steeped in the creative process, Jen is unafraid of its ambiguities, and enjoys guiding others through its twists and turns. Drawing on her strong background in theatre, arts journalism, audio documentary, and new media storytelling, Jen helps clients tell the authentic stories that matter to them, and to their audience. She spent many years working as a producer and award-winning content creator for CBC Radio, and as an interactive story producer for The National Film Board of Canada’s Digital Studio, which taught her to think of stories as living things, full of potential for impact. It also taught her to take an “audience first” approach. Jen is never afraid of surfacing big ideas, but understands that sometimes, it’s the little things – the specific lens that “only you” can bring – that will gain the most traction with an audience. Jen loves to look for “fresh tracks” in the form of stories that haven’t been told before. She encourages her clients and her team at JAR to try out new ideas, learn from what the audience data reveals, and let that inform future creative strategy. Finally, Jen keeps her own professional learning curve alive as she lectures part-time at the University of British Columbia’s School of Creative Writing, interacting with the next generation of writers, podcasters, new media producers, and audiences.

https://jarpodcasts.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-moss-8a356930/

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In episode 133, I dive into the real-world path of AI adoption for agencies with guest Kirstin Russ, founder of Principal Edge AI and Mountains to Sea Media. We unpack the four “zones” of adoption (from denial to productized services), why most AI projects fail without structure and change management, and how to turn internal automations into billable client solutions. We also hit on junior-talent pipelines in an AI world, the risk of “robot-trained-by-robots” content, pricing when you’re still learning, and the discovery discipline required to make automations actually stick.

Key Bytes

• The winning agencies move from “dabbling in automations” to selling AI-powered solutions that solve specific client problems.

• 95% of AI projects fail because of missing structure, messy data, and zero change management — fix those first.

• AI should elevate people to higher-value work; train juniors to work with AI, not to be replaced by it.

• Don’t chase every shiny tool; build repeatable agent patterns and a stable stack you trust.

• Discovery is everything: a “15-step” flow usually hides 30 more steps — price and scope accordingly.

• Monetization starts with ops pain: map ugly manual workflows, then automate the “swivel-chair” steps.

• Thought leadership beats generic AI copy: capture founder audio, codify brand voice + ICPs, then assist with AI.

• Profit vs. quality is a real tension — set guardrails so efficiency never erodes outcomes.

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Kirstin’s two businesses

00:57 Why an outsource-first agency model

03:07 Year of deep AI study and first tools “in the wild”

04:43 The four zones of agency AI adoption

06:14 From “getting ahead” to “survive”: disruption hits marketing

09:01 Why AI projects fail: structure, data, and change management

11:00 Practical internal automations (transcripts → CRM, follow-ups, etc.)

12:58 Junior talent in an AI era & the content quality dilemma

15:18 Building an AI content assist system (voice, ICP, research)

18:48 Tool sprawl vs. foundations; avoiding shiny-object traps

20:40 Can clients DIY? Positioning & selling AI services

21:08 Case studies: Square inventory workflow & quote tool

24:38 Pricing while you’re learning; managing expectations

27:18 Aha moments: you can’t do it all; systemize & delegate

29:14 Theme songs, imposter syndrome, and wrap up

Kirstin Russ is a seasoned business strategist with 30 years of cross-industry experience who brings a unique dual approach to business growth. As the founder of Practical Edge AI, she helps businesses leverage artificial intelligence to automate growth, reduce manual workload, and improve profitability—often delivering measurable results within the first week.

Simultaneously, as the driving force behind Mountains to Sea Media, a Western North Carolina-based digital marketing agency, Kirstin helps businesses amplify their online presence through strategic internet marketing, data analytics, and performance-focused web design.

Kirstin's superpower lies in her holistic approach to business analysis, understanding how systems interconnect and where AI can enhance traditional & digital marketing strategies. By combining cutting-edge AI solutions with proven digital marketing expertise, she creates integrated growth pathways that optimize both operations and customer acquisition.

With an approachable style and commitment to practical results, Kirstin transforms business challenges into opportunities. Her guiding question remains: "If you could wave a magic wand and change anything about your business, what would it be?"

https://www.practicaledge.ai/

https://mountainstoseamedia.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/practical-edge-ai/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mountains-to-sea-media/

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In episode 130, I sit down with Peter Lang—co-founder of Digital Agency Business and AVA, and longtime agency acquirer—to unpack how agency owners can use M&A as a growth superpower. Peter shares the seven-day deal that doubled his agency’s revenue, the due-diligence signals that actually matter (talent, client stickiness, and contracts), why most M&A fails on culture not math, and how AI is reshaping hiring and service models. We also get into founder identity after the sale, what “professional maturity” looks like, and why many owners are really capital allocators in the making.

Key Bytes

• M&A can compress years of organic growth into months—if you underwrite people, clients, and terms before the numbers.

• Culture fit and integration planning beat fancy spreadsheets; most failed deals are value misalignment, not valuation.

• AI is wiping out entry-level tasks first; the winners redeploy A-players and teach clients how to use AI, not hide from it.

• Founder-led sales can’t be the only engine; build repeatable sales capacity that survives distractions.

• You already “work for” whoever pays you—selling changes the customer, not your agency DNA.

• Treat time like capital: budget it, forecast it, and review it like an effective executive.

Chapters

00:00 Cold open, quick re-intro

01:08 The seven-day deal that doubled revenue

03:32 Doing three deals in 90 days during COVID

06:36 Common seller misconceptions and Peter’s deal lens

09:19 Endurance mindset, calendars, and operating like an athlete

13:46 What buyers actually look for beyond the numbers

17:43 AI’s impact on talent, delivery, and survival to 2027

22:10 Life after the sale and “professional maturity”

24:51 Rapid fire: celebrating wins, the race that changed him, dream acquisition

27:45 Where to learn more (digitalagencybusiness.com)

Resources mentioned

• Effective Executive by Peter Drucker (time tracking and retrospective)

• GrowthHackers community (context on Peter’s portfolio)

• digitalagencybusiness.com (Peter’s M&A training and upcoming book)

Peter Lang is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with over 15 years of experience building, buying, and selling companies across online publishing, media, advertising, e-commerce, and consulting. He’s the co-founder and Chief M&A Officer at AVA, a fast-growing digital agency holding company acquiring businesses in the $1–10 million range.

Peter also runs Digital Agency Business (DAB), an e-learning company that trains entrepreneurs to launch and scale their own agencies. A former CEO of Uhuru Network and advisor to multiple companies, Peter’s passion lies in using mergers and acquisitions to accelerate growth. An endurance athlete and family man, he lives by the belief that anything is achievable with hard work.

Contact Peter:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterclang/

https://digitalagencybusiness.com/

In episode 129, I talk with Natasha Golinski, founder of On Purpose Projects, a custom web and e-commerce dev agency. Natasha is a three-time Canada Women of Influence nominee, a mom of three, and a breast cancer survivor—and she’s built her business around the belief that mindset is everything.

We dig into how she went from “accidental agency owner” to leading a zero-meeting, all-contractor team for over a decade, and why journaling, EFT (tapping), and surrounding yourself with the right people are critical to surviving the entrepreneurial rollercoaster. Natasha also shares how a cancer diagnosis forced her to hire ops support—and ultimately led to one of her agency’s biggest months ever.

This episode is a masterclass in grit, leadership, and the mental game of entrepreneurship.

Key Bytes

• Mindset is the job. Natasha starts most days with journaling and EFT to reset anxiety and focus.• Zero meetings, high loyalty. A culture of respect, gratitude, and no drama keeps her contractor team thriving.• Protect your people. Leadership means absorbing the stress and passing the praise.• Say no early. Guardrails in discovery protect the team from toxic clients.• Crisis as catalyst. Cancer forced Natasha to let go of ops—and it unlocked growth.• Community matters. No one is self-made—surround yourself with peers who lift you up.• Focus sharpens delivery. On Purpose Projects does dev only—like a food truck that just serves crepes.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Natasha’s background02:12 Accidental agency beginnings04:45 Mindset, marketing, and money: her founder lane07:30 Morning pages & EFT as daily reset tools11:05 Cancer diagnosis, hiring ops, and a breakthrough month15:20 Building loyalty in a zero-meeting contractor culture20:22 Client red flags & protecting your team23:50 Why no one is self-made: the role of community26:30 Rapid-fire fun: karaoke, first impressions, food truck metaphor28:55 Closing thoughts

Natasha Golinsky is the founder of an award-winning web development and ecommerce agency, a three-time nominee for the Canada Women of Influence® Award, and a tireless champion of female agency owners. Natasha’s also a mom of three and a breast cancer survivor who brings grit, heart, and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does. I’m thrilled to dig into her journey, her mission, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Natasha, welcome to the show.

Award winning web development & ecommerce agency founder | Champion & connector of female agency owners | 3x nominee Canada Women of Influence® Award | Breast Cancer Butt-Kicker | Mom x 3

http://www.onpurposeprojects.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashagolinsky/

In episode 128, I sit down with Logan Lyles, founder of DemandShift and longtime B2B sales and marketing pro. Logan’s career has spanned brand side, agency side, and now his own consultancy—giving him a unique perspective on what it really takes to grow pipeline.

We unpack his journey from scaling Sweet Fish Media to Inc. 5000 status, building the Agency Life series at Teamwork, and leading growth at Business Builders. Most importantly, Logan shares how he turned disappointing webinar results into a repeatable framework that consistently converts registrations into booked sales calls.

If you’ve ever run a webinar that felt like a win… until the dreaded “conversion cliff,” this episode gives you the practical, step-by-step fixes to turn those views into revenue.

Key Bytes

• Logan explains how most agencies fall into the “conversion cliff” trap—lots of registrants, little pipeline—and the two-part fix that changed everything.

• He shares the importance of packaging your expertise into a clear framework that creates a natural next step.

• We break down his two-step registration process that boosted webinar conversions by 5–10x.

• We compare free vs. paid events, what impacts show-up rates, and which strategy works best for agencies.

• We talk about how webinars double as content engines for thought leadership and trust building.

• Logan shares why solopreneurs and 20-person agencies alike can adapt this strategy with the right tech stack.

• He opens up about lessons learned in sales—why not every “yes” is worth chasing.

Chapters

00:02 Intro to Logan Lyles and Demand Shift

01:14 Logan’s meandering career path from journalism to sales to agency life

03:09 Lessons from scaling Sweet Fish Media and leading growth at Business Builders

06:44 Why referrals aren’t enough for agencies anymore

07:28 The “conversion cliff” of webinars and how Logan fixed it

09:48 The two-step registration process that boosted conversions 5–10x

12:59 Free vs. paid webinars: show rates, signups, and strategy

15:57 Webinars as thought-leadership engines and content machines

19:11 Blending demand gen with brand building for faster sales cycles

23:02 Rethinking webinars: live podcasts, polls, and engagement tactics

27:08 Sales lessons: why not every yes is worth chasing

27:50 Wrap-up and where to find Logan (demandshift.co)

Logan Lyles has spent 17 years in B2B sales & marketing, drawing on his journalism background & working both agency- and brand-side in various roles. He has helped multiple agencies scale, including helping lead Sweet Fish Media onto the Inc 5,000 List 2 years in a row & increasing Business Builders monthly email list growth by 580% in 2024.

Logan is the founder of DemandShift, a webinar-as-a-service agency, the co-host of the weekly podcast: The Marketing Max Show & a LinkedIn Top Voice.

http://demandshift.co

http://linkedin.com/in/loganlyles

In episode 127, I talk with Kelly Schuknecht, founder of Two Mile High Marketing and host of the Beyond the Best Seller podcast. Kelly shares her journey from being laid off to launching her agency, how she quickly built a team, and why she’s focused on helping agency owners and CEOs grow through thought leadership platforms. We dig into what I call The Agency Owner’s Visibility Plan—a repeatable system of podcasts, stages, and LinkedIn that helps agencies build authority, stay top-of-mind, and consistently attract clients.

Key Bytes

• The Agency Owner’s Visibility Plan comes down to visibility, credibility, and consistency.

• Trusting yourself to leap without a safety net accelerates growth.

• Niching disqualifies the wrong buyers while pulling in the right ones.

• Visibility means showing up where your audience already is.

• Credibility is built in a snap judgment—package your proof.

• Consistency matters more than volume—set a realistic cadence.

• Every podcast interview can fuel a month’s worth of content.

• Delegating early unlocks owner time for actual growth work.

• In-person events still beat virtual for relationship building.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Kelly and the story behind “Two Mile High”

03:30 From acquisition layoff to launching an agency

06:45 Why she pivoted away from “fractional CMO”

09:55 The challenge and power of niching down

13:50 Hiring early and delegating with trust

16:20 The Visibility–Credibility–Consistency framework

19:55 A realistic cadence for LinkedIn, podcasts, and speaking

24:10 In-person vs. virtual events and AI’s limitations

26:45 Rapid Fire: superpowers, lessons learned, and marketing myths

Kelly Schuknecht is the founder of Two Mile High Marketing, where she partners with agency owners and business leaders to build powerful thought leadership platforms. With over 15 years of marketing experience and a track record of elevating brands from behind the scenes, Kelly now helps experts step into the spotlight through strategic content, visibility tactics, and authentic personal branding. She’s the host of Beyond the Bestseller, a podcast featuring women who use their stories to lead.

www.twomilehighmarketing.com

www.kellyschuknecht.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht/

In episode 126, I sit down with Meeky Hwang, CEO and partner at Endeavor, a WordPress development agency powering digital platforms for major media and enterprise brands like Bloomberg, Forbes, and Sony. With over two decades of experience in development and DevOps, Meeky has built Endeavor into a trusted name in the WordPress ecosystem while also paving the way as a female leader in tech.

We talk about her accidental journey into agency ownership, what it’s like leading in an industry where women are still underrepresented, and how Endeavor built its three-pillar framework for resilient platforms. Meeky shares candid insights on navigating partnerships, the challenges of “over-engineering” with headless CMS, and the importance of masterminds and community for entrepreneurs.

Key Bytes

• Meeky shares how an “accidental” freelance project led to a decade-long partnership and agency.

• She discusses the importance of having clear role delineation with her co-founder to avoid missteps.

• Endeavor’s three-pillar framework (audience experience, editorial experience, developer experience) keeps their platforms resilient.

• She explains why many publishers are moving away from over-engineered headless CMS solutions back to WordPress.

• As a female leader in tech, she reflects on mentorship, representation, and inspiring others by simply “being the first.”

• She stresses the value of mastermind groups for growth and support, something she wishes she’d pursued earlier.

• Endeavor is exploring AI to streamline workflows and even testing new content tools for clients.

• Her advice for organizations: implement proper version control and CI/CD to avoid preventable tech mistakes.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Meeky Hwang

03:00 Becoming an “accidental” agency founder

07:00 Women in tech and leadership representation

11:00 Why Endeavor niched into WordPress and media

12:30 The three-pillar framework for resilient platforms

15:00 Headless CMS pitfalls and returning to WordPress

18:00 Navigating co-founder roles and partnerships

23:00 AI, internal tools, and what’s next for Endeavor

25:00 The power of masterminds for entrepreneurs

27:00 Rapid fire: karaoke, hobbies, and tech stack fixes

Meeky Hwang is the CEO & Partner at Ndevr, a WordPress development agency trusted by leading digital media and enterprise companies. With 20+ years of experience in web development, open-source technology, and DevOps, she specializes in optimizing complex digital ecosystems, streamlining editorial workflows, and aligning technology with business goals.

Meeky has helped major brands like PMC, Hearst, Bloomberg, Forbes, and Sony build scalable, high-performing digital platforms. A champion for women in tech, she is passionate about fostering opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

Contact Meeky on their website: ndevr.io

In episode 125, I sit down with Dolores Hirschmann, investor, strategist, and founder of Masters in Clarity. Dolores has built, scaled, and sold businesses—including one to Pete Vargas and Grant Cardone after growing it to eight figures. A former TEDx organizer, she now helps service professionals and thought leaders clarify their message, craft high-converting signature talks, and get booked on stages that drive real business results. We explore her journey from early internet marketing in Argentina to launching an outbound speaker agency, and she shares her framework for creating talks that convert, practical tips for pitching event organizers, and why thought leadership is still one of the most powerful growth levers for agencies.

Key Bytes

• Thought leadership isn’t about celebrity—it’s about clarity and consistency

• A great talk is less about what you say and more about what your audience walks away with

• Don’t pitch event organizers with long bios—open the door with a simple yes/no question

• The best call-to-action from stage isn’t a free consultation, it’s a free resource tied to your talk

• A signature talk framework can be applied to any presentation—keynote, workshop, or boardroom update

• Speaking is one of the most scalable ways to build trust, demonstrate expertise, and generate new business

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Dolores Hirschmann

01:18 Early internet marketing and human-to-human relationships

04:58 Moving to the U.S. and pioneering online learning platforms

06:26 From serial entrepreneur to coach and strategist

08:19 Organizing TEDx and developing the signature talk framework

11:26 Building and scaling a speaker agency to $20M+

14:29 Why agencies need to lean into speaking and thought leadership

15:44 Practical steps to land more speaking opportunities

20:07 The seven steps of a high-converting talk

23:24 How to craft calls-to-action that drive leads from stage

25:23 Using QR codes and free resources to capture audience interest

26:25 Masters in Clarity workshops and software for speakers

27:02 Rapid fire: tap dancing, gut instincts, and buying businesses

Dolores Hirschmann is an investor, strategist, speaker, and founder of Masters in Clarity, a strategy and business coaching firm. She helps service professionals grow their businesses and establish thought leadership. A former TEDx organizer, she specializes in positioning experts, authors, consultants, and coaches for success.

Dolores recently sold a company to Pete Vargas and Grant Cardone, supporting its growth to multiple 8 figures in four years. She built a software platform to help speakers get placed on stages and advises businesses on preparing for profitable exits. Masters in Clarity provides fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) services to help companies design and execute marketing initiatives and set up automated marketing systems. As an investor, Dolores acquires and scales small businesses, ensuring their legacy and long-term success.

www.mastersinclarity.com

In episode 120, I sit down with Greg Bellinger, co-founder and CEO of White Rabbit, a web and mobile development agency with nearly 100 in-house employees spread across Colombia, India, and the U.S. Greg shares his journey from frontend developer to visionary CEO and breaks down how White Rabbit scaled by staying focused on one niche—supporting other agencies.

We explore why White Rabbit only hires full-time employees, how niching into agency delivery gave them a competitive edge, and the strategic thinking behind launching their own internal project financial software. Greg also talks about his passion for creation, not just in code but in culture, leadership, and future products. This one’s full of takeaways for agency owners looking to scale with purpose.

Key Bytes

• Greg shares why they only hire full-time employees and the cultural benefits that come with it

• He explains how niching into working with agencies helped them scale more efficiently

• Greg reflects on stepping away from product management and letting his leadership team shine

• He talks about the challenges of managing across three countries and how they keep their culture unified

• Greg reveals details about their custom-built project management and financial tool

• He offers insight into people management, tough conversations, and protecting your energy

• He shares his personal philosophy of “create,” from coding to building culture

• Greg discusses what entrepreneurship means to him and how it’s been part of his DNA from the start

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and guest intro

01:00 The origin of White Rabbit and its full-time hiring philosophy

02:30 Transitioning out of coding and project management

06:00 Working exclusively with agencies vs. going direct

07:15 Niching and its impact on growth and clarity

10:00 Scaling globally: why Colombia, India, and the U.S.

12:00 Uniting culture across three countries

14:00 Vision for the future: stepping back, launching products

16:30 Building internal software for project and financial management

19:00 Lessons in people management and entrepreneurship

25:00 Rapid fire: guilty pleasures, two-word advice, and dream hire

Greg Bellinger is the Co-Founder and CEO of White Rabbit Group, a web and mobile development agency with a fully in-house team of nearly 100 employees across three countries. His passion for technology began in childhood, leading him to hand-code his first websites in 2008. In 2016, he co-founded White Rabbit Group, building it into a trusted development partner for world-class agencies and creatives. Under his leadership, the company has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality digital solutions while fostering a close culture of technical experts.

Contact Greg:

https://whiterabbit.group/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-bellinger/

In episode 119, I sit down with Jessica Malnik, a B2B messaging strategist who’s helped over 75 founders and lean marketing teams craft content that actually gets read—and drives results. We talk about the risks of over-commoditized content in the age of AI and why a flood of “cheap” output isn’t a strategy. Jessica walks me through her signature framework, the Marketing MOAT, which focuses on Messaging, Distribution, and Content Efficiency.

She also shares practical, low-lift ways agencies can build content machines, maximize existing assets, and stay consistent without burning out. We even talk about content imposter syndrome, the curse of knowledge, and why you don’t have to be totally unique—you just need to show up as yourself.

If you’ve ever struggled with creating content that converts (and keeps converting), this episode is packed with clarity, systems, and smart takes that’ll help you raise your signal-to-noise ratio.

Key Bytes

• Messaging without a unique perspective leads to content that gets ignored

• AI-only content creation can dilute your brand and commoditize your services

• Her “Marketing MOAT” framework focuses on messaging, distribution, and content efficiency

• Distribution must be built into strategy from the beginning, not as an afterthought

• Agencies should reuse and repurpose evergreen content instead of always creating new

• Consistency (3x/week on LinkedIn) matters more than frequency spikes

• Authenticity in content doesn’t mean oversharing—it means resonance

• Set goals based on team size, budget, and business stage, then reverse engineer your strategy

Chapters

00:01 Welcome and intro to Jessica Malnik

01:46 Common agency messaging mistakes

03:26 Why AI-only content is risky for agencies

05:14 Jessica’s Marketing MOAT framework explained

07:21 How to develop “spiky” messaging and content positioning

10:34 Distribution strategy: where your audience actually is

14:04 Own your content—don’t rely only on social algorithms

15:09 Content efficiency and repurposing systems

19:00 Best practices for publishing frequency

21:16 Balancing personal and professional content

22:28 Reverse engineering content strategy based on goals

23:41 Rapid Fire Q&A with Jessica

Jessica Malnik has helped over 75 B2B founders and lean marketing teams fix their positioning and craft messaging people actually read and respond to.

I’ve spoken at half a dozen in-person conferences in the U.S., Australia, and Thailand, as well as dozens of virtual webinars, workshops, and podcast guest appearances.

I’ve also been featured in WSJ, The Next Web, MicroConf, Wynter, SXSW, and MSN UK, among many others.

Contact Jessica:

https://jessicamalnik.com/newsletter/

https://www.theremoteworktribe.com/

In episode 115, I sit down with Jason Hennessey, internationally recognized SEO expert and CEO of Hennessey Digital. Jason shares the story of how a single talk at a legal mastermind sparked his first agency, and how he’s since scaled a powerhouse SEO firm serving top-tier law firms. We talk about niching down, the power of building a personal brand, and why delegation was key to scaling without burning out. Jason opens up about leadership, team culture, and how stepping back actually helped his agency grow faster. Plus, we dive into strategies like direct mail, personal outreach, and even outsourcing genius to level up results.

Key Bytes

• Jason Hennessy has been in SEO since 2001 and started his first agency in 2008.

• He transitioned from his first agency to Hennessy Digital in 2015, focusing on law firms.

• Innovative marketing strategies, like sending personalized books, helped him secure clients.

• Hennessy Digital primarily serves personal injury lawyers but sees potential in other legal niches.

• Building a personal brand has significantly increased response rates to his outreach.

• Delegation and outsourcing are key to scaling an agency effectively.

• Jason emphasizes the importance of investing in leadership and team development.

• He still engages with SEO on a personal level, leveraging external expertise.

• Agency culture is a priority, fostering support and recognition among team members.

• Asking for help and seeking coaching is crucial for agency owners.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Agency Bites and Guest Background

01:04 Jason Hennessy's Journey in SEO and Agency Growth

03:55 Transitioning from First Agency to Hennessy Digital

07:00 Innovative Marketing Strategies for Law Firms

10:06 Market Potential and Niche Focus in Legal SEO

11:58 Building a Personal Brand and Leadership Structure

16:01 Scaling the Agency and Delegating Responsibilities

20:03 Passion for SEO and Outsourcing Expertise

23:05 Expanding Services Beyond SEO

24:54 Agency Culture and Team Dynamics

27:04 Personal Insights and Advice for Agency Owners

Jason Hennessey is an entrepreneur, internationally recognized SEO expert, author, speaker, podcast host, and business coach. Since 2001, Jason has been reverse-engineering the Google algorithm as a self-taught student and practitioner of SEO and search marketing.

Jason's expertise has fueled the growth and successful sale of multiple businesses, starting with a pioneering dot-com venture in the wedding industry. Serving as the CEO of Hennessey Digital since 2015, Jason's leadership has transformed a modest consultancy into a thriving eight-figure agency, earning a place on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list for five consecutive years. He is also the author of two Amazon bestsellers titled Law Firm SEO and Honest SEO.

As a sought-after keynote speaker and a frequent guest on podcasts and webinars, Jason shares his wealth of knowledge. He contributes as a columnist to respected publications such as the Washington Post and is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur, Forbes, Inc., Newsweek, and Rolling Stone Magazine. Jason's accomplishments extend to being honored with the Gold TITAN Business Award in the Entrepreneurship, Branding, Advertising, & Marketing category, as well as being recognized as a National Law Review Go-To Thought Leader.

Jason's journey has been enriched by his experience as a United States Air Force veteran and his attainment of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Commencing his SEO career in Las Vegas and later establishing a strong presence in the legal industry in Atlanta, Jason now resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Bridget, and their three children.

jasonhennessey.com

hennessey.com

https://www.instagram.com/jasonhennessey/?hl=en

In Episode 093 of Agency Bytes, I sat down with Jonathan Stark — a former software developer turned pricing consultant — to dig into a topic that trips up so many agencies: hourly billing vs. value-based pricing.

Jonathan shared how he made the shift from trading time for money to focusing on the value his work delivers. What started as a few talks with agencies grew into a full-blown movement — writing books, delivering content, and building a thriving community of creative professionals ditching the hourly model.

We talked about why hourly billing holds agencies back, the importance of deeply understanding client needs, and how to craft pricing options that reflect the true value you provide. Jonathan’s insights on uncovering client motivations and taking a more strategic approach to pricing will help you build stronger client relationships and increase profitability.

If you’re tired of being stuck in the “billable hour” mindset, this episode is packed with actionable advice you won’t want to miss.

Key Bytes

• Hourly billing limits income potential.

• Understanding client outcomes is crucial for pricing.

• Scope should be defined after understanding client needs.

• Value-based pricing can lead to higher profits.

• Creating multiple pricing options can attract clients.

• Time tracking is unnecessary in a value-based model.

• Client motivations should drive the sales conversation.

• Different levels of engagement affect pricing strategies.

• Value pricing enhances client relationships.

• Being unique in your offering is essential for success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ditching Hourly Billing

06:01 Understanding Client Needs and Outcomes

11:45 Creating Pricing Options for Clients

17:47 Uncovering Client Motivations

23:54 The Home Run of Value Pricing

Jonathan Stark is a former software developer who is on a mission to rid the world of hourly billing. He is the author of Hourly Billing Is Nuts, the host of Ditching Hourly, and writes a daily newsletter on pricing for independent professionals.

https://jonathanstark.com/