CEO INSIGHTS Journal

No, not the the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, but another team that pulls together with one common goal: to win. Currently, over 100 independent ad agency owners are mavericks. Mavericks because they decided to do something different: break from traditional...

When people and businesses are open to 'change out of necessity,' how will you and your agency change? If you don't think you have to get re-wired then you're kidding yourself. You can bury the same-old, same-old. Here are the top three lies - the myths that will dig...

THIS IS YOUR TIME. There will never be a time like this when your clients need you and are looking for your leadership and expertise. They need you because they don't know how they're going to adjust to their own customers' attitudes and behaviors. They are looking at...

When people and businesses are open to 'change out of necessity,' how will you and your agency change? If you don't think you have to get re-wired then you're kidding yourself. You can bury the same-old, same-old. Here are the top five lies - the myths that will dig...

I have a coach. His name is Clay Nelson. Clay has coached me over the years, challenging me to go beyond where I am now and take on concepts in areas I know nothing about – but can quickly learn. He gets me into that area of risk and fear - and holds me accountable. ...

Most independent ad agency CEOs I talk to have a dream to do ‘something bigger’ - something that's poking around in their gut, waiting to burst out. For some, that 'something bigger' never happens. The train has left the station. I'm frequently asked, "How do I get to...

January is "The Official Start-Over Month." The month to "Re." It's the only month of the year that just feels right to start anew … take a different approach or a fresh look at your business. From re-think, re-invent, re-energize and re-create, to re-start,...

I don't want you to go through what I went through ... and have it haunt you years later. Years ago, I was a successful ad agency owner. And like you, I was running the show. A show that I thought I knew all about. Don’t we all? Even with my success, I made some bad...

Most independent ad agency CEOs I talk to have a dream to do ‘something bigger’ - something that's poking around in their gut, waiting to burst out. For some, that 'something bigger' never happens. The train has left the station. I'm frequently asked, "How do I get to...

Human nature can be strange and funny. Sometimes we think we know what's best, sometimes we even think we know what's best for our customers and clients. Certainly research can be a guide, but there's no guide to running a company. So how does one know what's best...

It's easy for organic growth to take a back seat to the functions of normal account servicing and new business. While in the old days, organic growth was showing a “menu of services” to your client and telling them the over 100 things you do as an agency. But, it’s...

Being an ad agency owner, I'm sure you've realized, takes in much more than just the advertising part of your business. No matter the size of your agency, there are times when you’re faced with “non-advertising” issues – some in fact being life or death - that takes...

My Silent Enemy Years ago, I was a successful ad agency owner. And like you, I was running the show. A show that I thought I knew all about. Don’t we all? Despite success, I made some bad decisions, wasted a lot of money – all the things other agency owners sometimes...

From my observations and in talking to a number of ad agency CEOs, it appears that organic growth takes a back seat to the functions of normal account servicing and new business.  In the old days, organic growth was about showing a 'menu of services' to your clients...

Ad Agency owners are constantly looking for ways to solve the challenges faced by the ever-changing advertising landscape - critical challenges that are unable to be solved without the expertise and 24/7 support of their peers. I work with 66...

Retailers and restaurants are bogged down, figuring out how to create the best customer experiences. In most cases they're just 'overthinking' it and looking for the big home run idea. However, it's the singles and doubles that work the best and those are, in most...

Currently, 100 independent ad agency owners are mavericks. Mavericks because they decided to do something different: break from traditional associations and become part of a new-generation concept called 'CEO Stars.' Eschewing exorbitant dues and expensive meetings at...

Above is a magic wand. People believe it has power; the power to make changes, the power to make your dreams come true. The power to complete whatever make-over you choose. The good thing about a magic wand is that it makes you dream about "what if and what can be."...

Memo to Ad Agency CEOs: Watch with envy! As we approach the Big Game, we’ll soon be seeing a new array of some of the best commercials ever made. Some are effective, some aren’t. Some funny, some not; some on target, others not. Nevertheless, they make for a whole lot...

I have a difficult time with the many gurus in the business coming right out and saying, "Don't do RFPs." Every week a document passes my desk on this very topic. What bothers me is that most of these people who stand on the podium reading the anti-RFP riot act, have...

January is "The Official Start-Over Month." The month to "Re." It's the only month of the year that just feels right to start anew … take a different approach or a fresh look at your business. From re-think, re-invent, re-energize and re-create, to re-start,...

It’s the time of the year when all the pundits and gurus 'predict' next year’s digital marketing trends that are going to make your business better and easier. How will digital impact your business? How will digital make your business more profitable? What’s the next...

I'm always asked, "What's the difference between good service and good experience?" Service is more tactical: it's about your team doing things promptly and courteously. Experience is more emotional: it's how your customer feels. Your mind easily differentiates...

One of Denver's most successful advertising agency CEOs jumped for glee after attending his first session with 8 other agency owners from around the country. "I've been looking for this for years," he shouted out. It's the same feeling of relief and exhilaration that...

What are you tolerating? This was my question put to a group of successful ad agency owners in CEO Stars. It’s my belief, and apparently shared by other...

In this past week, I had three opportunities to download different variations of "The Ultimate Guide To …" One was for blogging, another, writing powerful content and the other, an ultimate guide to new business development. I cringe when I see this word in the title...

Are you using the most powerful new business tool to spread your message? No, it’s not one of those shiny objects, no it’s not sending out content and waiting forever for a conversion. It’s 'speaking in front of the right audience.' I believe speaking is the most...

The Future Isn’t In What You Know Now ... But What You Don’t Know Yet." In my CEO Stars session with over 60 advertising agency owners, we’re constantly discussing, ‘what’s next?’ The questions range from ‘what kind of an employee should I focus on hiring to meet next...

I have a difficult time with the many gurus in the business coming right out and saying, "Don't do RFPs." Every week a document passes my desk on this very topic. What bothers me is that most of these people who stand on the podium reading the anti-RFP riot act, have...

Ever Wonder How Other Agencies Seem To Always Reel-In New Business Without Hardly Any Effort At All? What if just one new business approach or idea could get you more prospects than ever before? What about 18 ideas in 60 minutes? Last month’s Red Zone 'Pitching to...

We slayed it. When agency owners get together, there's an explosion of ideas. All virtual seats were filled for the two August ad agency Red Zone Roundtable sessions sponsored by CEO Stars. The focus of each session was 'the best new business approaches that bring...

Over the years, I’ve heard the anxieties and frets from agency owners about the big consulting firms going after more and more 'ad agency clients.' Looking back, first it was the fear of digital agencies raiding agency clients and now it's with the Accenture’s,...

Being an ad agency owner, I'm sure you've realized, takes in much more than just the advertising part of your business. No matter the size of your agency, there are times when you’re faced with “non-advertising” issues – some in fact being life or death - that takes...

I was asked for some advice from an ad agency owner who had seen his business cycle fluctuate to frustration. It was obviously taking a toll on him and he needed someone to talk to and some re-assuring, because no matter how long you’ve been in the business, doubts...

In a recent CEO Stars session, we shared a discussion on 'value' and what you charge versus what you're worth. Shift to the familiar story about the person who takes his luxury sports car to a mechanic. The car needs a new part. The bill is a whopping $750 for a...

I was asked for some advice from a veteran in the business who had seen his business cycle fluctuate to frustration. It was obviously taking a toll on him and he needed someone to talk to and some re-assuring because no matter how long you’ve been in the business,...

In June, we had our Red Zone Agency Roundtable, sponsored by CEO Stars. Attended by agency leaders, there were over 22 insights in one-hour and every one of them capable of making an enormous impact on any agency's business and take you from the Red Zone to the End...

I was a successful ad agency owner. And like you, I was running the show. A show that I thought I knew all about, (don’t we all) but was really never quite sure. Despite success, I made some bad decisions, wasted a lot of money – all the things other agency owners...

One of the biggest challenges for independent ad agencies, both big and small, is establishing credibility, warming up to new prospects and 'getting in the door.' In a new-business conversation with members of a CEO Stars advisory group, the ad agency principals were...

From Mirren’s Ad Agency New Business Conference, here’s a parsing of my top nuggets and trends vital to agency growth. 1.  Agencies must do a mind shift from ‘ad agency’ to problem-solver 2.  Organic growth is the new lifeblood of the agency 3.  Prospects/clients are...

I know you’ve wanted to say it, but you’ve (rightfully so) held back. We’ve all been there - a prospect that needs your expertise and after hours and hours of work and presentation development time, they decide on going with a competitor possibly with less experience...

Knowing and writing are two different things. Our mind tells us we know, but when tasked with actually taking what we know and putting it in writing, the challenge can be daunting. You don't really know it, unless you can put it in writing. So, we tend to go through...

Most independent ad agency CEOs I talk to have a dream to do ‘something bigger’ - something that's poking around in their gut, waiting to burst out. For some, that 'something bigger' never happens. The train has left the station. I'm frequently asked, "How do I get to...

One of Denver's most successful advertising agency CEOs jumped for glee after attending his first session with 8 other agency owners from around the country. "I've been looking for this for years," he shouted out. It's the same feeling of relief and exhilaration that...

"It's very hard to make decisions when you feel as though all of your decisions are resting on your back. I do want access to answers, and I want access to people who can help me to make good decisions and that's what I find in CEO stars. It's a place to go so that I...