{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2Ffb202143-ff6a-42e3-b9ba-186b30edd7b1","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"<iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px;\" title=\"The hidden traps and pitfalls of founding an agency with Rob Day\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allow=\"clipboard-write\" seamless src=\"http://player.captivate.fm/episode/fb202143-ff6a-42e3-b9ba-186b30edd7b1\"></iframe>","title":"The hidden traps and pitfalls of founding an agency with Rob Day","description":"In this episode I talk to Rob Day about the traps and pitfalls of founding an agency business.\r\n\nWhen Laurence and I started our digital agency back in 2004 we didn\u2019t have a business plan or exit strategy. We just enjoyed doing the work and wanted to continue doing it and get paid. We grew organically taking people on when we couldn\u2019t handle the workload.\r\n\nOver time we got more work and therefore needed more staff which meant finding more work to keep the staff happy (and paid).\r\n\nWe then did less of the work we enjoyed (i.e. designing and coding) and doing more of the work we didn\u2019t enjoy, and had never been trained to do (i.e. management and sales).\r\n\nWithout a clear vision for the business (and for ourselves) we spent more time in the doing and less time in the being. We felt that we needed to become a well respected agency doing innovative work but we didn\u2019t know what that meant for us individually and also what it meant for the future.\r\n\nWho wants to think about exit strategy when you\u2019re doing work you love?\r\n\nWho CAN think of exit strategy when you\u2019re too busy trying to feed the beast?\r\n\nAnd why even think of an exit? If there\u2019s a need to exit why did we start the business in the first place?\r\n\nIf this story sounds familiar to you then you\u2019ll relate to this episode of the podcast with Rob Day, cofounder of Liquid Light, a digital agency based in Brighton. Amongst other things he now coaches agency founders by sharing his knowledge and awareness of the hidden traps and pitfalls of founding a service based business.\r\n\nIf you\u2019re early in your journey then you\u2019ll learn what to look out for as you grow your business. If you\u2019re a seasoned agency founder you\u2019ll probably nod your head in agreement and maybe be inspired to look at your work differently.\r\n","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/0833bdcd-1303-45e7-a53b-90a3e80d1ba7/1433674-1584449489878-ee0c1fffee9c6.jpg"}