What really motivates founders?
As agency advisors, we listen. A lot.
Understanding what makes founders tick informs how we help them.
Here are some key questions we ask our clients and some of the answers they give:
What’s your biggest emotional pain point?
“Feeling like I have no one I can truly be open with about the pressures. My team looks to me for direction, my spouse doesn’t really “get” the industry, and as for my fellow founders…we’re all putting on a brave face half the time. It’s lonely.”
What keeps you awake at night?
“Cash flow. Always cash flow. It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve had a great month, I’ll still run the numbers in my head at 3 a.m., picturing what happens if two clients walk away at the same time.”
What are your biggest frustrations?
“It feels like I’m grinding harder and harder just to stand still. And I’m frustrated with myself, if I’m honest - I still get dragged into firefighting and can’t seem to properly let go.”
What’s your greatest desire?
“To build an agency that outlives me. Something with a reputation. A place where people want to work. But equally, I want to be present in my kids’ lives - not the dad who built an agency but missed the school plays. If I could wave a wand, it would be for both: a business that thrives and a home life that’s full.”
What is most important to you regarding your own job?
”Impact and meaning. I don’t want to just churn out campaigns. I want to feel like the work matters, that we’re not just another vendor but a trusted partner. Also, financial reward matters - I’ve worked too hard not to be able to live comfortably.”
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How do these things translate into our work with founders?
We start by working with them to hatch a clear, confident growth plan that tells them, “Here’s where you should focus your energies, these are the kinds of clients you should go after, here’s how you get on top of the finances and lay the foundations for a more stable, predictable business.”
What does this give you in the long-run?
A roadmap. One you can believe in, and your team will buy into, so you can stop second-guessing from one day to the next
Financial stability. Ultimately to be able to take some chips off the table, put money aside, maybe even sell the business.
Reassurance. That you’re not failing. That you’re not an imposter. That you have someone in your corner who actually understands what it feels like - the stress, the chaos, the constant need to perform. Someone to tell you that it’s okay to want balance, money, pride and peace of mind all at once.
Freedom. The ability to step back, spend proper time with your kids while they’re still young; maybe even take a proper holiday without obsessively checking email.
Why work with a BLINK advisor?
We’ve helped many agency founders create a growth plan, free up headspace and feel more in control
We genuinely understand agency life because we’ve been in your place
We don’t just hand you a strategy deck and disappear - we give you practical tools you can use
We will stick with you, through thick and thin
If you fancy an exploratory chat about how we can help you, let’s find a time.
