ONE MORE THOUGHT
Insights @Work, Life, and Work Life
Everyone Says They Have Talent. Few Actually Do.
Finding talent in marketing isn’t hard. Finding exceptional talent? That’s a different story. Sure, remote work has opened up the talent pool, but it’s surprisingly rare to find people who can actually deliver.
So while agencies (including us) can hire from coast to coast, it remains challenging to hire people who can get it done. After years of building teams, leading agencies, and sifting through a sea of “good enough,” I’ve cracked the code on what it really takes to build a powerhouse team.
Work ethic: all in, always
For us, “work ethic” isn’t just a bullet point on a job description. We don’t give our clients 100% because someone’s telling us to. We do it because that’s the only way we know how to operate. We show up, we go all in, and we care — genuinely, relentlessly, unapologetically.
Let me tell you a quick story.
I once had a 20-something employee ask why he hadn’t been promoted after 6 months on the job. He came to me after he had already had a conversation with his direct supervisor and his supervisor’s boss who had very clearly told him why he wasn’t getting promoted after only 6 months on the job. He was consistently late. He didn’t pull his weight on projects. His attention to detail was… optional. And collaboration was not his strong suit. I laid all of this out for him, clearly and directly.
His response? He was going to have his father call me to discuss why I wasn’t promoting him. Yes, you read that right. He was calling in “the big gun” for reinforcement, his dad.
Sure enough, his father actually called me. I walked him through the same points I had already shared with his son about showing up, doing the work, and earning the next step. Needless to say, this wasn’t the career power move he thought it was.
Here’s the takeaway: promotions aren’t given because you want them. And strong teams aren’t created through entitlement or laziness. Ownership and hustle? That’s how you win.
As hard as we work, we also believe in playing hard. When we’re on, we’re ON. When it’s time to celebrate, recharge, or let loose, we bring that same level of energy (hello, upcoming 7-year anniversary celebration!).
Feedback: don’t just take it — use it
We believe feedback is a gift, but only if you’re willing to unwrap it. We’re not in the business of coddling. We’re in the business of pushing good work to great, and that means being able to take criticism without falling apart. No egos. No drama. Just a team that’s eager to improve.
Because constructive feedback is so commonplace in our group, no one bats an eye when it’s their turn. Everyone brings big ideas, challenges the status quo, and speaks up when they see a better way. The real magic happens when we’re all encouraged to put aside egos and focus on making our work the best it can be.
Independent thinkers only
Thinking independently is a rare commodity these days. But our team is full of people who see a challenge and run toward it. Initiative isn’t optional — it’s the baseline. We prefer questions like “why?” and “what if?” over “what’s expected?”
That doesn’t mean going rogue or working in a vacuum. It means having the confidence to trust your gut and your team, bringing fresh ideas to the table, and solving problems without needing a permission slip. We don’t micromanage because we don’t have to. We hire people we can trust to think critically and make smart moves for our clients day in and day out.
Proactivity is our love language
We don’t do handholding. We don’t need to, because our team is made up of go-getters who don’t wait to be asked — they just do.
Being proactive is ingrained in who we are. We’re constantly looking ahead, spotting opportunities, and fixing problems before they become problems. We don’t sit around waiting for direction — we create direction. Proactivity isn’t extra credit. It’s how we operate. And it’s how we move the needle for clients every day.
Exceptional talent is rare — but not with us
Remote work may have expanded the talent pool, but we’re not fooled by flashy resumes and empty promises. We know exactly what we’re looking for and we don’t settle.
Work ethic you can feel. Creatives who level up fast. Sharp thinkers who don’t need micromanaging. Proactive pros who stay ahead of the curve. That’s the DNA of our team.
So when clients ask how we are able to deliver top-notch work, the answer’s simple: we built a team of people who give a damn. We don’t hire bodies. We hire ownership, passion, and grit. And it works.