I’m thrilled to share some exciting news, this week we launched the 100th episode of An Agency Story podcast! What makes this episode particularly special is that I had the opportunity to sit down with my long-time business partner, friend, and relative, Phillip Blackmon, to reminisce about the origins of Lifeblue.
Reflections
From our early struggles to an incredible growth journey and eventual sale, we open up about the ups, downs, and invaluable lessons learned along the way. It’s a candid conversation that touches on the heart of entrepreneurship and what it truly takes to build something lasting.
One of my favorite parts of hosting the podcast has been hearing guests reflect on the early days of their agencies and reflect on how far they’ve come. This time, I got to experience that reflection for myself, and even after the conversation, I found myself revisiting those core memories with fresh insights.
Insights that continue to inspire and drive me in the work I do with agencies today.
A is for Attitude
In reflecting on my conversations with Phillip, I realized how essential mindset and attitude are to business success. In those early days, our energy was boundless, and no challenge seemed insurmountable. But we also faced moments of intense stress and anxiety.
Having a partner to lift me up in tough times was invaluable and I’m grateful for it. I hope I provided that same support for Phillip.
This experience reminds me of how crucial it is to be a “cheerleader” for the agency owners I work with. A positive attitude and having someone in your corner goes a long way.
A is for Alignment
When I think back to Lifeblue’s most successful periods, alignment was at the core. As Phillip pointed out on the podcast, our vision for quality eventually aligned with our ability to deliver it. Achieving that alignment wasn’t easy, but the impact was profound.
During times when we weren’t as aligned, everything felt like a grind. Even as a solo leader, it’s essential to align with yourself and your goals. Just like a car with poor alignment drifts off course, misalignment within a business leads to challenges and unintended consequences.
A is for Aesthetic
I’ve always believed in the principle of “speak softly, carry a big stick”—let your actions speak louder than words. But I’ve also learned that in business, looking the part is just as important as delivering results. Like it or not, clients often make judgments based on appearance in those early interactions.
In the early years, our well-designed website was a significant driver of leads. As we got busier and our own digital presence took a back seat, luckily, our portfolio of strong work compensated for it.
While delivering results is crucial once a client is onboard, never underestimate the power of aesthetics in making a critical first impression.
Young Phillip and I doing our best to Save the World from Bad Design!
Listen to the full episode here or find it on your favorite podcast app!
Russel
“The Backboard”
