Episode Summary
Our guest, Jason Di Vece, Co-Founder of Bytes.co, brings a refreshingly honest perspective on building an agency from the ground up. From near-disasters to defining culture, Jason’s story proves that the hardest decisions often lead to the most growth.
Episode Highlights
- How selling everything and moving abroad became the turning point in Jason’s life
- The “oh no” moment of deleting 7,500 products for a client and what it taught him
- Why hiring for culture beats hiring for skill every time
- The costly misstep of bringing in outside leadership too soon
- How agency growth often comes down to facing the hardest decision on the table
Agency Info
-
Company: Bytes.co
-
Guest: Jason Di Vece
-
Year Started: 2010
-
Employees: 26-50
I know I’m never gonna be happy doing this, I’m just chasing my own desire for happiness.
Jason Di Vece
Key Takeaways
Bold moves build lasting confidence
Jason’s move to Korea wasn’t about career advancement, it was about escaping stagnation. That experience proved he could adapt to anything, a mindset that later gave him the courage to start a business.
Culture outlasts technical skills
When hiring, Jason emphasizes that cultural fit always wins over skillset. Skills can be trained, but a misaligned culture will derail even the most talented hire.
Beware of shortcuts in leadership
At one point, Bytes.co brought in an external CEO to “steer the ship.” The result was years of friction and turnover. Jason learned that an agency isn’t a plug-and-play business, leadership must fit the culture and the chaos of the agency model.
Failure is tuition
From costly mistakes with technology to hiring under duress, Jason frames failure as necessary tuition in the business journey. The key isn’t avoiding mistakes, it’s learning quickly and making the tough calls that follow.
Enjoy this Episode?
Subscribe to An Agency Story on your favorite podcast app for more real stories from agency owners. Loved what you heard? Leave a review or share this episode with someone building their agency from the ground up.
