Episode Summary
Stay Calm Industries didn’t start with a any sort of a business plan. It started with a closed coffee shop, a Tumblr website, and a decision to figure things out along the way. In this episode, founder Evan Johnson shares the unlikely story behind building his agency, from signing his first clients while working as a barista to eventually traveling to Iceland to secure a major account. Along the way, he talks about hiring, leadership, and why learning as you go is often part of the process.
Episode Highlights
- How a coffee shop job unexpectedly led to starting a marketing agency
- The role of “unearned confidence” in launching and growing a business
- What hiring the first employee taught him about leadership and responsibility
- The surprising client experience that took him to Iceland to sign a contract
- How building a strong team culture helps creative talent do their best work
Agency Info
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Company: Stay Calm Industries
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Guest: Evan Johnson
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Year Started: 2013
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Employees: 1-10
Listen, it’s just digital stuff. Play around with it, f*** it up. Experiment.
Evan Johnson
Unearned Confidence Can Be a Powerful Starting Point
Evan describes the mindset that helped him start his agency as “unearned confidence” — saying yes to opportunities before knowing exactly how to deliver. Instead of waiting until he felt fully prepared, he focused on solving problems and learning quickly along the way.
Leadership Means Owning the Problems and Sharing the Credit
Evan believes strong leadership means taking responsibility when things go wrong and giving the team credit when things go right. That mindset helps create trust and encourages people to experiment and do their best work.
Hiring Your First Employee Changes Everything
Bringing on the first employee forced Evan to start thinking like a leader rather than just a freelancer. It meant developing processes, communication habits, and systems that could support a growing team.
Agency Work Leads to Unexpected Experiences
Agency work can take you places you never expect — including Iceland to sign a client contract. Evan shares the memorable story behind that trip, which included fermented shark and a cultural experience he won’t forget.
Show Notes
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