Dave Burg’s Post

Thanks for naming the holding company

The ability of a workplace to disassociate is really breathtaking. I'm glad you were there for your friend.

If brand leaders aren’t thinking about indies, they’re not thinking. So many great options out there who are proving that we CAN do it with fewer people, we CAN take good care of those talented people, and we CAN achieve their seemingly impossible business goals to deliver shareholder value from the C-suite.

Work for yourself, only fucking way.

Indies is the way to go for brands. We are a group of people who have decided to rebel and believe that more can be achieved with less. Small doesn't mean bad. Brands need to reconsider working with indies where many experienced people are at. Why? Because we don't care about free lunches, fancy office space, or lavish parties. We, indies, care about getting great work done, and done right.

Across my 30 year career I've hired agencies, I've managed agencies and I've worked FOR agencies. You'd think by now I'd stop finding it shocking that: - agencies consistently take the very thing that's created their reputation and customer perception and let it walk out the door - or usher it out themselves. (what brand would just toss off their top selling product, or kill the thing that made their reputation without extensive testing and research?!?) - clients spend an enormous about of time negotiating rates and/or selecting an agency, but a fraction of that time onboarding the agency or actively measuring the relationship and giving real-time feedback. (do agency onboarding doulas exist? Is that a business opportunity?) But also a warning to those who start smaller agencies - realize that the bad practices of the 'big guys' you just left might be unfortunately hard-coded in YOU 😨 . So if you start your own shop, make sure you're staying involved with clients and their business, working alongside your team and guiding and mentoring, and watch your own turnover too!

Sadly I’m not surprised. I was let go for similar reasons by an Omnicom agency after 15 years during a health crisis of my own. It was downright traumatizing. In hindsight I’m so glad it happened- I completely changed my life and perspective- but it should never happen like this. Are we courageous enough as an industry to not stand for this behavior? It goes beyond working for oneself- the trauma needs to be addressed bottom up AND top down so the damage doesn’t get passed on. I’m glad you’re there to support your friend during this challenging era. Sending good juju his way and yours 💚

JFC...if you wrote this into a script the note would be "A bit broad, no? No one would really do that."

I'm deeply torn on this situation because I'm not sure who I'd throat punch first: Clients who fall in love with the senior creative team that developed the work that won the pitch, and, then, won't pay up for that team on their business. OR the agency "leadership" that lacks all courage and dignity and won't demand a decent fee for excellent work. So much blame to go around!