Recently, I heard a successful business entrepreneur speak. His audience of almost 100 business owners was comprised of some who were familiar with his business and others who were not.

This business leader owns a Construction General Contractor business. He described that his company’s role as General Contractor is to project manage a construction job. From start to finish, his company project manages jobs big and small, so the owner does not have to do so.

How a Construction General Contractor Business Parallels an Ad Agency

I noticed right away that the job components included in managing projects as a Construction General Contractor mirror ours as a branding and marketing partner. In order to execute a successful project, these four components must be happen for us at Front Porch marketing:

1. Create and manage the timeline — Along the way, make sure all tasks are on time and timelines are updated.
2. Develop the budget — Estimate all costs, agency fees and out-of-pocket expenses, to ensure no surprises during the course of the project.
3. Hire the crew — The right crew is critical. With us, our crew is already on board. We engage them as needed and they deploy their expertise and skills for each part of “the job.”
4. Manage communication — Front Porch Marketing account managers are the primary liaison with the Client. They manage the team executing the work, so our Clients don’t have to do so.

The Right People for the Job

This is where the rubber meets the road for Construction General Contractors as well as Advertising Agencies. They both require the right people to do the job who are focused on results. The cost for both construction and advertising is higher sometimes, because we both want to get the right, skilled experienced experts to execute the work. We also want to be able to hold them accountable for executing at the highest level. By doing this, the results meet or exceed clients’ expectations.

As a business or nonprofit leader or owner, if you have time and team members to manage the above. rock on.

Managing Your Time Effectively as a Business Leader

Think about whether the way you’re doing it now is the right way to spend your time.  Are you managing or executing your own marketing? For me, I create the annual plan for Front Porch. I review it. Our team weighs in and embraces their roles. I check in with team members along the way.

However, for me, I know my business and the team benefits when I work ON our business not IN our business. Does yours?

Manufacturers are a sweet spot for us. In addition, we love business owners and leaders who share their expertise and learnings with other. Hence, that is where the inspiration for this blog came from for me after seeing this business owner speak. Connecting the parallels of agency business and Construction General Contractor business reinforced for me that we are driven when we work with like-minded business leaders. Let me know what you think.

Cheers to business success!

As an account manager, I love the beginning of a new year.

In account management, a new year means a fresh start, not just personally but professionally! It’s an opportunity to put the struggles of 2021 in the rearview mirror and focus on what you want to accomplish in the year ahead. Maybe you’re committed to getting healthy or decluttering. Or, did you a pick a word that you want to embody in 2022? Like “Present”. Or maybe “Accountable”. Perhaps, “Grateful”.   

The start of a new year at work means a chance to re-energize yourself and get better at doing your job. If you work in the agency world managing accounts like me, maybe you want to focus on a few core skills that will make 2022 your best year yet as a successful account manager.  

Recommitting to excellence.

Where do you start? Well, we know the traits of a successful account manager are many. But I think we can all agree that no matter your career level or personal management style, there are skills that every effective account manager should possess.  So what are they?

1. Excellent Communicator. And Excellent Communication. Plus, Excellent Communicating. Saying it once isn’t enough. First, we are responsible for balancing the needs of clients with the resources of agency partners. Next, we communicate in every aspect of our job whether it’s through writing creative briefs, submitting change orders, or managing timelines and budgets. And most importantly, we understand our clients’ needs by actively listening and asking the right questions. Clear and consistent communication is invaluable in every aspect of our job.  
2. Organized. If you’re in this field, chances are high that you love a to-do list. I know I do! You’re always equipped with your favorite note-taking tools. You jot down important pieces of information all day long. You will undoubtedly glean insights others miss, with your excellent notes. In addition, you’re simultaneously juggling multiple clients. And your projects move forward while you make sure you keep everything on-brand, on-time, and on-budget. Whatever method of organization you prefer, exercising organizational skills is critical.  
3. Resourceful Problem Solver. It goes without saying that marketing is fast-paced and change is inevitable. So you’re not afraid to address problems head on. And you don’t leave any stone unturned to resolve a situation. Better yet, you’re always thinking ahead and proactively working with your clients to head off any roadblocks before they even occur.  

Get started on your account management reset!

Whether you choose to focus on all of the skills above or one or two, chances are if you stay committed and focused the possibilities are endless for a successful 2022 as an account manager. What are you waiting for? Get out there and ‘Rock Your Relationships.’  

Over the last week, I sat down to write this blog at my desk, Starbucks, the library and various other locations, opened my computer and a fresh new Word document … only to hit a blank wall. A very blank wall. I could blame my lack of motivation and inspiration on my lack of sleep due to my toddler’s current sleep regression, or the added stresses now that summer is over, or my ever growing to-do list that just seems to keep getting longer, or a number of life’s other distractors. BUT, in all reality, it’s always something, isn’t it?

And I know I’m not the only one. 

With my deadline looming, I realized that my motivation wasn’t going to just come to me… I had to find it. And ironically, my lack of inspiration turned into my inspiration! Here are some of the ways I overcome creative blocks and tackle tasks that sometimes seem impossible to get done:

1. Focus – Set aside time, sit down and FOCUS. Turn your phone off (or if you need to be reached in case of emergency, turn it on vibrate and turn it upside down), turn off your email and step away from social media and the internet black hole! Hold yourself accountable for that one hour – or however long you need to get started – make the necessary progress, and finish the project.

2. Make the Extra Time – It’s not ideal to work outside of your regular work hours, and it’s important to unplug for personal and family time. But sometimes, you just have to invest the extra time to meet your deadline. Whether it’s waking up early, eating lunch at your desk, or sitting back down at your computer in the evening after you’ve had dinner and a chance to unwind. Personally, that’s one of my favorite times because my creative juices really flow with a glass of wine!

3. Change Your Environment – Working at Starbucks provides energy that can be contagious, but at times it can be too loud for me to concentrate. The library is a great place to go to find a nook and hunker down, but it can also be too quiet. Depending on your project, find a place that will fuel your inspiration.

4. Step Away – Even with a deadline looming, it’s important to step away (but NOT during your set aside time mentioned in #1). If you’re like me, sometimes you return to find that your work is even better that you thought! And, other times, you return to find it’s terrible. Either way, you’ll be in a better place.

5. Just Do It! – Procrastination is not a good habit, and I don’t recommend it. But, at times, it’s necessary and even beneficial. There’s something to the saying “Nothing makes a person more productive than waiting until the last minute.” If the last minute is all you have, just make it count!

There! I did it! Motivation found. Now, what’s next on my list?