Summary:

Sean Lang shares the painful story of signing a $10K/month retainer client and losing them within two weeks. The experience revealed deep flaws in the agency’s pre-sales, handoff, and onboarding processes. Sean walks through where things went wrong and how agencies can build better systems that protect both revenue and relationships.

Takeaways:

• Never trade speed for clarity.
  
  
• Qualification prevents misaligned client relationships.
  
  
• A strong handoff between sales and delivery is non-negotiable.
  
  
• Proper onboarding builds trust and partnership.
  
  
• Slow down to scale sustainably.

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Summary

Eric Emerson, President of In Your Hand Media, joins Sean Lang to discuss building a boutique digital agency, the role of AI in scaling, and why relationships matter more than impressions. Eric shares his journey from freelancing to leading a team, and how agencies must adapt in the AI era to remain relevant.

Takeaways

• AI isn’t just about tools, it’s about retraining teams to leverage them.
  
  
• Boutique agencies win when they bring agility and personal touch.
  
  
• Hiring is less about technical skills and more about emotional intelligence.
  
  
• Long-term client retention comes from simplifying the complex.

Check out Erics's agency here:

In Your Hand Media - https://inyourhandmedia.com/

Identify & Fix your critical gap now: https://www.agencyuplift.co/mini

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Summary:

In this solo episode, I get real about partnerships. The good, the bad, and everything in between. I share my own experiences working with partners, the lessons I’ve learned from friendship-based businesses, and what you can do instead when you’re looking for more support on your agency journey.

Takeaways:

• The grass isn’t always greener, partnerships only work when they’re intentional.
• Complementary strengths beat matching personalities every time.
• Friends can be great partners if you set clear expectations early.
• Equal ownership = slower decision-making.
• Mentors and advisors can bring clarity without giving up equity.

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