S2 / AL EP 63: Brian Town - The Lonely CEO's Successful Journey From $350 to $2 Million
Release Date: 07/31/2024
Who Podcasting is Really For...And Who It Isn't. - EP 78: Vince Quinn
Leverage for Growth Podcast
Most podcasts don’t fail because of audio quality. They fail because they didn't have what was needed to succeed in the first place. In this episode of The Leverage for Growth Podcast, Jesse P. Gilmore sits down with Vince Quinn, co-founder of SBX Productions, to break down who podcasting actually works for, who it doesn’t, and why so many business podcasts burn out fast. Vince shares his journey from corporate radio to building a podcast agency, the hard lessons learned from saying yes to the wrong clients, and why podcasting only works when there’s a real business behind it. This...
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Delegation, Processes, & AI’s Impact on Agencies (EP 77: Eric Ritter)
Leverage for Growth Podcast
In this episode of Leverage for Growth, Jesse P. Gilmore sits down with Eric Ritter, Founder and CEO of Digital Neighbor & Host of The Search Bar Podcast to break down the real skills agency owners need to scale—delegation, documentation, and operational discipline. Eric shares how he grew his digital marketing agency by moving from “saying yes to everything” to building repeatable processes, clear SOPs, scalable services, and a culture rooted in mission and values. You’ll learn why documenting your work isn’t optional if you want to scale, how to stop being the bottleneck inside...
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S3 / AL EP 76: Sharon Toerek - How to Legally Protect Your Agency's Creative Work & Avoid Costly Mistakes
Leverage for Growth Podcast
In this episode of Leverage for Growth, Jesse Gilmore sits down with Sharon Toerek, Founder and CEO of Legal & Creative - Toerek Law, to uncover the legal blindspots most creative agencies ignore. You’ll learn: ✅ The most common legal mistakes agencies make (and how to avoid them) ✅ What should (and shouldn’t) be in your client contracts and freelancer agreements ✅ How to protect your creative IP in the age of AI and online brand dilution ✅ Why a strong trademark strategy can increase your agency’s valuation ✅ How to future-proof your agency for partnerships, M&A, and...
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S3 / AL EP 75: Laura Szczes - Why Human Strategy Beats AI in Marketing
Leverage for Growth Podcast
🎙️ In this episode of the Leverage for Growth Podcast, Jesse P. Gilmore sits down with Laura Szczes, founder of Double Z Media and host of the Paid Media Playbook. Laura shares how she left a 20+ year career in agency life to launch her own firm in early 2020 — right as the world shut down — and built a values-driven business that prioritizes work-life balance, culture, and results. Laura opens up about: ✅ What it was like to start an agency during the pandemic ✅ How she attracted her first clients and scaled sustainably ✅ Why building strong teams and culture is her #1...
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S3 / AL EP 74: David Blois - The 3 Things You MUST Have to Successfully Sell Your Agency
Leverage for Growth Podcast
Thinking about selling your agency? Don’t make a move until you hear this. In this episode of Leverage for Growth, Jesse Gilmore sits down with mergers and acquisitions veteran David Blois, founder of M&A Advisory, who brings 30+ years of experience helping agencies around the world navigate mergers and acquisitions. You’ll learn: ✅ The 3 must-haves every agency needs before selling ✅ What buyers are really looking for (and red flags to avoid) ✅ How to make your agency more sustainable and buyer-ready ✅ Real-world examples of deals that worked—and why Whether you're planning...
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S3 / AL EP 73: James Lincoln - Why You Should Focus On The Freedom Metric
Leverage for Growth Podcast
🎙️ In this episode of Leverage for Growth, Jesse Gilmore sits down with James Lincoln—founder of Goodly—to unpack the real metric that matters: freedom. 🚀 What started as a side hustle during James’s MBA turned into a thriving agency doing $40K+ months. But what truly drove him wasn't money—it was the desire for time freedom, autonomy, and a business that supported the life he actually wanted. 👉 You'll hear how James: Built an agency while balancing school, a job, and two kids Delegated early by necessity, not luxury Learned to trade revenue for life ownership Built global...
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S3 / AL EP 72: Chad Bauer - Leading With Clarity, Communication & Action
Leverage for Growth Podcast
What does it take to transform a legacy agency into a modern growth engine? In this episode of Leverage for Growth, Jesse Gilmore sits down with Chad Bauer, CEO of one of Baltimore’s oldest advertising firms, SR&B Advertising, to unpack how he transitioned from inheriting a 60-year-old agency to leading it into a new era of innovation, culture, and brand-driven growth. Chad shares hard-won lessons on leadership—like learning to delegate, saying no to protect your vision, and why overthinking can slow you down. He also breaks down the shift from performance marketing to true brand...
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S3 / AL EP 71: Hayden Cox - Making Smarter Decisions By Simplifying Financials
Leverage for Growth Podcast
Struggling to make sense of your agency’s numbers? In this episode of the Leverage for Growth Podcast, Jesse Gilmore sits down with Hayden Cox—Partner & Chief Product Officer at CleverProfits—to break down how simplified financial frameworks can give agency owners the clarity they need to scale with confidence. You’ll discover: ✅ Why most agency owners misread their numbers ✅ The 3 metrics that matter most for sustainable growth ✅ How much cash you really need on hand to stay sane and strategic ✅ How to spot financial friction before it tanks your momentum If you’re...
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S3 / AL EP 70: Dr. William Attaway - Why Agency Growth Starts With Letting Go
Leverage for Growth Podcast
What if the biggest bottleneck in your agency… is you? In this episode of the Leverage for Growth Podcast, Jesse Gilmore sits down with Dr. William Attaway — leadership coach, author, third-generation entrepreneur and the Founder of Catalytic Leadership LLC — to uncover why most agency owners unknowingly cap their growth by clinging to control. Discover how Cape Syndrome keeps you addicted to firefighting, why your systems (or lack thereof) reflect how you lead yourself, and the simple but powerful exercise that reveals how much of your time is actually spent doing what only you can...
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S3 / AL EP 69: Ari Pirutinsky - How to Run an Agency That Clients Trust Instantly
Leverage for Growth Podcast
The key to happy clients? In this episode of the Leverage for Growth Podcast, Jesse P Gilmore chats with Ari Pirutinsky, the Founder & CEO of Steady Growth Partners . Ari breaks down how Steady Growth Partners squashes client uncertainty by setting clear expectations, delivering frequent updates, and ensuring they feel secure every step of the way. You'll learn: ✅ Why clients feel left in the dark—and how to fix it ✅ How to structure your onboarding for maximum trust ✅ The power of proactive updates (before clients even ask) ✅ How process-driven communication builds a confident...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Leverage for Growth podcast, host Jesse Gilmore interviews Brian Town, Founder & CEO of Michigan Creative and author of "The Lonely CEO." Brian shares his incredible journey of starting a digital marketing agency with just $350 and growing it into a $2 million business over 13 years.
Discover the key shifts in mindset, skillset, and leadership that Brian experienced along the way, and gain valuable insights into scaling a business successfully. Brian discusses the importance of self-development, building a strong company culture, and the challenges of entrepreneurship that often go unspoken.
Tune in to hear practical advice for agency owners, the story behind "The Lonely CEO," and Brian's thoughts on maintaining a balance between personal and professional life. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an established business owner, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you on your journey.
Don't miss out on this inspiring and informative conversation!