I’ve been re-reading “Getting Real” from the genius team behind basecamp today. Since switching focus from building an agency (propellernet.co.uk) to building a product (coveragebook.com) I must have read it at least 10 times.
It’s packed full of wisdom.
My favourite page right now is about the value of ideas vs execution from the point of view of Derek Sivers. Another genius.
It captures perfectly my biggest learning so far….and one I think many agencies would do well to explore.
It’s tricky wowing agency clients with innovative ideas vs actually making them happen. Marketing team silos can be firmly entrenched & budget holders stubborn. Barriers are everywhere. It’s crap when 99% of your cool ideas never see the light of day in agency life.
But quite often it’s the agencies that are making life harder than it needs to be.
Ideas people hate their good shit being watered down by clients…
But watering down yourself then building back up in increments to realise your vision is an art-form to keep momentum.
And momentum is everything.
So rather than building on your next big idea — which is fun at the time but not that hard. Try reducing it down to something you could launch in a day.
You’ll hate it at first….but you might be surprised at the results.
