#1: The Agency Genesis

Get a glimpse of why this newsletter was born and how my experiences inspired its creation.

Prolog: Setting the Stage. My Newsletter Journey

I bet that many of you reading this either already run a successful agency or have just kick-started one.

You might not have initially aimed for a service-centric career, but here you are.

Over the years, I realized there's no other work I'd rather be doing. Engaging with clients, building relationships, crafting solutions, and working alongside a dynamic team – it's demanding but oh-so rewarding. Each successful project makes you eager for the next.

Let's face it, the agency realm is a hard nut to crack.

It’s not merely about navigating through competitive markets; it's about handling clients who sometimes might not be on the same page with us. Or perhaps, it's the challenge of creating supportive, multi-national teams. We're not just managers; we’re friends, mentors, and sometimes the unofficial therapists.

In an agency, it's all about people – working with them, for them.

Unlike code, we can't be rewritten or upgraded to a new version after a mishap. Once something is said or done, it sticks.

This realization led me to create this newsletter, From Zero To Agency Hero. Through this weekly communication, I aim to share the highs, the lows, and the learnings of this exhilarating journey.

I founded Belkins when I was 23. My partner Vladislav was 21. Now, as I approach 30 with a team of 300, a $10M agency, 5 SaaS companies, multiple angel investments, and a vision to create a $100M service conglomerate in the next 5 years, the journey has been nothing short of remarkable.

How did this happen? Let me share my story.

Writing has never been my forte. I don’t have a background in literature, nor is English my first language. Yet, I'm writing out of sheer passion, to share my ideas and experiences, and to challenge myself. That's why I'd like to give a heads up to you, dear subscribers, that each newsletter might carry a different tone depending on my mood. The style may vary, or it might feel too abrupt or technical at times. However, what I can assure you is that I'm giving my absolute best to create a valuable product for you. Consider yourselves my clients, and me, your vendor, providing a weekly newsletter, hoping to enrich 15 minutes of your week with insights in exchange for your time.

When I started, either I didn’t look around much, or there weren’t many resources tailored for agency owners. The only book I stumbled upon was Managing The Professional Service Firm by David H. Maister. I wasn’t part of any professional service firms, there were no webinars or guidelines; I figured out everything on my own.

In the ensuing years, my partner and I realized that we hadn’t made many mistakes.

By sheer luck, intuition or business acumen, we made decisions that propelled us forward. Sure, there were times we faltered, but the core decisions regarding our pricing model, clientele, value proposition, team building, financial planning, etc., were spot on.

This is exactly what I aim to discuss in this newsletter. Besides sharing the diaries of Belkins, and the journey of Michael and Vlad running the agency, my goal is to foster a community where all readers and subscribers can engage, network, discuss, collaborate and learn from each other.

Collaborative growth is imperative; it's the essence of the agency business, as we all collaborate with our teams and clients to generate revenue.

As I wrap up today's insights, the glass of wine at the hotel room after the day at SaaStock Dublin it’s a moment where I understood that all ways and decisions which were taken or not were worth it.

Thank you for your time, and see you in the next edition!