Comments on: The Agency as A Community http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community Community, Creativity and Marketing Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:05:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nberard http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-3559 nberard Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:05:03 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-3559 One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight. One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight.

]]> By: davevandewalle http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-3558 davevandewalle Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:25:48 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-3558 This is such a phenomenal post - and the comments are great...<br><br>Stuart, your idea that death for an agency could take 20 years has a ton of merit. Once an agency gets past that "boutique" stage and has sustainable numbers, like high six figures, then it can easily take forever to figure out that stagnation is continual without embracing new stuff.<br><br>I've watched a couple die this death by a thousand cuts, it's PAINFUL to witness. This is such a phenomenal post – and the comments are great…

Stuart, your idea that death for an agency could take 20 years has a ton of merit. Once an agency gets past that “boutique” stage and has sustainable numbers, like high six figures, then it can easily take forever to figure out that stagnation is continual without embracing new stuff.

I've watched a couple die this death by a thousand cuts, it's PAINFUL to witness.

]]> By: nberard http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-2911 nberard Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:05:03 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-2911 One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight. One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight.

]]> By: nberard http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-2564 nberard Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:05:03 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-2564 One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight. One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight.

]]> By: nberard http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-2569 nberard Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:05:03 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-2569 One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight. One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight.

]]> By: davevandewalle http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-2563 davevandewalle Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:25:48 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-2563 This is such a phenomenal post - and the comments are great...<br><br>Stuart, your idea that death for an agency could take 20 years has a ton of merit. Once an agency gets past that "boutique" stage and has sustainable numbers, like high six figures, then it can easily take forever to figure out that stagnation is continual without embracing new stuff.<br><br>I've watched a couple die this death by a thousand cuts, it's PAINFUL to witness. This is such a phenomenal post – and the comments are great…

Stuart, your idea that death for an agency could take 20 years has a ton of merit. Once an agency gets past that “boutique” stage and has sustainable numbers, like high six figures, then it can easily take forever to figure out that stagnation is continual without embracing new stuff.

I've watched a couple die this death by a thousand cuts, it's PAINFUL to witness.

]]> By: nberard http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-2129 nberard Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:05:03 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-2129 One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight. One of the great things about small shops is that, to some extent, everyone does everything. There's a level of cross training that doesn't happen in large agencies, if simply by virtue of there being fewer people in closer contact. That makes a smaller agency more flexible and it also helps break down walls. Large agencies can emulate this with better internal communications structure (i.e. using Twitter or similar to encourage chatter between disciplines and levels) and serious educational efforts. Like, if you even want to TOUCH a digital project you should have to go through some sort of boot camp. This seems obvious to me, yet I constantly see stagnation due to lack of information. And that's when a smaller, nimbler shop strikes without the burden of dead weight.

]]> By: davevandewalle http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-2128 davevandewalle Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:25:48 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-2128 This is such a phenomenal post - and the comments are great...<br><br>Stuart, your idea that death for an agency could take 20 years has a ton of merit. Once an agency gets past that "boutique" stage and has sustainable numbers, like high six figures, then it can easily take forever to figure out that stagnation is continual without embracing new stuff.<br><br>I've watched a couple die this death by a thousand cuts, it's PAINFUL to witness. This is such a phenomenal post – and the comments are great…

Stuart, your idea that death for an agency could take 20 years has a ton of merit. Once an agency gets past that “boutique” stage and has sustainable numbers, like high six figures, then it can easily take forever to figure out that stagnation is continual without embracing new stuff.

I've watched a couple die this death by a thousand cuts, it's PAINFUL to witness.

]]> By: Seth Hosko http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-1702 Seth Hosko Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:12:06 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-1702 Spot on. Spot on.

]]> By: Stuartfoster http://thelostjacket.com/marketing/agency-community/comment-page-1#comment-1701 Stuartfoster Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:35:34 +0000 http://thelostjacket.com/?p=2639#comment-1701 It's not the size of the talent pool that matters. It's the leadership and ability to implement strategies in a meritocracy based system. <br><br>Check out Michael's comment below. It's not the size of the talent pool that matters. It's the leadership and ability to implement strategies in a meritocracy based system.

Check out Michael's comment below.

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