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Work Less, Earn More: How to Escape the Daily Grind of Agency Ownership
As an agency owner, you're running a uniquely complicated business. Like any services firm, you're surrounded by clients, team members, and other humans—and humans are complicated. But unlike a plumber or electrician, your clients tend to be picky about whether your work is "good enough"... or even whether it's "done."
Other professional services firms sell complex services, too. Yet in spite of all the lawyer and accountant jokes, their clients tend to pay their bills on time.
Add-in the fact that many agency owners are "accidental" business owners... yet the agency is typically their family's #1 or #2 financial asset? It's a recipe for stress (if you actually had time to eat lunch).
Fortunately, you don't have to go it alone. Work Less, Earn More gives you a step-by-step process to reclaim your work-life balance and get paid what you're worth. When you make the right decisions, you can look forward to a brighter future.
Advance Praise for Work Less, Earn More
“There are two things I hear over and over again from agency 1) I’m making less than I would if I went to work for someone again; and 2) I’m working more than I would if I were working for someone again. There is no reason you should work more or earn less when running your own business, which is why you must read this book. Karl Sakas breaks down a doable process that allows you to gain control of your life—and your business.”
–Gini Dietrich, founder and author of Spin Sucks
“A creative agency has two stages of the initial success derived from hard work, and the more lucrative level of success that is untethered from effort. In Work Less, Earn More, Karl gives you a framework to finally get to the elusive second level.”
–Blair Enns, founder of Win Without Pitching and author of Pricing A Guide to Profit Beyond the Billable Hour
“When I think of advisors who take their craft seriously, listen carefully, and formulate practical and actionable concepts, Karl is a master at that, and this tome is a great example of that expertise.”
–David C. Baker, advisory lead at Punctuation and author of Expertise and Tradecraft
“I desperately wish this essential guide had been published a decade ago, as it would have saved me a lot of hassles and heartache! This is an absolutely essential guide for every agency owner.”
–Jay Baer, marketing and CX strategist and co-author of Talk Triggers
Other professional services firms sell complex services, too. Yet in spite of all the lawyer and accountant jokes, their clients tend to pay their bills on time.
Add-in the fact that many agency owners are "accidental" business owners... yet the agency is typically their family's #1 or #2 financial asset? It's a recipe for stress (if you actually had time to eat lunch).
Fortunately, you don't have to go it alone. Work Less, Earn More gives you a step-by-step process to reclaim your work-life balance and get paid what you're worth. When you make the right decisions, you can look forward to a brighter future.
Advance Praise for Work Less, Earn More
“There are two things I hear over and over again from agency 1) I’m making less than I would if I went to work for someone again; and 2) I’m working more than I would if I were working for someone again. There is no reason you should work more or earn less when running your own business, which is why you must read this book. Karl Sakas breaks down a doable process that allows you to gain control of your life—and your business.”
–Gini Dietrich, founder and author of Spin Sucks
“A creative agency has two stages of the initial success derived from hard work, and the more lucrative level of success that is untethered from effort. In Work Less, Earn More, Karl gives you a framework to finally get to the elusive second level.”
–Blair Enns, founder of Win Without Pitching and author of Pricing A Guide to Profit Beyond the Billable Hour
“When I think of advisors who take their craft seriously, listen carefully, and formulate practical and actionable concepts, Karl is a master at that, and this tome is a great example of that expertise.”
–David C. Baker, advisory lead at Punctuation and author of Expertise and Tradecraft
“I desperately wish this essential guide had been published a decade ago, as it would have saved me a lot of hassles and heartache! This is an absolutely essential guide for every agency owner.”
–Jay Baer, marketing and CX strategist and co-author of Talk Triggers
- GenresBusiness
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2023
15 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 24, 2023
Always on-point
Karl is the most practical marketing agency advisor in the world.
This book is another action-driven book. It’ll get you thinking, but it’ll also help you take the next step.
Must read.
Karl is the most practical marketing agency advisor in the world.
This book is another action-driven book. It’ll get you thinking, but it’ll also help you take the next step.
Must read.
February 23, 2023
This was excellent precisely because its written specifically for agencies: everything is directly applicable. His breakdown of agency roles, in particular, is invaluable, and he clearly understands our pain points. If you run an agency, pick this up immediately.
It’s definitely more of a workbook, so set aside time to work through the chapters, and you’ll end up with a 90 day action plan at the end of it. The downloadable workbook is worth getting as it’s an editable Google doc, so it’s easy to work through alongside the book itself. You will have to sign up for Karl’s email list, but if you’re an agency, you should be on it anyway. He shares nothing but extremely well-written, highly valuable advice and his blog is a gift.
I read a lot of business books, and Work Less, Earn More feels like a distillation of the methods from all the best ones, but for agencies. If you’ve read Traction (EOS), The 12 Week Year, anything by David C. Baker or Blair Enns, The E-Myth… you’ll pick up on this immediately. This is an excellent place to start even if you haven’t read those books (and his reading list in the back is excellent).
It’s definitely more of a workbook, so set aside time to work through the chapters, and you’ll end up with a 90 day action plan at the end of it. The downloadable workbook is worth getting as it’s an editable Google doc, so it’s easy to work through alongside the book itself. You will have to sign up for Karl’s email list, but if you’re an agency, you should be on it anyway. He shares nothing but extremely well-written, highly valuable advice and his blog is a gift.
I read a lot of business books, and Work Less, Earn More feels like a distillation of the methods from all the best ones, but for agencies. If you’ve read Traction (EOS), The 12 Week Year, anything by David C. Baker or Blair Enns, The E-Myth… you’ll pick up on this immediately. This is an excellent place to start even if you haven’t read those books (and his reading list in the back is excellent).
July 25, 2023
This book is chock full of streamlined, applicable tips and advice to help you run your agency. (Hire a good PM and empower them to help you meet your goals.) Definitely check out the related workbook as well.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews