Honestly, owning an marketing agency shifted my mindset when it comes to owning a business & life.
These are the 3 key principles I've learned:
- The only way to make money last is how you use it when you earn it.
- It's not about how much you make, it's about how much your keep.
- Multiple streams of income does not mean start from scratch.
Throughout my entire agency journey, people have always asked, "how are you able to run an agency without hiring a big team?"
Truth is, you do not need a big staff – you just need to resolve a core problem your industry is facing.
This is critical!
Fixing My Current Finances
I used to be the type of person who believed money wasn’t that important. And honestly, I acted like it too.
That mindset shifted quickly the moment I got my first job. Like most people trading time for a paycheck, I started doing the math—figuring out how many hours I’d need to work just to afford a new item or save up for a short vacation. That’s when I realized: this isn’t really living.
At the time, I was just trying to stay afloat—paying off my car note, insurance, and phone bill. That’s where it all started.
But first, a little backstory...
How You Do One Thing Is How You Do Everything...
College was a place I dreaded going to. Honestly, I only enrolled because I didn’t want my parents constantly asking, “What are you doing with your life?” Paying for my own classes felt like a way to avoid that daily pressure and keep the peace at home.
But my real struggle started with getting up on time for class. I mean, if I’m the one paying for it, I might as well show up before the doors close, right?
The more classes I missed, the more I realized I was also missing out on important things in life. It wasn’t just about school—it was about discipline.
They say how you do one thing is how you do everything, and that really hit me. So I made it a point to teach myself how to wake up on time—not just for class, but to show up for myself. Because everything starts with you.
Applying This To Your Lifestyle
That habit of waking up on time to attend class—even when I didn’t want to—taught me something deeper: discipline.
When I started my service-based business, that same mindset carried over. In an agency, no one is checking your homework. No one is forcing you to show up. You either deliver results or you don’t—and the consequences show up in your bank account, not a report card.
The truth is, building an agency is less about talent and more about reliability.
- Can you meet deadlines without needing reminders?
- Can you respond to clients with clarity and confidence?
- Can you be counted on when things get messy?
For me, it all traced back to one simple shift: learning to show up for myself first.
Whether it’s hopping on a Zoom call, submitting a proposal, or fixing a mistake—how you do these “small” things reflects in how clients experience your brand. Consistency builds trust. And in the agency world, trust is currency.
So if you’re building a service-based business and feeling stuck, ask yourself:
Are you showing up like the person your clients are counting on?
Because when you learn to show up for yourself, showing up for others becomes second nature.
Money Grows As You Grow
Once I mastered the habit of showing up for myself, I started seeing the results—not just in how I felt, but in my bank account. Opportunities started coming in, clients referred me, and the business actually began to feel like a business—not just a hustle.
With that financial growth came a new type of hunger—not just for money, but for knowledge.
And that’s when I made another shift: I stopped thinking traditional school was the only path to education.
Instead, I started investing in what actually moved me forward:
- Mentorships from people who’d built what I wanted
- Online courses that taught skills no college professor ever mentioned
- Mindset communities where people talked about vision, not just problems
This was education that paid off.
It wasn’t about passing tests—it was about leveling up my life and business.
Looking back, it’s wild how one decision to show up on time for class turned into a habit of showing up for my future. Because that’s what mentorship and self-education really are—they’re shortcuts created by people who’ve already walked the path.
If you’re building a service-based business and wondering what your next move should be, here’s what I’ll say:
Start with yourself. Show up. Then reinvest what you earn into who you're becoming.
That’s how you build something that lasts.
From Knowledge To Legacy
With the new knowledge and momentum I gained, I didn’t blow the money on temporary flexes. I reinvested it—first into my agency.
I upgraded my systems, streamlined my offers, and attracted higher-paying clients who valued results over price. That shift alone took my business from survival mode to a sustainable machine that could grow without burning me out.
But I didn’t stop there.
I took what I earned digitally and started building something tangible—long-term investments like real estate. Because while digital income is powerful, tangible assets are what you pass on.
I’m not just building for me anymore. I’m building for my future family, for the people I love, and for the freedom to choose how I spend my time.
That’s the real reason we do this.
Not just to make money—but to create something that lasts.
Not just to escape the 9-5—but to build a legacy.