Scott Deming discusses his business experiences and insights for entrepreneurs.

Key Takeaways

– Scott transitioned from owning an advertising agency to becoming a full-time speaker/trainer after realizing the importance of company culture and brand experience
– Consistency across all aspects of a business is crucial for creating a strong brand and customer experience
– Work-life balance and prioritizing family time is essential, even when building a successful business
– Seeking mentors and learning from others’ experiences is invaluable for business growth

Topics

Scott’s Career Background

– Owned a national advertising and marketing firm for 20 years, growing to nearly 100 employees
– Transitioned to full-time speaking, training, and authoring 20+ years ago
– Realized the importance of company culture and brand experience beyond just advertising

Transitioning from Agency to Speaking Career

– Started training clients on creating brand experiences that exceeded advertising promises
– Gradually shifted focus from agency work to training/speaking over 4-5 years
– Leveraged existing production resources to create promotional materials for speaking business
– Took about 3 years to gain significant traction in the speaking business

Advice for New Entrepreneurs

– Ensure 6-12 months of living expenses saved before starting a business
– Seek out mentors and advisors with relevant experience
– Don’t try to do everything yourself – get expert help for areas outside your expertise
– Be prepared for tough decisions and financial challenges in the early years

Common Issues in Organizations

– Inconsistency across departments and lack of unified purpose
– Employees not understanding how they impact the customer experience
– Leadership failing to effectively communicate vision and values

Building Strong Company Culture

– Acknowledge and recognize employee efforts consistently
– Treat employees like they make a difference, and they will
– Ensure leadership “walks the talk” in living out company values
– Get employees to understand and buy into the company’s purpose

Work-Life Balance

– Scott regrets not prioritizing family time more while building his agency
– Advice to “suck up” time with kids, as they grow up quickly
– Importance of not dismissing children’s experiences as insignificant

Book Recommendations

– Atomic Habits by James Clear
– The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
– Good to Great by Jim Collins
– Engaged by Scott Deming