Most founders start their agency because they’re great at the thing.
Then one day, that thing turns into 12 people, 40 clients, and 100 fires and the “thing” you were great at is now running you.
Frederick Jean-Bart hit that wall too. When his partner left, he realized the only way out wasn’t more hustle, it was building systems so solid they could replace him.
What changed everything:
3️⃣ He wrote SOPs until his hands cramped. Documented everything over one holiday season then watched delegation actually work.
2️⃣ He hired for alignment, not résumé. Right people + clear playbooks = consistency without micro management.
1️⃣ He stopped taking “almost fits.” Saying no to small clients and yes to big-fit ones cut churn under 10%.
The Fix:
• Audit one delivery process this week then write the real SOP your team can follow without you.
• Review your last three hires. Would you rehire them? If not, fix your filters.
• Revisit your ICP. Be ruthless about who you say yes to.
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I launched a free 5 day email course for agency owners: The 5 mistakes keeping your agency stuck, and the 5 Custom GPTs that solve them. Get it free at: THE AGENCY LEVERAGE BLUEPRINT
– Sean
P.S. Frederick turned down his biggest paycheck ever while his wife was nine months pregnant to stay all in on his agency. It paid off.