From Internship to Agency: A Personal Journey

In episode 098 of Agency Bytes, I sit down with Paolo Vidale, CEO of Hidden Gears, for one of the most honest and raw conversations we’ve ever had on this podcast. This isn’t just about agency life—it’s about the real, unfiltered struggles that come with being an entrepreneur and a human being.

Paolo opens up about one of the hardest challenges he and his wife faced—her unexpected cancer diagnosis at just 35 years old. We talk about what happens when life blindsides you, when everything you’ve built suddenly takes a backseat to survival, and how you find the strength to keep going. Paolo shares what it was like to step up as a caregiver, run a business solo, navigate financial pressures, and manage his own mental health—all while figuring out how to show up for his wife, his team, and himself.

We also get into:

• The emotional weight of entrepreneurship—and why so many agency owners feel like they have to have it all together, even when their world is falling apart.

• The unexpected kindness that came from clients and colleagues when he chose to be vulnerable about his situation.

• The hardest leadership lessons he learned while scaling back, delegating, and ultimately growing the agency in a healthier, more sustainable way.

• How this experience completely reframed his approach to work, life, and success—from prioritizing health and setting boundaries to embracing a “YOLO” mentality when it comes to experiencing life fully.

This conversation isn’t just about overcoming setbacks—it’s about redefining what truly matters. If you’ve ever struggled with balancing business and personal challenges, if you’ve ever felt like you had to carry everything alone, or if you need a reminder that it’s okay to step back, ask for help, and build a business that supports your life (not the other way around)—this episode is for you.

Paolo’s story is deeply personal, incredibly inspiring, and a powerful testament to resilience, leadership, and love. Give it a listen—you won’t regret it.

Key Bytes

• Life as an entrepreneur is filled with challenges.
• Vulnerability is crucial in business settings.
• Having a supportive partner can enhance business success.
• Navigating a health crisis requires clear communication.
• Delegation is essential for effective leadership.
• Prioritizing health can lead to better business outcomes.
• Traveling can provide a much-needed reset from work.
• Work-life balance is vital for a healthy team culture.
• It's important to redefine success beyond financial metrics.
• Health crises can shift priorities and perspectives on life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Paolo Vidale and Hidden Gears
07:30 Navigating Personal and Professional Challenges
15:41 Coping with a Life-Altering Diagnosis
22:56 Leadership Lessons from Adversity
30:48 Reframing Life Priorities and Business Goals
39:51 Building a Healthy Work Culture

Paolo Vidali is the CEO and co-owner of Hidden Gears, a distributed web design, development, and marketing agency specializing in e-commerce solutions for growing businesses across the US, with offices in New York and Honolulu. With over 17 years of experience in web development and digital marketing, he focuses on Shopify Plus development, Pay-per-click (PPC) management, SEO, and conversion optimization. A veteran digital strategist and solutions architect, Paolo has a diverse background in managing sustainability initiatives, digital marketing strategy, and omnichannel retail.

Contact Paolo on their website, Instagram, LinkedIn, or on X.