The Jason and Bart Show

How did a chef at the age of sixteen end up becoming the CEO of a successful marketing firm? Join us for an exciting conversation with Mark O'Brien, CEO of Newfangled, as he shares his incredible journey from the culinary world to the realm of web development and marketing. We discuss Mark's unique career path and how his passion for cooking led him to eventually switch gears and enter the fast-paced world of web development. During our chat, Mark dives into the development of the MRR (monthly recurring revenue) model at Newfangled and how it has been a game-changer for their success. Learn how they evolved over the years, taking on more of their clients' tasks to guarantee success with their marketing efforts. If you're looking to grow your marketing firm, this episode is jam-packed with valuable insights and strategies for achieving a cash flow-positive business. Finally, Mark offers an in-depth look at the complexities of the MRR model, explaining why firms pay a set amount of money each month and the importance of positioning services correctly. He also shares his plans to visit our studio and discuss his passion for what he does. Don't miss this fascinating conversation with Mark O'Brien, CEO of Newfangled, as he shares his expertise and experience in growing a marketing firm with MRR. 0:02:35 - MRR and CEO Journey (91 Seconds) 0:11:32 - Career Growth and Relocation (26 Seconds) 0:16:28 - The Importance of MRR (41 Seconds) 0:23:54 - Tracking MRR for Bootstrapped Agency (66 Seconds) 0:30:35 - Benefits of MRR for Business (40 Seconds) 0:36:52 - Transitioning to MRR With Intentional Positioning (48 Seconds) 0:41:13 - Pattern Matching and Risk Reduction (19 Seconds) 0:47:18 - Cancellation and Flexibility in Services (26 Seconds) 0:50:38 - Passion and Honesty in Discussion (45 Seconds)

Note: We are not tax experts and you should always consult your tax professional Taxes - the inevitable but often bewildering aspect of business and personal finance. In this episode, we unravel the complexities of American and European tax systems and examine the influence of companies like QuickBooks and TurboTax. Listen in as we explore the challenges faced by small businesses and agencies during tax time, and share various ways to manage tax liabilities responsibly. In the second half, we shift our focus to understanding liability and its impact on your business and personal finances. Discover the differences between LLCs, S Corps, and C Corps, and their effects on tax liability. Learn the importance of working with tax professionals to manage your business's taxes, including quarterly estimated tax payments and planning for the upcoming fiscal year. Don't miss out on valuable insights and common mistakes made when filing taxes, and understand the value of having a tax professional to assist you throughout the process. Chapters: (0:00:01) - Small Business Tax & Cash Management (0:13:16) - Tax Strategies for Small Businesses (0:19:49) - Tax Talk

In this episode, We had the pleasure of speaking with Ernesto Tagwerker, founder and CTO of Ombulabs, about scaling a software agency and the benefits of productized services. We discussed the importance of paying off technical debt and how Ombulabs focuses on upgrading JavaScript, React JS, Node JS, Rails, and Ruby to help clients maintain their software. We also explored how to maintain consistent quality and delivery for productized services while avoiding technical laziness, and the role of project management in ensuring that deadlines are met. Additionally, we touched on the challenges of pitching to public companies and the need to adjust pricing and value to be taken seriously by larger clients. We delved into the methodology behind iterating on productized services as client and business needs change over time, and how utilizing templates for processes, blind estimation tools, and continuously learning from experience can improve service offerings. We also discussed the impact of productized services on profitability, revealing how higher margins can be achieved through these offerings. Lastly, we discussed business development strategies to increase profitability, such as specializing in a specific vertical and becoming an authority in the field, and how this can lead to higher rates and increased profitability for a software development company. Throughout the conversation, Ernesto shared valuable insights from his experience in scaling Ombulabs and the growth strategies they have experimented with to adapt and maintain a successful business. Chapters: (0:00:00) - Scaling a Software Agency (0:13:54) - Productized Services Quality Delivery (0:24:06) - Maximizing Profitability With Productized Services (0:31:03) - Business Development Strategies to Increase Profitability (0:36:57) - Experimenting With Growth Strategies

This episode of Jason the Bart Show discusses the importance of having friends when struggling with mental health. The current global climate is causing a lot of uncertainty, which can be unsettling and drive people crazy. The pandemic has been going on for almost three years, causing people to become burned out. It is important to have friends to lean on in times of need, both inside and outside of work. Jason and the guest talk about the pressures of the current situation, and how having support systems can help. The conversation centers around the difficulties of being a leader and having to manage chaos. Both parties agree that it is difficult to manage and control the craziness and disruption that comes with being a leader and that it can be mentally exhausting. They also agree that it is important to try and control the pendulum from swinging too far in one direction and to try to control disruption. The discussion also touches on the importance of being system, data and metric driven, in order to help manage the chaos. This conversation is about the importance of having a work environment that promotes positive mental health. The conversation touched on the importance of communication and how it can help level and smooth out volatile and disruptive situations. The speaker also discussed the challenge of being an owner and trying to provide a work environment that promotes positive mental health while also recognizing that they cannot be responsible for someone's health when they are not in the work environment. The speaker suggested that emotional intelligence is important when recognizing if something is going on and that it is necessary to ask the question without expecting someone to tell them. The conversation between the two speakers focuses on how to create a positive mental health culture in the workplace. They emphasize the importance of having an open door policy and providing an understanding environment for employees. They also discuss the importance of realistic expectations when it comes to employees and owners, as well as the need for communication and transparency. Additionally, they talk about the need to watch employees and their behavior to identify any red flags that could indicate issues related to mental health. Finally, they emphasize that while they are not mental health professionals, they can still provide a safe and positive environment for their team.

Episode Summary: In this episode, we dive into the recent events in the banking world and how they're affecting those in the digital agency space. We discuss the impact of banks like Silicon Valley Bank on vendors and clients, and the potential risk exposure on the receivable side. We also explore the role of social media in creating a "run" on these banks and how quickly the situation was rectified. Later, we delve deeper into the banking crisis and its impact on businesses and startups. We discuss the importance of understanding how banks use deposits for arbitrage and the need for businesses to be more vigilant in managing their cash. We also touch upon potential regulatory changes in the banking industry and how they may affect operations and risk management for businesses. Additionally, we share our thoughts on an interesting book on leadership and culture, as well as a unique animated sports broadcast. Don't miss out on this insightful and timely conversation about the evolving landscape of banking and its impact on the digital agency space. Chapters: (0:00:02) - Social Media Pump & Dump (0:09:04) - Banking Crisis Impact Chapter Summaries: (0:00:02) - Social Media Pump & Dump (9 Minutes) In this episode, we discuss the recent events in the banking world and how it affects those in the digital agency space. We talk about the impact of banks like Silicon Valley Bank and others on vendors and clients, and the potential risk exposure on the receivable side. We also explore the role of social media in creating a "run" on these banks and how quickly the situation was rectified. Additionally, we touch on the impact on e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Etsy, as well as the reactions of venture capital firms and other large players in the industry. (0:09:04) - Banking Crisis Impact (13 Minutes) In this chapter, we delve into the banking crisis and its impact on businesses and startups. We discuss the importance of understanding how banks use deposits for arbitrage and the need for businesses to be more vigilant in managing their cash. The conversation also touches upon the potential regulatory changes in the banking industry and how it may affect operations and risk management for businesses. Additionally, we highlight an interesting book on leadership and culture, and share our thoughts on a unique animated sports broadcast'

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Leslie Camacho, a professional EOS Implementer, about the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). We discussed the importance of leadership, management, and accountability in business, the challenges of implementing EOS, the importance of core values, leadership and management, and connecting with Leslie on social media. We also discussed the need for open and honest self-evaluation of the leadership team and the importance of role resolution when multiple people believe they should be in the same role. Chapters: (0:00:02) - Leadership, Management, and Accountability in Business (0:05:50) - The Challenges of Implementing EOS (0:18:58) - Core Values, Leadership, and Management (0:28:02) - Invisible Out in Open (0:34:38) - Connecting With Leslie on Social Media

In an ironic twist, The Jason and Bart Show explore how time tracking can benefit their team, not just their clients, as they strive to create an optimized, data-driven work environment and maximize their team's efficiency and profit. I learned about Time Tracking from an episode of The Jason and Bart Show, which discussed the importance of tracking time for an agency. Time tracking is important for an agency to be able to track profitability, competency level, and estimate more accurately. It is not about Big Brother, but rather optimizing the work environment to make better data-driven decisions. Time tracking is important for both TNM, fixed bid, and retainer based work. Incentivizing time tracking is unnecessary since the incentive should be obvious as to why it is important. Time tracking is about optimizing the work environment to make better data-driven decisions for the overall good of the team. "It's our job to work faster to make the profit. Right? So that's sort of the way I look at it is it is our job to make sure we're more efficient and faster working with that sacrifice, it's still making that money." In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. How can time tracking help optimize a digital services company's working environment? 2. What are the financial and operational benefits of tracking time internally? 3. How can leadership effectively communicate the importance of time tracking to their team?

Jason and Bart discuss how they have made it through the first month of 2023, and how the year has started off for agency owners. They talk about how some of the delays were predictable but some were not. They then discuss a client of theirs that has a market cap of a few hundred billion dollars and how they pulled back a contract for less than $10,000 a month of spend. This led to a conversation where they concluded that they should reach out to the CFO more often to have conversations. The conversation discussed how CFOs are an important part of IT procurement and how strategies should be directed towards them due to the lack of discretionary spending. The speakers agreed that pipelines for closing deals have become more difficult due to people being skittish about taking risks. To prove the value of technology solutions, it is necessary to prove the value across the leadership landscape in a way that it was not before when it was just a matter of investing in digitization. The conversation concluded with the speakers discussing how they have been building solutions for clients for the last few years, even through the pandemic. The conversation centered around digital transformation, and how C suites are taking a more intentional approach to their tech spending. Budgets are still there, but there is less leverage for digital agencies and value based pricing is taking a backseat to proving ROI. There is a reduction in tech staff, but the percentage of those let go compared to those hired is minimal. The takeaway is that investment in digital transformation is here to stay, as the people being let go are not in the AI and metaverse departments. This conversation between two people discusses the layoffs of marketing and HR employees from large companies such as FedEx. They argue that engineers are also being laid off, but that the most experienced engineers are not being fired. The conversation then shifts to the digital agency space, and the two agree that there have not been as many layoffs in that space yet. They then move to discuss the CEO of Rivian, who is the second highest paid CEO in the world, and the other top earners including Elon Musk and Tim Cook. The conversation ends with the observation that Tim Cook still deserves his salary because he is good at his job.

Jason and Bart welcomed their first guest, Adam Kurzawa, to their show. Adam is the director of business development at Expand the Room, a small digital agency in New York City. They started the conversation by discussing how the sales cycles for digital agencies have been changing. Adam shared his background and experience with sales tactics and strategies. He mentioned that a call he had just finished was about sales tactics, and he was asked what he does. Adam then briefly summarized his career and how he got to his current role at Expand the Room. They discussed how going old school with sales strategies can be beneficial in the current environment. Jason and Bart then encouraged their YouTube viewers to leave their comments and thoughts on the conversation. The conversation is between two individuals who work in a remote digital marketing agency, Expand the Room. They discuss how the pandemic has changed their business and the sales cycle. They note that after the initial drop in business in mid-May, it was quiet for several months until October when it suddenly became busy for the end of the year. They attribute this to the fact that Q4 is now bigger than it had been in years before. They also discuss the importance of relationship-building in sales and how their music and entertainment experience has informed how they approach it. The conversation discussed the current economic situation and its impact on the industry. It was noted that January was an odd month but that things are starting to shake loose. It was suggested that clients return to the office, which allowed people to flex some muscle memory and do things they haven't done in a while. Whether the current situation is a six-month or twelve-month recession or inflation was raised. The conclusion was that it doesn't really matter and that it's important to keep selling and not let the outside noise get you down. It was also suggested that the market is right-sizing itself and that a lot of money is floating around, and people are getting paid more than usual. The conversation is about the changing job market for developers and other technology professionals. Last year, a huge demand for tech workers led to engineers asking for two to three times their salary. However, by the end of the year, the market had shifted, and there was a surplus of developers and other tech workers due to layoffs. The conversation then turned to the idea of the tech session, which is when the pendulum swings back after having swung too far in the other direction. The group discussed how different industries and sectors will be affected differently by the current situation and how understanding the life cycle of each client and their industry is important for service providers.

Jason and Bart are discussing reputation management, a key component of running a successful company. They point out that it is important to hire the right people, as they are a huge part of any company. They also mention their respective football teams, the Giants and Eagles, and how they manage their friendship when the two teams play each other. They also mention the Rangers and Devils, and how they found a common enemy in the Devils when Jason brought Bart to a game. They end the conversation by noting the importance of reputation management in a successful company. This conversation is about the importance of pay attention to public comments about a company's reputation. The speaker believes that more attention should be given to what is written in articles and other public spaces, rather than rely on Glassdoor as it is seen as a joke. They believe that companies should pay more attention to what is being said in the public, rather than focus on rebuttals. They also mention that the public may have a strong opinion about the company due to layoffs that may have been poorly handled. In conclusion, it is important to pay attention to public comments in order to manage the company's reputation. This conversation is about the usefulness of Glassdoor when researching a potential employer. The speaker believes that Glassdoor is overhyped and often used as a joke, and he wonders if it can be used to research larger companies. The other speaker agrees, stating that it is important to do your due diligence and research a company before applying. They both agree that if the reviews on Glassdoor are all one-sided, then it is an indication that something is going on. However, they also agree that there is an opportunity to further vet candidates based on their experiences from Glassdoor reviews. The conversation is about how conflict resolution and expectation alignment are important components of professional and client services. The speaker mentions the three truths theory where there are three perspectives on any given situation and the actual truth is likely somewhere in the middle. They discuss how user reviews and ratings on sites like Yelp and Glassdoor can be subjective and skewed, and provide no context for the situation in which the comment was made. The speaker advises to not spend too much emotional energy on managing online reputation and to focus on living the company's values. Lastly, they mention that they like it when job applicants ask more questions of the company than the company has for them.