• 02:02 – 02:20 – The Prism Model: Chris introduces his "Prism Model," a framework for evaluating if a problem is worth solving. The model focuses on identifying problems that are painful, recurring, impactful, solvable, and marketable, helping agencies vet business ideas and align their offerings with market needs.
• 05:21 – 05:40 – Service Saturation: Chris discusses the dangers of service saturation, where agencies compete on price and deliverables instead of outcomes, often leading to commoditization and reduced profitability.
• 09:32 – 09:50 – Niching Down with a Purpose: Marcel and Chris explore the common mistake agencies make when niching based on services or verticals, emphasizing the importance of centering on a specific problem and solution for positioning success.
• 14:35 – 14:55 – Point of View Rants: Chris highlights a simple but effective exercise to identify an agency’s unique point of view—by encouraging founders to rant about industry problems and extract their core beliefs and perspectives.
• 22:03 – 22:20 – Four Times MVP: Marcel shares his "Four Times MVP" framework, emphasizing the need to address a problem, develop a point of view, refine a process, and then build a product, to create scalable, impactful agency solutions.
• 29:38 – 29:55 – Efficiency vs. Innovation Spectrum: Chris explains the "Efficiency-Innovation Continuum," where agencies balance streamlined processes and innovative experimentation, deciding where to focus resources based on their goals and growth stage.
• 35:44 – 36:02 – Internal Specialization: Marcel highlights the importance of internal specialization for agencies, emphasizing the benefits of focusing on core strengths while partnering with other experts to deliver comprehensive solutions.
• 41:59 – 42:20 – Monetizing Churn: Marcel shares an example of an agency that monetized client churn by maintaining revenue streams through partnerships, turning what is typically seen as a loss into an ongoing profit center.
• 43:01 – 43:11 – Closing Insights: Chris emphasizes the importance of building partnerships and leveraging them to strengthen agency offerings while staying focused on core strengths, creating a sustainable model for growth and profitability.

• Connect with Chris via LinkedIn
• Dynamic Agency OS

Leave us a review here.

• 00:01 – 01:00 – Introduction to Data Systems: Marcel introduces the episode’s focus on designing data systems that empower agencies and businesses to make data-driven decisions with clarity and alignment.
• 01:00 – 02:30 – Why Agencies Struggle with Data: Marcel explains why many agencies face challenges in getting value from their data, often due to incorrect frameworks and a lack of process around data management.
• 03:00 – 04:20 – The Pendulum of Tools: Marcel discusses how agencies often swing between using specialized tools and all-in-one platforms, creating unnecessary change management that doesn’t solve core data issues.
• 05:00 – 06:15 – Outdated Billing Models in Agency Systems: Marcel explains how traditional agency frameworks assume time-and-materials billing, which isn’t suitable for many agencies today that use retainer or project-based models.
• 07:30 – 08:45 – Misconception: Data Problems are Tool Problems: Marcel describes how agencies mistakenly frame data issues as tool problems, leading to constant tool changes without solving underlying issues.
• 09:15 – 10:45 – Introduction to the Core Framework: Marcel introduces the three key elements for a high-functioning data system: data, framework, and process, with each playing a unique role in creating reliable insights.
• 11:30 – 12:45 – The Four Essential Data Sets: Marcel explains the four critical types of data needed: finance, people, projects, and time, and why these are fundamental to any data system.
• 13:00 – 14:30 – Framework: Metrics, Formulas, and Relationships: Marcel breaks down the importance of a clear framework to define which metrics to track, their formulas, and how they relate to each other and the business.
• 15:30 – 17:00 – Challenges with Data Hygiene and Consistency: Marcel highlights the need for a process to maintain clean data and handle changes in structure, such as renaming teams or changing project codes.
• 17:15 – 18:45 – Importance of Change Management in Data Systems: Marcel emphasizes that change within the business, like adding new services or tools, can disrupt data systems, requiring adaptable frameworks.
• 19:30 – 21:00 – Realistic Expectations for Automation: Marcel cautions against fully automated data reporting, explaining that human oversight is essential for data hygiene and quality, even with AI assistance.
• 22:00 – 23:45 – Cadences for Accurate Reporting: Marcel discusses the need for regular cadences, such as weekly time tracking, to ensure data accuracy and completeness before analysis.
• 24:00 – 25:45 – How Parakeeto Helps Agencies with Data Management: Marcel concludes by inviting agencies to reach out if they need support with data frameworks and processes, emphasizing that Parakeeto’s approach can save agencies time and improve profitability.

Connect with Marcel:

• Connect with Marcel via LinkedIn
• Agency Profit Toolkit
• The Parakeeto Foundations Course

Leave us a review here.

• 00:01 – 00:42 – Introduction to Guest: Marcel introduces Dr. Kristian Alomá, PhD, an expert in narrative psychology and author of Start With the Story, to discuss the power of storytelling in agency service design.
• 00:48 – 01:14 – Background on Narrative Design: Kristian introduces his agency, Threadline, and explains narrative design as applying storytelling principles to branding, marketing, and business strategy.
• 01:52 – 02:18 – What is Narrative Psychology? Kristian describes narrative psychology as the study of how people make sense of experiences through storytelling, emphasizing its importance in understanding client relationships.
• 03:10 – 04:20 – Power of Storytelling: Marcel and Kristian discuss how storytelling resonates with both logical and emotional thinking, making it a powerful tool in sales and brand connection.
• 05:38 – 06:30 – Changing Agency Landscape: Kristian explains how agency success has shifted from mere service delivery to forming meaningful client relationships that support brand values and identity.
• 08:27 – 09:30 – Beyond Behavioral Marketing: Kristian discusses moving from a behavior-driven marketing approach to one focused on narratives that align with both client goals and agency values.
• 10:23 – 11:33 – Client Relationships Across Career Stages: Kristian highlights the importance of adapting agency services to fit the evolving needs of clients as they grow from entry-level to executive roles.
• 11:47 – 12:40 – Differentiation in a Specialized Market: Marcel and Kristian talk about how understanding clients’ unique stories allows agencies to differentiate in an increasingly specialized market.
• 15:08 – 16:15 – Hero’s Paradox: Kristian explains the concept of the “hero’s paradox,” where placing the client as the hero ultimately strengthens the agency's role as a trusted partner.
• 18:50 – 19:18 – Identifying Client Struggles: Marcel asks Kristian for tactical advice on understanding client struggles, which Kristian breaks down through his STORY framework.
• 19:17 – 20:25 – Introduction to the STORY Framework: Kristian outlines his framework: Struggle, Tools, Objectives, Rewards, and Yearning (STORY), as a guide to designing client-centered services.
• 23:29 – 24:45 – The Importance of Understanding Struggles: Marcel and Kristian discuss the importance of going beyond surface-level problems to truly understand a client’s struggle for deeper impact.
• 27:39 – 28:32 – Focusing on Individual Challenges: Kristian emphasizes the need to view client challenges from the individual’s perspective within the organization, making service solutions more impactful and personalized.

• Book: Start with the Story: Brand-Building in a Narrative Economy
• Threadline: Visit the Website
• Connect with Kristian A. Alomá:
  • LinkedIn Profile
  • Personal Website

Leave us a review here.