In the ever-evolving world of agency ownership, few stories capture the essence of perseverance and growth quite like Patti Meyers'. When Patti first joined Agency Thrivemind in mid-2022, she described herself as running an "accidental agency" with just four team members and found herself deeply entrenched in day-to-day operations. After four years in business and about two and a half years of having team members, Patti realized she needed professional guidance to take her business to the next level.

Wasn't building an agency supposed to free you from the day-to-day so you could focus on growth? The truth is, many agency owners simply trade one bottleneck (client work) for another (constant team questions). That was 100% me until I learned how to create a self-led team—one that trusts their expertise enough to make decisions without me. When I finally built that kind of team, my Slack notifications got much quieter, I could focus on CEO-level work, and I could even disconnect midday for lunch with my husband or a nail appointment.

As an online service based business owner, there comes a point when you realize you simply can't do it all anymore. You're turning down exciting projects, working late nights and weekends, and feeling that familiar pit in your stomach when you think about how your business has become more of a burden than the freedom vehicle you envisioned.

I've been there. I started as an overworked Virtual Assistant who couldn't even take a vacation without bringing client work along. That’s when I knew it was time to build my agency.  Over time, we went from a team with a lot of lumps and bumps in the road to a well oiled machine that allowed me to confidently step away knowing everything is handled.

The turning point? Making that crucial first hire.