Year One in the Books: Reflecting on Growth & Gratitude at Sagely & Company
We literally blinked, and here we are, one year since plunging into a partnership, settling on a name for our fractional marketing agency, forming an LLC, and officially opening our doors as Sagely & Company, to serve our first clients. We have proudly worked with 13 diverse companies across multiple industries including prop tech, business intelligence, health supplements, healthcare, insurtech, consumer retail, venture capital, rental housing, and risk management.
In the thick of it, we didn’t always fully appreciate our accomplishments, key learnings, and overall impact. But, as we’ve taken some time to settle into entrepreneurship, reflect, and plan for what’s next, we’ve realized that we’ve accomplished a tremendous amount when it comes to marketing, mentoring, and even being entrepreneur moms. Our work is extremely rewarding, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. In this season of reflection, we wanted to share the top five lessons we’ve learned during our first year as Sagely & Co. There are some good nuggets of wisdom that you might be able to pluck from too.
1. Tune In
Active listening is crucial, and a skill that we always need to be sharpening. The more time we pack under our career belt, the quicker we are to start solving problems for clients right away, but that shouldn’t overshadow listening first. Take the time to truly listen and understand client needs, pain points, and concerns, so that you can provide tailored and effective solutions versus a one-size-fits-all approach.
2. Weekly Touch Points are a MUST
Clear, concise, and regular communication with clients keeps projects on track and ensures everyone is on the same page. A mentor of ours once shared, “most professionals wake up, striving to do our best every single day.” Coming together prevents misunderstandings and fosters a collaborative environment, allows time to truly understand and achieve the goal, helps forge new relationships, and allows you to get to know each other on a personal level too. We have found that encouraging a weekly touch base—even if the client says it’s not necessary—ensures that expectations are being met, changes are being communicated, and project milestones are being reached.
3. Agility Is Your Business’s Secret Weapon
Being agile and adaptable to changing circumstances and client needs is essential. Businesses are constantly evolving, whether due to technological advancements, market dynamics, product rollouts, or staffing changes. Each client and project is unique, and you have to adjust to fit into their ecosystem vs. the other way around.
4. Grow Your Connections, Grow Your Success
You don’t realize how powerful your network is until you tap into it. Whether it’s connecting with prospects, peers, mentors, or other industry professionals, building and nurturing your connections can open doors you never knew existed.
5. Focus On What You Do Best, Delegate the Rest
It will take discipline, but be intentional about focusing on the tasks that align with your strengths, skills, and core business activities. Outsource or assign other tasks to those who are better equipped to handle them, whether it’s administrative work, bookkeeping, research, or something else. This translates into tremendous efficiencies, saves time, allows you to tap into specialized skills, and reduces stress.
Year Two, Here We Come!
As Sagely & Company celebrates its first anniversary, the team reflects on a whirlwind year of growth and learning. Year two holds exciting ventures and business concepts, new clients and colleagues, an expanded Sagely Network, and even plans for a refreshed website.
Make sure to check in on what we are up to, and drop us a note to say hello - we would love to hear from you. Lastly, thank you for believing in us. We are eternally grateful for your support!
