I've been making a big mistake: I think of myself as a marketer, and forget to think as a business executive.
Because sure - I run a marketing agency. But even though our services include marketing, my job ISN'T just to be a good marketer. I also have to work on the business itself - sales, operations, finance, legal, HR, culture, vision, etc. I could be the best marketer in the world and yet if I can't send out contracts or price those services - Kalyna Marketing wouldn't function.
When I decided to hire a team, that choice was mostly reactive. I had too much work on my plate, there was more client demand than I could meet, so I brought on help to keep all our projects from sinking. Back then, I thought that I'd simply figure the whole "business" part out as I went.

But in the hustle of doing client work, finding clients, building my personal brand, creating content, and assigning immediate tasks - I didn't stop to think about the business. All of these concerns about financial planning, pipeline, business model, service mix, hiring and onboarding, etc. – it felt like irrelevant fluff. Like the topics for stuffy business dudes to talk about in their giant boardrooms.
I fell into the trap of thinking that if I marketed the services and we did a damn good job at them, the business would just run itself.
Spoiler: it didn't.
I feel almost as if I've been reborn. After working with a business coach for 7+ months I got used to calling myself a CEO and considering my company seriously. Recently, I've also began getting some mentorship and direct help from a founder who's built and run agencies of a way larger scale than anything I can truly picture. And having another executive push me and treat me as an equal has been a gift.

It's incredible how my self-perception changes just from another executive expecting me to keep up.

I don't think anyone's really had standards like that for me before. I've felt like I snuck my way into leadership and then kinda did my thing, floundering about. Nobody ever seriously trained me as a leader (besides people in my network here and there when I got to pick their brain), and nobody ever expected me to match them to their level.
Now, I feel like I'm getting pushed in the best way. I feel very motivated. Because for the first time, my goal isn't just to be a better marketer. I also want to learn to be a better leader. A real, bona fide