We started cred with a mission of building thought leaders through events. To date, we have confirmed more than 4,500+ speaking opportunities and helped host more than 150 events for clients all over the world. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come—as a team under 30—to achieving that mission, and so much more.
Like every business, we’ve had our ups and downs. Looking back at the past 7 years, a few things I’ve learned along the way:
In Client Services, you can’t work with everyone.
In the early days, I was ready to sell our services to anyone who would sign the dotted line. Then I quickly learned a 6 or 12 month service is a long time! The revenue is tempting (especially in the early days when you need it), but toxic clients, clients who don’t understand your business, or clients you won’t be successful with aren’t worth it. They create more work for the agency, cause employees to be unhappy, and often result in you trying to offer something outside of scope to keep them happy. We now have a list of qualities we look for in clients that we revisit and reference and share with the entire company to keep us on track.It’s OK to say no (you should).
I worry that if I say, “I can’t help,” to an ask, or reject someone’s idea, that I will be letting them down, but in reality, you can’t do it all (and you shouldn't).People really matter in a service-based business.
They. Are. Everything. Without people, we can’t operate. So be mindful of how you treat people, the opportunities you foster for them, and ensure you’re providing an environment that is so fulfilling they don’t want to look elsewhere. For a 30-person company, we thrive here.There’s always another option.
I’m really indecisive in life, and it makes the decision-making process 10x more challenging. Reminding myself there isn’t always a “correct” option—but one that I should feel confident about after weighing options—helps me not dwell on decisions (at least a little bit).Founders notice everything, always.
I bite my tongue on menial things that just aren’t worth it because they won’t move the needle, but just know, we see ‘em :)You don’t always have to be “on.”
I’ve actually found that employees are much more receptive when I make a mistake, take a vacation or day off, or miss a deadline. Uphold expectations, but it’s good to show you’re human. The authenticity goes a long way.Toot your own horn.
Especially applicable to women leaders, but across the board—more recently I’ve noticed focusing on the positives and recognizing what you do well (either the company or you as an individual) not only goes a long way with confidence, but facilitates a motivating office environment. The negativity brings you down while the praise creates momentum.
I am most proud of the team culture and reputation we’ve built here at cred. The amount of talent, passion, and creativity each individual brings every day is unlike anywhere else.
As we move forward and look to what’s next, I’m excited to see how we’ll continue to evolve in the coming years. Cheers to number 7!
