The Agency Hour

In this episode, Troy Dean sits down with René Spijker, a veteran agency owner from the Netherlands who has successfully navigated over 30 years of technological disruption. From the early days of desktop publishing to the current AI revolution, René shares his journey of adaptation and why he believes now is the most exciting time to run an agency. You will learn how to shift your focus from low-value production tasks to high-value strategy, effectively "training" AI tools to act as productive interns, and why the human element remains the most critical part of the client relationship. We also dive deep into "vibe coding," the future of WordPress, and how to confidently serve mid-market clients. What You'll learn: Technology changes, but the need for client strategy remains constant. Treat AI tools like new interns: invest time in training them for consistent quality output. The most valuable role in the ecosystem is sitting between the client and the technology. Don't just sell deliverables; sell paid discovery and planning upfront to secure better clients. "Vibe coding" with AI allows agencies to prototype and build faster than traditional methods. Avoiding burnout requires intentional downtime and hobbies outside of the digital space. If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you.To find out about working together, 1. Follow us on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/agencymavericks) 2. Send me the message MAVERICK, and I’ll send you all the details Handy Links: E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials: YouTube | Facebook | FB Group | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin

It is the start of a new era for Agency Mavericks in 2026! In this season opener, Troy Dean sits down with Taylor McMaster, founder of DOT & Company. Taylor shares her incredible journey from a frustrated agency owner to creating a "category of one" by specializing in fractional account management. We also dive deep into the recent breaking news: DOT & Company has been acquired by E2M Solutions. In this episode, you will learn the critical difference between a struggling generalist agency and a scalable specialist. Taylor reveals the math behind successful account management (hint: 80 clients is too many), how to maintain premium service standards, and why her due diligence process during the acquisition was actually a breeze. Plus, we discuss how AI is shaping the future of client services and why playing the long game is your biggest competitive advantage. In this episode you'll discover: ✅ How to position your agency as a 'Category of One' to eliminate competition and command premium pricing✅ Leverage fractional account management to remove yourself from daily operations without the risk of full-time hiring✅ Identify the critical client-to-manager ratios that prevent employee burnout and ensure high-level service✅ Streamline agency efficiency by adopting proven SOPs and frameworks used by specialized industry leaders✅ Navigate the acquisition process with insights on due diligence, valuation, and successful team integration✅ Capitalize on the AI revolution by positioning your agency as the essential bridge between new technology and client outcomes✅ Adopt a long-game entrepreneurial mindset to build a business that is inherently scalable and attractive to buyers If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links: DOT & Co - https://www.dotandcompany.co/Piixel Studios - https://www.piixel.ca/studioE2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials: YouTube | Facebook | FB Group | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this final episode of 2025, Troy Dean sits down with Brent Weaver, CEO of E2M and founder of Ugurus, for an in-depth conversation about the future of agencies in an AI-disrupted world. Brent shares his incredible journey to India where he met with E2M's 300+ team members, and both hosts dive deep into why traditional agency models are being challenged and what you need to do to survive and thrive in 2026. If you're wondering how to position your agency in the age of AI, why selling strategy first is non-negotiable, and how to avoid becoming just another commodity in a race to the bottom, this episode is essential listening. Troy and Brent get brutally honest about the disruption happening right now and reveal the one seat in the ecosystem that will remain valuable no matter how advanced AI becomes. What You'll Learn Why Personal Brands Built the Early Coaching Empires – How Troy and Brent accidentally built coaching businesses while running agencies. The Gratitude Wall vs. The Claw Hands – Why helping agencies felt more rewarding than serving grumpy clients. The Production Value Trap – When investing in better cameras and sets actually hurt revenue (and when it helps). Meeting 300+ Team Members in India – Brent's incredible journey leading a massive team across cultures and continents. The Fork in the Road for Agencies – Why HubSpot and Klaviyo agencies are disappearing overnight. Why AI Won't Replace You (If You Do This One Thing) – The most valuable seat between the client and the technology. Be the Journalist, Not the Genius – How to sell strategy when you don't think you're a strategist. The Vibe Coding Revolution – What you can build in hours that used to take weeks, and why you still need humans. Stop Trying to Become an "AI Agency" – Why this is a race to the bottom and what to do instead. The 2026 Agency Survival Plan – Get paid to pitch, close with strategy, deliver with AI, and scale your profit. The robots are coming for everything you can do with a keyboard and mouse. But they can't sit with a client, ask the right questions, understand their real problems, and design a plan to solve them. That's your job. That's where the value is. That's what will keep you in business. Get paid to pitch. Close with strategy. Deliver with AI. Scale your profit. 2026 is the year you become indispensable - or irrelevant. Choose wisely. If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links: E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials:

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this episode, Troy Dean sits down with Simon Major, CEO of Practice Edge, for his third appearance on the podcast. As one of the most successful agencies in the Mavericks Club, Simon shares his journey from chiropractor to digital agency owner and the valuable lessons he's learned over his 15+ years in business. They dive deep into the timeless fundamentals of agency success, explore how AI is reshaping the industry landscape, and unpack the critical mindset shifts needed to build a profitable, sustainable agency. Whether you're just starting out or running a 7-figure operation, this conversation delivers actionable insights on team management, capacity planning, and maintaining excellence in your service delivery. What You'll Learn Why One-Time Projects Keep You Stuck – The hidden danger of unpredictable revenue Why Retainers Aren't the Best Solution – Stop trading time for money and sell outcomes instead How to Package & Price Recurring Revenue Services – Three proven models that work for any agency The No-Brainer Pitch for Recurring Clients – A simple way to make your offer an easy yes How to Transition Existing Clients Into Recurring Plans – Turn past clients into long-term revenue The Secret to Selling Without Resistance – A risk-reversal strategy that eliminates hesitation How to Scale Without Overworking – Automate, delegate, and systemize for profitable growth If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links: Practice Edge - https://www.practiceedge.com.auE2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials: YouTube |

Welcome back to The Agency Hour, where we help web design and digital agency owners create abundance for themselves, their teams, and their communities. In this episode, Troy Dean sits down with Simon Chin, CEO of Flowstate Agency, for an eye-opening discussion about how AI is revolutionizing agency operations. They explore how Simon's team built a custom AI platform that integrates project management tools, analytics, and client performance data into one powerful system. Learn how this innovation has eliminated 150+ hours of weekly administrative work, allowed for more proactive client management, and freed up customer success managers to focus on strategy rather than spreadsheets. If you're struggling with scattered data across multiple platforms or spending too much time manually updating client reports, this conversation reveals a smarter approach to managing client relationships in the AI era. What You'll Learn Why Scattered Client Data Costs You Money – The hidden time drain of managing information across multiple platforms How AI Can Eliminate 150+ Hours of Weekly Admin Work – Turn manual reporting into automated insights Why Your Project Management Tool Isn't Enough – The critical limitations of Asana, ClickUp, and other PM systems Creating a Unified Client Health Score – How to blend project progress and performance metrics for better client management Proactive vs. Reactive Client Management – Spot issues before clients do and become a more strategic partner Training AI to Think Like Your Best Team Members – Replicate expertise without replacing humans How to Free Your Team for Strategic Work – Shift from data compilation to creative problem-solving The Right Way to Approach AI Implementation – Start with the problem, not the technology If you’re ready to scale your agency and reclaim your time, join our new community for just $1. Every week, Troy goes live with actionable strategies to help you build a business that works - for you Handy Links: Flowstate Agency - https://www.flowstate.agency/E2M Solutions - https://www.e2msolutions.com/agency-mavericksWP Remote - https://wpremote.com Get a Personalised Game Plan to Grow Your AgencyTake this online assessment and get recommendations based on more than 10 years of experience helping 4K+ agencies. This stuff works. Reduce the overwhelm and know exactly what to do next. Gameplan.agencymavericks.com Follow us on the socials: YouTube | Facebook | FB Group | Instagram |