In this episode of Marketing Agency Power Hour, host Cal Wilder sits down with George Potts, agency leader and executive coach, to explore what it really means to lead with purpose while scaling teams, clients, and responsibility.

George shares thoughtful insights on how leadership changes as organizations grow, why self-awareness becomes more critical at scale, and how intentional leadership decisions shape culture, trust, and long-term performance. The conversation dives into personal growth, values-based leadership, navigating complexity, and the responsibility leaders carry as their influence expands.

Takeaways:

• Leadership must evolve as organizations scale. The skills and behaviors that work in early stages often break down as teams, complexity, and responsibility increase.
• Purpose becomes more critical during growth, not less. Clear values and intent help leaders and teams navigate uncertainty, change, and competing priorities.
• Self-awareness is a foundational leadership skill. Understanding personal blind spots, triggers, and strengths allows leaders to make better decisions at scale.
• Culture is shaped through everyday leadership actions. How leaders communicate, prioritize, and respond under pressure defines culture more than formal statements.
• Growth amplifies leadership gaps as much as strengths. Scaling exposes misalignment, unclear expectations, and weak systems that must be addressed early.
• Trust is built through consistency and clarity. Leaders earn trust by setting clear expectations and following through reliably over time.
• Sustainable success requires personal leadership growth. Organizations scale best when leaders intentionally develop alongside the business.

Connect with George:

• Twitter: https://x.com/GeorgePotts
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgewpotts/
• Website: http://www.fifthinfluence.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://marketingagencypowerhour.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19ECltpQuJWu6rfXlx98wT
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marketing-agency-power-hour/id1809205281
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/344bea8c-7897-4dfc-8cdc-f31a92514243
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-marketing-agency-power-hou-272863996/

Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/marketing-agency-power-hour-6067409

In this episode of Marketing Agency Power Hour, host Cal Wilder sits down with James Colistra, branding expert and founder of Wonderfish, to break down why so much branding fails to deliver real business results and how agencies and founders can fix it.

James shares a candid look at the disconnect between aesthetics and performance, explaining why beautiful design without strategy rarely converts, how brand clarity impacts customer trust and revenue, and where agencies often miss the mark when positioning clients for growth. The conversation dives into aligning brand strategy with customer psychology, translating creative decisions into measurable outcomes, and building brands that scale beyond first impressions.

Takeaways:

• Branding must start with strategy, not aesthetics. Visual identity alone doesn’t create impact unless it’s grounded in clear positioning, audience understanding, and business objectives.
• Clarity drives conversion. Brands that clearly articulate who they serve, what problem they solve, and why they’re different remove friction and make buying decisions easier.
• Design should influence behavior, not just perception. Every creative choice should guide customer action, reinforce trust, and support measurable outcomes.
• Trying to appeal to everyone weakens resonance. Focused brands outperform broad ones by speaking directly to the needs and emotions of a defined audience.
• Agencies create real value when branding connects to revenue. The most effective branding work ties creative decisions back to growth, performance, and long-term business impact.
• Consistency compounds trust over time. Repeated, aligned messaging and visuals across every touchpoint strengthen recognition and credibility.
• Simplification is a competitive advantage. Strong brands eliminate excess, sharpen their message, and repeat it relentlessly to scale.

Connect with James:

• Twitter: https://x.com/jimjimma5?lang=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescolistra/
• Website: https://wonderfish.xyz/

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://marketingagencypowerhour.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19ECltpQuJWu6rfXlx98wT
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marketing-agency-power-hour/id1809205281
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/344bea8c-7897-4dfc-8cdc-f31a92514243
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-marketing-agency-power-hou-272863996/
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/marketing-agency-power-hour-6067409

In this episode of Marketing Agency Power Hour, host Cal Wilder sits down with Thi Lam, Founder and Creative Director of Garnish Studios, to unpack what it really takes to build a focused, sustainable creative agency in the competitive world of food and beverage CPG.

Thi shares how his background as a CPG founder shaped Garnish Studios’ hyper-focused niche, why industry specialization beats offering “everything to everyone,” and how creative agencies can avoid the common traps of underpricing, scope creep, and burnout. The conversation spans agency positioning, tiered pricing models, hiring and talent development, financial lessons learned the hard way, and Thi’s long-term vision of building an interconnected ecosystem of production, branding, and original products.

Takeaways:

• Niching by industry, not just service, creates clarity, credibility, and stronger long-term positioning.
• Early underpricing can pigeonhole agencies and limit future growth.
• Tiered pricing helps protect margins while speeding up client qualification.
• Creative work must balance “brain power” (strategy and perspective) with “manpower” (production execution).
• Hiring and investing in people earlier can unlock faster, healthier growth.
• Founders should hire bookkeeping and accounting support as early as possible to avoid costly mistakes.
• Long-term agency resilience comes from focus, discipline, and intentional expansion, not chasing every opportunity.

Connect with Thi:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thiqlam/
• Website: http://www.garnishstudios.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://marketingagencypowerhour.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19ECltpQuJWu6rfXlx98wT
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marketing-agency-power-hour/id1809205281
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/344bea8c-7897-4dfc-8cdc-f31a92514243
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-marketing-agency-power-hou-272863996/

Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/marketing-agency-power-hour-6067409