Curing limiting beliefs

I think my biggest regret in this year’s survey is not asking people if they are satisfied with where their agency is at.

It’s honestly pretty shocking to see the revenue and income numbers — but that doesn’t paint a full picture. Our industry is ideal for people who want to earn some extra income for the family or build a “lifestyle” business that allows them the time and energy to enjoy life on their terms. I’m not sure what the percentage is (hence my regret), but there are certainly people that fall in the lower income brackets and are perfectly happy with things the way they are.

Good for them. Seriously. I know plenty of people on the grind — even bringing in $1,000,000 in annual revenue — that are completely miserable. Money doesn’t buy happiness.

But there are people struggling too.

Most of us, we’re craftspeople — not MBAs. We ended up with a business because we had fun building websites and were thrilled (and astonished!) to find out someone actually give us money for it. Next thing you know, you’re an “entrepreneur”.

Having an eye for design or being a wizard with code doesn’t mean you fully understand P&Ls, client acquisition costs, cash flow forecasting, or churn rates.

So, you either learn those lessons the hard (and slow) way — or ignore them and just keep flapping your arms wildly to stay afloat.

We’re also working from home — isolated on an island of one. Doing things the only way we know how, not realizing what’s possible.

That’s a big reason TAB exists, and why I pour hours of unpaid work into this survey every year.

For all of modern history, the 5-minute mile was seen as humanly impossible — until Roger Bannister shattered that belief in 1954. Just weeks later, others followed. Sometimes, all it takes is seeing someone else do it to believe you can too. That’s what I hope this survey provides: proof that what you want out of this business is possible.

We all have limiting beliefs. When I first heard of someone charging five thousand dollars for a website, I was in disbelief knowing that I was shaking when I sent the proposal for $500 thinking I’d be called nasty names for being so money-hungry. But knowing it was possible opened new ways of thinking and raised the invisible ceiling I had placed above my head. Today, I wouldn’t consider doing a website for less than $5,000.

I’m no guru — and I have no interest in telling you how much you should be making. But, if you were on the lower end of the revenue and salary numbers and want to be moving up the ladder, I want to help.

Not by handing down commandments from a mountaintop — but by continuing to share what’s worked for me and what I’ve learned from others a few steps ahead.

That’s what The Admin Bar is about. That’s what this survey is for. And that’s why I wake up every day excited to hop into the group and see what challenges we need to tackle today.

So if something in this year’s data opened your eyes or challenged your perspective — don’t just sit on it. Lean into it. Ask questions. Get curious. Find resources. Talk to someone else in the trenches. Roll up your sleeves. Get to work.

You’re not alone, and your friends at TAB are here to support you.