The five biggest mistakes I’ve made in 21 years of owning an agency
Michael Abdel has guided his agency Sphere through years of successes and mistakes, to its 21st birthday. Here, he reveals the five biggest mistakes he’s made in that time.
I started Sphere over 21 years ago. Somehow, we’ve survived the terrible twos, the growing pains of our teenage years and made it to adulthood. Despite the great feeling of accomplishment, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t made any blunders along the way. Let me share five of the biggest errors I’ve made, so you can learn from my mistakes.
1. Not hiring based on our values
Almost every day, I’m preaching the importance of brand values to clients. It’s critical that brands live and breathe their values. After all, it’s the values they share in common with their audience that builds a meaningful relationship between brand and consumer.
Despite this, occasionally when hiring new employees, I would focus more on their skills and qualifications and not on whether they shared Sphere’s values. This has always ended in disaster and weakened company culture.
Today, when I’m hiring, I always try to make sure the potential employee shares our values of being passionate, honest, hardworking, entrepreneurial, informal and a team player.
Michael,you have done an amazing and inspirational job in promoting not only Spheres skill and dedication,but also in the whole Advertising world at this time.Well done Bro.
Bravo! An excellent, humorous and honest read. You through and through!
I dunno, I quite liked the ad 🙂
I genuinely hate it when people write negative comments. Normally I prefer to just read the article and if it’s lame, I just prefer to move on. But I’m going to break my rule here. This is clearly just click-bait and an attempted piece of self promotion. I was expecting at least 1 insight or something interesting from your 21 years of reflection, but all I read was your claim to have a great values, culture & people. And that you once made a cringe-worthy ad.
Can I suggest that you should ask the folk at Mumbrella to give you another shot and this time talk about the 5 things that still give you nightmares? Now that would be interesting…
100% Henry. You can do better Mumbrella.
Yes Henry… Its called advertising…
If any one knows Mike they will smile when they read this… I think thats all the reaction he is looking for.
A positive one…
great read and mistakes I can relate to 🙂 thanks for sharing
Well done, Mikey!
From pushing passes on the streets as a teenager, to setting up club nights, to setting up Sphere, to setting up a range of brands and businesses, you’ve always been a brilliant marketer with your clients’ business success at heart.
More success to you.
You’re too kind Con!
Yes Henry… Its called advertising…
If any one knows Mike they will smile when they read this… I think thats all the reaction he is looking for.
A positive one…
Great article Mike!