Kanahoma Turns 3

Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going

It’s crazy to say, but this week marks three years since I launched Kanahoma.

What started as nothing more than an idea has quickly grown into a burgeoning business, with the agency scaling to more than a dozen partners and over 30 full-time employees. 

And while I’d like to say this was always the plan, the truth is in so many ways this business has exceeded my own initial expectations and aspirations. 

But when I reflect back on our third year in business, it’s the personal growth, more than the professional, that I think defines how we’re positioned to enter our fourth year in operation.

This year saw us grow revenue – and the team – by nearly 50%, a feat which both challenged us operationally and exposed continued weaknesses in my own management style.

That reality, coupled with some continued health challenges, left me feeling under water and behind for the first half of the year.

But the back half of the year has felt much different:

• Some key senior hires have finally alleviated an unrealistic workload 

• A new doctor had brought some much-needed clarity on my health

• And a mindful leadership retreat this fall led to some pretty profound personal transformation, totally changing my relationship with work (more to come on this in a future newsletter…) 

So What Did I Really Learn This Year?

• It’s a Privilege to Be Able to Serve
  Whenever times get crazy, I always stop and remind myself what an honor it is to have our partners trust us to serve their organizations and for our team to trust us as an employer. The service business can often get a bad rap, but I’ll tell you what, it really is a privilege to be able to serve.
  

• I’m No Good to Anybody Unless I’m Good to Myself
  This was the year this finally clicked for me. From quitting drinking to quitting caffeine, going from 3-5 hours of sleep a night to 7-8, I’ve made it a point to put myself first in many ways, because it’s not just about showing up, but how I show up, for the business, the team, our partners, and my family. 
  

• I Owe It to the Business to Be More Disciplined
  In our first couple years I made it a point to delay the encroachment of what I saw as “bureaucracy,” but the reality is sometimes operational sophistication really is what’s needed to scale. This year has been all about growing up, whether it was a new project management system, improved time tracking, expanded workflows, or productizing our services. We’re not there yet, but we’re certainly finishing our third year in a much stronger place than when we started.
  

• I Owe It to the Team to Be More Intentional With How I Lead
  I’ve been consistent in our mission and vision, but until recently I haven’t made as concerted of an effort to make room for our emerging managers. There was a time when this business was just me, but we’re far from that now. We will only be as strong as our business unit owners, and I’m making a concerted effort to communicate the right way, not overstepping my reports, and giving business unit owners the room to own their discipline.
  

• We Can Always Be Better
  Our mission is to build a better agency for organizations building a better world, and it’s important we remember that in this race there is no finish line. “Better” is a journey, not a destination, and as a result we have to be relentless in our pursuit of improved performance. This also means embracing radical candor and not shying away from the tough conversations needed to push ourselves to be our best and continue to improve.
  

• I’m Really, Really, Really Lucky
  I really mean it when I say it. I feel it. When I started this business in November 2020, I felt alone. Working out of my home office, my then-pregnant wife sick with Covid, quarantined in the other room, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. But looking back on that chapter now, it feels so far away.
  
  The past three years have been full of growth, opportunities, challenges, and new territory. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the partners who trust us, the team that chose to build with us, my family and friends who have seen it through with me, and everyone – you included – who have taken time out of your busy schedule to follow our journey and root for us along the way. 

How cool is it that we get to build this business? To strive for such a worthy mission and to grow and improve together as we try. 

So What’s Next for Kanahoma?

As we head into our fourth year, we’ve got a few things in the works…

• A Focus on Productization
  Whether it’s our unique Agency of Record model (e.g.; unlimited creative, direct-access model, IP Guarantee) or our Brand Direct approach to creative, it’s clear that our agency is doing things a bit differently. This year will be all about migrating from customized services to standardized products, with clearer workflows, processes, and best practice across our core efforts, ensuring improved performance across these core products as we scale.
  
  We’re also working on at least one new product offering that will expand our organization’s scope a bit, with hopes of rolling that out early into 2024.
  

• A Maturing of Our Operations
  We’ll also continue “growing up” on the operations front, with more and better workflows, clearer visibility into utilization and bandwidth, and doing the necessary work to ensure we are as efficient and effective as possible.
  

• A Focus on Service, Not Scale
  One of the bigger mindset shifts for Year 4 is that growth is not a goal; rather, growth is a result that comes from substantively serving our partners and delivering on the promises we make. As a result, we are doubling down on our focus on driving results for our current partners and continuing to be diligent in evaluating new partnership opportunities to ensure right-fit frameworks are in place.
  

• Continued Patience to Trust the Process and Work the Plan
  We will get to where we’re going in the time and place we’re supposed to. We don’t need to rush anything. We just need to trust the process and work the plan.  

Conclusion

So here’s to Year 3. What a wild one it’s been. 

And no matter what’s in store in Year 4, I’m grateful for the ride.

So thank you for your continued friendship and support. It honestly means the world. 

Here’s to what’s to come! 

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About the Author
Seth is the founder and CEO of Kanahoma, a San Diego-based performance marketing agency on a mission to build a better agency for organizations building a better world.

You can learn more about who we are and what we do at www.Kanahoma.com.