The Journey with Morgan DeBaun: Live Coaching with Morgan – Lane’s Shift from Operator to Strategic CEO
Release Date: April 15, 2025
In this insightful episode of "The Journey with Morgan DeBaun," host Morgan DeBaun engages in a transformative live coaching session with Lane, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 14 years of experience in the branding and marketing sector. The discussion delves into Lane's evolution from being the operator of her agency to aspiring to become a strategic CEO, alongside her ambitions of launching a tech startup named Branjelica.
1. Introduction
Morgan welcomes Lane to the show, acknowledging her extensive entrepreneurial background and celebrating her 14th year in business.
Quote:
"[Lane:] Technically I'm only 14. That's why I look so young."
[01:18]
2. Lane’s Entrepreneurial Journey
Lane shares her journey from starting as a copywriter to evolving into a branding and marketing specialist. She emphasizes her passion for helping businesses build and bring their visions to life, highlighting her experience with both small businesses and larger corporate clients.
Key Points:
- Evolution of Expertise: Transition from copywriting to content creation, and eventually to branding and marketing.
- Family Legacy: Inspired by entrepreneurial ancestors, fostering a deep-seated entrepreneurial spirit.
- Impact: Significant contributions to clients’ growth, leveraging creativity and technical skills.
Quote:
"[Lane:] I get to help somebody with a website and figure out, you know, how to make their website look great and represent their company."
[03:05]
3. Current Business Structure
Lane describes her agency, "Jones Lane Agency," detailing her team composition and client management strategies. She employs a "Celine Mean Machine," a small team comprising copywriters, graphic designers, video editors, and content managers. Lane strategically balances between servicing small businesses and larger corporate clients, ensuring scalability and consistent quality.
Key Points:
- Team Composition: Small, specialized teams tailored per client.
- Client Diversification: Balancing small businesses with high-paying corporate clients.
- Strategy: Maintaining long-term relationships with corporate clients, fostering stability.
Quote:
"[Lane:] I try to keep it small. I try to have a small percentage of smaller businesses, and then I take that back. A larger percentage of smaller business and a small percentage of bigger businesses."
[05:22]
4. Challenges in Transitioning Roles
Morgan and Lane discuss the inherent challenges in shifting from being an operator to a strategic CEO. Lane identifies her struggle with maintaining a personal social media presence, despite her agency’s strength in branding, and her desire to focus more on strategic growth rather than operational tasks.
Key Points:
- Time Management: Balancing multiple roles and responsibilities.
- Personal Branding: Lane’s hesitance to promote her own brand despite her agency’s success.
- Delegation: Realizing the need to hire a project manager to offload operational tasks.
Quote:
"[Lane:] I'm not the person that gets like in front of the camera all the time. I'm usually the person behind the scenes."
[08:46]
5. Strategic Shift to Strategic CEO
Morgan guides Lane through redefining her role from handling day-to-day operations to focusing on strategic initiatives. The conversation emphasizes the importance of hiring key personnel, such as a project manager, to free up Lane’s time for higher-level strategic planning and client acquisition.
Key Points:
- Role Definition: Transitioning from operator to owner, focusing on vision and strategy.
- Hiring Strategy: Importance of recruiting a capable project manager to handle operational tasks.
- Focus on Growth: Shifting attention from maintaining existing clients to acquiring larger, more impactful ones.
Quote:
"[Morgan:] So that's my job. I enjoy that. And then over here. Oh, somebody quit over here. We didn't expect to quit. Gotta whack it. Gotta hire somebody else. Right. So that's my job. I enjoy that."
[18:04]
6. Launching Branjelica: Lane’s Startup
Lane introduces her startup, Branjelica, a tech solution designed to help enterprise-level clients manage and organize their online files more efficiently. Built as a blend of project management and file storage, Branjelica aims to streamline team collaboration and reduce chaos in file handling across dispersed teams.
Key Points:
- Product Concept: An AI-driven tool for better file management and organization.
- Target Audience: Enterprise-level clients with geographically dispersed teams.
- Development Challenges: Navigating product development amidst existing business commitments.
Quote:
"[Lane:] She will be like a digital AI on your team. A digital team member helping you stay organized with your files."
[30:40]
7. Overcoming Startup Obstacles
Morgan and Lane address the hurdles Lane faces in bringing Branjelica to market, including securing venture funding and balancing startup development with her established agency. Morgan advises focusing on building a viable product for customers rather than solely aiming for investor approval, emphasizing the importance of generating revenue through the product itself.
Key Points:
- Funding Strategies: Differentiating between building for investors versus building for customers.
- Time Management: Allocating time effectively between agency operations and startup development.
- Mentorship vs. Advisory: Seeking advisors with relevant startup experience over traditional mentors.
Quote:
"[Morgan:] So focus on the business. And you're a business owner. That's much easier than saying, how do I raise money? And what's the paycheck look like?"
[37:45]
8. Actionable Steps and Recommendations
Morgan provides Lane with a clear pathway to transition into her desired role and advance her startup. Key recommendations include:
- Hire a Project Manager: Delegate operational tasks to focus on strategic growth.
- Refine Frameworks: Ensure clarity in branding and marketing strategies to reduce mental load.
- Seek Specialized Advisors: Engage with advisors who have hands-on startup and funding experience.
- Focus on Product Development: Prioritize building a customer-ready product to generate revenue independently of venture funding.
Quote:
"[Morgan:] So, you need to build it, you need to hire an engineer, you need to find the engineer and you need money to pay the engineer."
[35:39]
9. Conclusion
The episode concludes with Lane expressing renewed clarity and motivation to implement Morgan's strategies. She acknowledges the importance of focusing internally on product development and leveraging her existing strengths to achieve both her agency’s growth and the successful launch of Branjelica.
Quote:
"[Lane:] I love this. You know what that does is it lets me be my introverted self. Focus internally right now."
[38:03]
Key Takeaways
- Strategic Delegation: Transitioning from operational roles to strategic leadership requires effective delegation and hiring.
- Focus on Core Strengths: Leveraging existing expertise to foster growth in both established businesses and new ventures.
- Product-Centric Approach: Building a viable product that meets customer needs can drive sustainable revenue without over-reliance on external funding.
- Specialized Guidance: Engaging with advisors who possess relevant, hands-on experience can provide tailored solutions to specific business challenges.
Final Thoughts
Morgan DeBaun's coaching session with Lane serves as a valuable guide for entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of scaling their businesses and launching new ventures. Lane’s journey underscores the significance of strategic role shifts, effective team management, and focused product development in achieving long-term success.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave a review and follow "The Journey with Morgan DeBaun" on Instagram and YouTube for more empowering conversations.