I’m sure I’m not alone in believing that momentum is critically important to the success (or failure) of an agency. But it’s not just about momentum—it’s about the direction that momentum is taking you. And let’s be honest, sometimes it’s tough to get a grip on that direction when you’re in the heat of it.
When we started MINDSCAPE, we built it on a firm foundation of insecurity. That insecurity didn’t stem from a lack of confidence in our ability to deliver industry-leading results for our clients—it came from the fact that we had never started an agency before. We didn’t fully understand all the work we needed to do, so we spent a lot of time second-guessing ourselves. If you’ve ever launched your own business, I’m sure that admission doesn’t surprise you.
We knew the fundamentals:
- Get clients.
- Design websites with a killer user experience.
- Write the code to bring those designs to life.
- Create content that tells a compelling story and converts visitors into customers.
- Optimize that content so it’s visible in search engines and social media.
What we didn’t immediately realize was how much work went into orchestrating all these moving parts—especially when different team members were responsible for each piece, and every task had critical dependencies on the work of others.
And that’s when it hit us.
The Stand-Up Meeting: A Simple, Effective Habit
One of the first things we did—purely on gut instinct—was to implement short “stand-up” meetings at the start of each day. Nothing fancy. No bells and whistles. Just a quick check-in where each team member shared:
- What they were focused on that day
- If they needed anything from someone else
- If they were stuck and needed help pushing through
For example, someone might say:
“Today, I’m focused on making sure the client’s website is ready to launch by the end of the day. To do that, I’ll need the final content revisions by noon so the team has time to load, proof, and prep for launch.”
This simple shift immediately made a difference. Suddenly, we all had visibility into each other’s priorities. The “surprises” and “stucks” that used to derail projects started to disappear. Team members who might’ve struggled in silence before had a clear and structured way to ask for help.
More Than Just Efficiency—It Strengthened Our Culture
Beyond just keeping projects on track, these daily check-ins did something unexpected—they brought us closer together as a team. Even though the meetings were structured and intentional, we realized that allowing a little space for personal interactions was equally important.
People would share snippets from their weekend or something exciting happening in their life. These small, seemingly insignificant moments helped us stay connected. They also gave us insight into any personal challenges that might be affecting someone’s mindset or productivity.
Finding the Right Balance
Now, I’d love to tell you that these meetings were instantly flawless and highly effective. But I’d be lying. At first, there were days when the “personal sharing” would completely derail the meeting, and we’d struggle to refocus. Other times, the meetings dragged on longer than necessary.
But here’s the thing—over time, we found our rhythm. We tweaked the format, refined the structure, and landed on a balance between accountability and authentic human connection.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success isn’t just about having momentum—it’s about making sure it’s moving you in the right direction. And sometimes, all it takes is a simple daily habit to shift that momentum and set your team up for long-term success.
So if you’re feeling like things are a little chaotic, like momentum is there but direction is missing, try implementing a structured daily check-in. Keep it short, keep it focused, and allow just enough room for the human moments that make a team more than just a collection of tasks.
You might be surprised at how quickly it makes a difference.