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Company: Lifeblue
Founders: Phillip Blackmon & Russel Dubree
Year Started: 2006
Employees: 26-50 (Medium)

Welcome to An Agency Story podcast, I’m your host Russel.

In this very special 100th episode of An Agency Story podcast, I’m very grateful to be joined by the one and only Phillip Blackmon, the Co-Founder and CEO of Lifeblue, based in Dallas, Texas.

And for those that don’t know, Lifeblue is the agency that Phillip and I founded together almost 18 long years ago.

In this episode, we discuss our journey from the early days of Lifeblue, where a scrappy start in a rundown cotton mill fueled our passion to create meaningful digital experiences for clients. Learn how we went from almost down and out to our unique approach to transforming physical spaces into dynamic digital platforms and made a name for ourselves in Dallas and beyond.

Phillip shares his perspective on the pivotal moments that shaped the agency, including the time a hawk made an unexpected visit to our office. Just another tale in the unpredictable yet rewarding path of entrepreneurship.

Tune in to hear Phillip and I’s story of innovation, resilience, and the lessons learned from navigating the challenges of growing a digital agency.

Enjoy the story.

Show Notes Insights

Adaptability and Evolution are Crucial: This episode emphasizes the importance of remaining agile and willing to evolve as a business. Lifeblue’s success was partly due to their ability to continuously adapt, not just every five years, but as needed to stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry. For agency owners, this underscores the need to stay flexible, embrace change, and continually reassess your business strategy to ensure long-term growth and relevance.

Focus on Building Strong Client Relationships: Lifeblue’s approach to deeply understanding and integrating with their clients' needs, particularly by immersing themselves in their clients' cultures, was a significant factor in their success. Phillip shared that making every client meeting the highlight of their clients' day helped build trust and long-lasting partnerships. Agency owners can learn from this by prioritizing client relationships and focusing on delivering not just services but memorable and valuable experiences.

Balance Growth with Sustainability: The episode highlights the challenges of balancing rapid growth with maintaining the core values and sustainability of the business. Phillip reflected on the importance of not overextending resources, particularly when expanding into new areas like SaaS. For agency owners, this insight emphasizes the need to grow at a pace that allows you to maintain quality, uphold your brand’s reputation, and ensure the well-being of your team.