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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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Welcome to the Force & Friction Podcast, where we break down what really moves the needle in GTM, RevOps, AI, partnerships, and SaaS growth.
Today, we're talking to a true serial entrepreneur who was fired by his father, started an agency in the middle of a recession, and grew it into a three-time Inc. 500 company.
I'm joined by Jon Tsourakis, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Ayova, to get his unconventional playbook for the agency world.
Jon is a seasoned strategist who has built, scaled, and sold multiple businesses. What makes his story stand out is his ability to organize chaos and simplify the complex, a skill forged in the fires of economic downturns and high-stakes business environments.
From navigating the brutal realities of the agency world, Jon's journey is a masterclass in resilience and straight-talking leadership. He cuts through the noise to deliver practical, battle-tested advice for agency owners who are tired of the same old playbook.
We get into the terrifying state of the agency market, why most agencies are set to fail, the uncomfortable truths about success, and Jon's no-nonsense approach to sales, mergers, and building a team of "solutionists."
Here are the core areas we discuss in today's episode:
1. The State of the Agency World: A Terrifying Convergence
2. The Uncomfortable Truth: Get Off Your Ass and Do Something
3. The "Solutionist" Mindset: Stop Pointing Out Problems
4. The Merger Playbook: A Strategy for Growth, Not a Magic Bullet
5. The Future of Agencies: Deep Specialization and Coaching
Final Thoughts:
Jon's story is a powerful reminder that there are no shortcuts to success. Forged in the crucible of a recession, his playbook is built on a foundation of hard work, uncomfortable truths, and a relentless focus on solving problems.
His advice for agency owners is simple but not easy: stop looking for a magic bullet, be honest with yourself, and do the work that others are unwilling to do.
Whether it's picking up the phone to make a cold call or having the courage to merge with a competitor, survival and growth in today's market demand a level of grit and resilience that can't be automated.
As Jon makes clear, the agencies that thrive will be the ones that stop being order-takers and start being indispensable partners—the solutionists who can navigate chaos, push their clients to be better, and deliver real, measurable results.
Learn more at www.forceandfrictionpodcast.com
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