In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with agency-scaling strategist Jesse Gilmore to uncover how service-based business owners can escape the “trap of success,” find their niche, and build rock-solid systems that drive predictable growth without burnout. Jesse breaks down his five-stage growth model, reveals the must-have tech stack for agencies, and even shares the fictional characters and daily rituals that keep him energized.

Key Takeaways

1. The Trap of Success
   • Jesse’s corporate journey eliminating single points of failure inspired his systems-first approach for entrepreneurs.
   • Early wins without systems led to 80-hour workweeks and burnout.
2. Why Niche Is Non-Negotiable
   • Specialists outperform generalists, especially as AI commoditizes broad services.
   • A tightly defined niche cuts through market noise and maximizes client fit.
3. Five Stages of Agency Growth
   • Subject-Matter Expert → Trainer → Manager → Leader → Visionary
   • Each transition requires distinct mindsets, processes, and team structures.
4. Process Before Technology
   • Map and validate workflows visually before you automate.
   • Essential tech categories:
     • CRM: (e.g. Close CRM) for pipeline management
     • Project Management: Trello, ClickUp for task workflows
     • Knowledge Base: Help Scout or similar for SOP documentation
     • Marketing/Prospecting: LinkedIn outreach tools
5. SOP Best Practices
   • Build a high-level “business management system” (the trunk)
   • Define processes as branches, then develop SOP “leaves” with clear “definitions of done.”
6. Fictional Lens & Productivity Hacks
   • Jesse likens himself to a “Yoda-style guide”—empowering clients (the Luke Skywalkers).
   • Daily routine: 5:30 AM start → meditation, stacked journaling, running, green smoothie, family time → work focused 9 AM–4:30 PM.
7. Rapid-Fire Insights
   • Coffee or tea? Coffee, always.
   • Favorite app? Productivity tools and his green-smoothie habit.
   • Morning mantra: Invest daily in Body, Being, Balance, Business.

Resources & Links

• Jesse’s Website: https://www.nicheincontrol.com/
• Join a Masterclass/Event: https://events.nicheincontrol.com/
• Free Guide (“Agency Owner’s Guide to Freedom”): https://www.nicheincontrol.com/free-guide
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessepgilmore/
• MarketSurge: https://marketsurge.io

Timestamped Breakdown

• 0:00 – Introduction & Jesse’s background
• 3:15 – Breaking free from the success trap
• 8:00 – Why agency owners thrive with systems
• 12:30 – The power of niching
• 18:00 – Five-stage growth model explained
• 24:00 – Tech stack essentials & SOP strategy
• 31:00 – Fictional analogies & “Yoda” insight
• 36:00 – Jesse’s daily routines & productivity hacks
• 40:30 – Rapid-fire Q&A
• 45:00 – How to work with Jesse & closing remarks

In this video, we’ll break down how choosing the right ad mix—TikTok, Facebook, and Google Ads—helps your photography business capture awareness, nurture leads, and close bookings without chasing vanity metrics. Whether you’re a boutique portrait studio or a full-service wedding photographer, this is for you if you’re ready to scale up your marketing and sales the smart way.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
• Platform Roles & Stats – Why TikTok builds buzz, Facebook warms leads, and Google converts high-intent searchers
• Real-World Examples – How a studio booked 8 mini-sessions on TikTok and doubled lead gen on Facebook
• Data-Driven Best Practices – From CPM targets to CPC thresholds, plus A/B testing frameworks for continuous optimization

👉 Key Highlights:
✅ TikTok: 1.2B users, 95 min/day watch time, 1–2% click→booking rates
✅ Facebook: $0.97 avg. CPC, 12% click-to-reservation on carousel lead ads
✅ Google: 5.6B searches/day, 4–6% conversion on targeted search + Performance Max

📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn ad spend into a predictable pipeline—using real data, not gut feel—to fill your calendar month after month.

🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

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💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
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🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/

© 2025 MarketSurge. All rights reserved.

In this episode, Pamela Stambaugh, Founder & President of Accountability Pays, Inc., dives deep into:
• Defining true accountability in leadership and why “being” matters more than “doing”
• Turning “soft” people issues into hard data with Harrison Assessments
• Dialogue-driven techniques to foster ownership without finger-pointing

Whether you’re a CEO, manager, or emerging leader—this is for you if you’re ready to elevate your team’s performance, engagement, and results.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
• Leadership vs. Management – How showing up creates discretionary effort
• Data-Driven Suitability – Matching people to roles based on 175 behavioral traits
• Accountable, Awake & Aware – The inner game that powers external impact

👉 Key Highlights:
✅ “Accountable, Awake & Aware” – Center yourself to lead effectively in turbulent times
✅ The 100-Day Rule – Trust-building strategies for new leaders
✅ Exemplary Leadership in Action – Stories from Unilever’s Paul Polman and Chobani’s Hamdi Ulukaya

📈 At MarketSurge, we bring you unfiltered conversations with the most insightful minds in marketing and leadership.

🧠 Want to dive deeper into accountability and culture transformation?
🎯 Connect with Pamela Stambaugh:
• Website: https://accountabilitypays.com
• Email: pstambaugh@accountabilitypays.com

🔗 Useful Links
🌐 MarketSurge: https://marketsurge.io
🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📅 Book Your 15-Minute Value or Free Coffee Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee

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