We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Matt Sabljak a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Matt, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

The best boss I ever had was the worst boss I ever had. He possessed a lethal combination of laziness, cruelty and high expectations, which forced my partners and me to learn every aspect of running a marketing agency — and a business — via trial by fire: prospecting, pitching, closing, planning, executing, firefighting, collecting as well as hiring, managing, disciplining, firing, etc.

It was Navy SEAL bootcamp for running a small creative agency. We survived it, and we emerged with skills and resiliency that we never would’ve gained working for competent leaders in nurturing environments. We were raised by a wolf.

I wouldn’t do a day of that shit over again; I also wouldn’t give a day of it back, not even the day he threw a chair at me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am one increasingly small part of an agency leadership team.

We’re dream partners for marketing leaders who give a shit, who act like they own their brands. We help them grow by providing consulting, branding, creative and media services as if we’re actually on their team rather than agency parasites.

Creative marketing chose me, as I grew up drawing, reading and writing and then went to film & business school. My grandpa was a commercial artist. My dad is an author, businessman and runs his own agency. My mom is a fierce & hilarious provider. My 10-year-old self would be pleased with the shit I do every day.

Our agency also develops and produces independent films, including the breakout indie of the year “Hundreds of Beavers.” Seriously. Look it up.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’m on a mission to inspire marketing leaders at humble, Midwestern brands to be less humble… to believe they should — and can — build brands and campaigns that make people feel something real.

Beautiful logos and soulful copy don’t save many lives, but they sure make the journey more enjoyable.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

If you feel the need to manage versus lead, something’s wrong with you, or something’s wrong with your team. Or both. Figure that out first.

Once you have the right team, “the secret is there is no secret: it’s just unsexy habits” to borrow a quote from legendary NBA player Ray Allen. You just have to put in the work every day: listening, reading, learning, guiding, empathizing, challenging, inspiring — starting with yourself and extending to everyone else.

Also, fire sh*tty clients before good people on your team fire them first by quitting. You will always lose the long game with sh*tty clients, and that’s the only game that really matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @mattsabljak
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattsabljak/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattsabljak/
• Twitter: @beaversfilm