Operation Agency Freedom - The #1 Podcast for Digital Agency Owners in North America
186 episodes - English - Latest episode: 25 days ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsOperation Agency Freedom is the #1 Podcast for Digital Agency Owners in North America. We are bringing you top secret advice from the world's most badass digital agency owners and influencers. These amazing men and women are sharing their stories of how they have build 6, 7, and 8-figure digital agencies and how you can, too! If you are a digital agency owner in North America and want to grow your digital agency then you will want to listen to this show!
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Episodes
Why You Need to Work at a Fast Food Place to Develop Great SOPs
April 04, 2024 07:00 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBHey Dude! This week's episode of Operation Agency Freedom is all about an unlikely source of inspiration for creating amazing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). I will be sharing my experiences working at a fast food restaurant as a teenager and reveal the invaluable lessons I learned about processes and systems from my time at Chuck E. Cheese, and how the restaurant's stringent SOPs contributed to its success, and how these practices can be applied to marketing agencies like yours! I...
How AI Reshapes Marketing Strategies
March 28, 2024 07:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBIn episode 151, I sat down with the dynamic Mike Arce, founder of Loud Rumor and a trailblazer transforming how gym owners manage and grow their businesses. Today, he's here to share his innovative approach to revamping profit and loss statements, diving deep into numbers like customer acquisition costs and lifetime value to bring real financial literacy to the fitness industry. Mike made the leap from ad agency to business consultancy, broadening his team's skill set with wealth managers,...
How Company Culture Helps to Train Your Team
March 21, 2024 07:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBHey Dude! In today's episode of Operation Agency Freedom,I'll be diving into the crucial topic of how company culture plays a key role in training your team effectively. You should already know that hiring the wrong people can cost your agency a fortune, so it's vital to establish a framework for hiring and training based on your company's core values and culture. I'll be breaking down the misconception of company culture being all about perks like ping pong tables and happy hours, and inste...
The Blessed Entrepreneur: Faith, Business and Marketing
March 14, 2024 07:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBHey DUDES! We're tackling a real hot topic in today's episode of Operation Agency Freedom– the mix of Christianity and business, and yeah, it can be just as thorny as it sounds. We're spinning quite a yarn with my buddy Billy Sticker, dropping some serious wisdom on the not-so-saintly side of exploiting faith in the entrepreneurial world. We're diving headlong into some of the shadier practices lurking in Christian circles where faith is less about love and service and more about manipulat...
10 Things You Must Do For A Proper Employee Onboarding
March 07, 2024 08:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBHey Dude! In today's episode of Operation Agency Freedom, we're diving into the essential steps for a proper employee onboarding process. I'm going to walk you through the ten crucial elements you need to include when bringing on a new team member, from preparation and warm welcomes to training, check-ins, and social interaction. Missing any one of these steps could cost you time and money, and leave your new hire feeling out of place and unprepared. So, I'm breaking down each step and sha...
How to Take Control of Your Profit
February 29, 2024 08:00 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBIn today's episode of Operation Agency Freedom, we have a VERY special guest, Oyuki Gallegos, who is an expert in agency finances and happens to be my wife. With nearly 20 years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting, Oyuki shares invaluable insights on agency finances, best practices, and common mistakes made by agency owners. The episode covers the concept of profitability per client, emphasizing the importance of tracking the cost of goods sold and ensuring a healthy margin on each...
The Exact Formula to Determine Churn Impact on Your Income
February 22, 2024 08:00 - 16 minutes - 15 MBAre you aware of how much more money you could be making by just keeping your clients happy? Well, in today's episode of Operation Agency Freedom, I will be breaking down the EXACT formula to determine how your churn rate impacts your income! Let's dive into the importance of client retention in the agency business model together and I'll share with you this very simple formula to calculate the lifetime customer value based on your churn rate. The significance of maintaining a low churn ra...
How To Get Over Your Fear of Making Money
February 15, 2024 08:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MB🤠 Howdy, y'all! Chris Martinez here with a new episode of Operation Agency Freedom! Today I'm wearing my special cowboy hat and plaid shirt since I'll be diving into the taboo subject of money. I'll share my personal experiences growing up in a household with a scarcity mindset and highlight the importance of taking responsibility for understanding and managing finances as an adult and a business owner. I challenge the negative perceptions around wealth and emphasize the possibilities of ma...
Why Cost of Goods Sold is the Most Important Financial Metric I look at
February 08, 2024 08:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBHey there, dudes! In today's episode of Operation Agency Freedom, we're diving into the nitty-gritty of agency finance. I know, it might not sound like the most thrilling topic, but trust me, it is the most important financial metric when it comes to growing your agency's profitability. When growing a marketing agency, the first thing that we do is we look at the numbers. And the most important metric that I've seen is cost of goods sold - the ultimate metric that I swear by for evaluating...
Are Your Clients More Than Just Numbers?
February 01, 2024 08:00 - 39 minutes - 35.7 MBHey there, Dudes! Brace yourselves for an enlightening chat with Josh Crouch from Relentless Digital, who's dropping by to share his incredible growth secrets that can transform how you navigate client relations and team training in today's episode. Josh reveals how he's balancing high-quality with high-value clients; it's like a tightrope walk over grand canyons of client churn – thrilling, right? Curious about discipline and strategy in business? Josh swears by EOS and coaching to squash...
How to Achieve Effective Decision-Making
January 25, 2024 08:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBWelcome back, DUDES! Chris here, and in today's episode of #OperationAgencyFreedom I go into detail about a powerful strategy of decision-making that you should be implementing within your agency. The focus is clear: making decisions based on identifying the team member with the highest probability of holding the key to the right answer. Let me tell you how Ray Dalio's book, "Principles," has inspired me and the transformative impact this approach can have on your agency's success. Learn ...
Nailing Your Niche Locally with Nick Ponte
January 17, 2024 16:00 - 40 minutes - 37.7 MBHey DUDES! In today’s episode of Operation Agency Freedom, we're diving deep into the world of regional agency marketing as a niche, with the man himself, Nick Ponte! Nick hails from the beautiful shores of Maui and he's here to drop some serious knowledge bombs on building a successful agency by tapping into the culture and heartbeat of your local community. We're peeling back the layers of the agency onion and getting real about what works, what doesn't, and how to laugh in the face of a...
Readiness Indicators for Managers
January 10, 2024 16:00 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBHey, DUDES! Today's episode of Operation Agency Freedom is all about the crucial topic of employee readiness, particularly when it comes to hiring managers. We're going to walk you through four of the six readiness indicators to help you make informed decisions and avoid costly hiring mistakes. From evaluating current job performance to assessing core values, and even taking a look at the controversial aspect of checking a candidate's credit score, we've got it all covered. If you're a bus...
The Future of Small Agencies
January 03, 2024 16:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBFeeling a bit curious about how AI's shaking up the agency world and the future of small agencies? You're in the right place, my friend. This one's a goldmine - Kasim Aslam drops by to chat about the wild ride of selling his company, Solutions Eight, to an AI-backed titan. Get this - the journey was more about aligning with the universe than just cashing in big. And the best part? He's sticking around as the CEO. We're gonna dive deep into how small agencies can stay afloat (spoiler: thi...
Ted Lasso Business and Why You Should Be Curious and Not Judgmental
December 27, 2023 16:00 - 13 minutes - 13 MBIn today's episode, I'm taking a little break from my usual content to dive into the wonderful world of Ted Lasso. If you've never seen the show, you're missing out! I'll be discussing a particular scene from Ted Lasso and the valuable business lessons it holds for us. You'll witness a game of darts that leads to a profound exchange and a lesson in avoiding judgment and embracing curiosity. I'll reveal how the scene teaches us to deal with difficult people in business and imparts leadershi...
How you make your money is more important than how much
December 20, 2023 16:00 - 24 minutes - 28.3 MBWelcome back to another episode of Operation Agency Freedom! Today we're tackling a topic that hits close to home for every entrepreneur out there: why how you make your money matters more than how much you make. Too often, we see the digital marketing world tainted by scammers who promise the moon and deliver nothing but disappointment. It's a tough landscape out there, and it's led to a serious trust issue in our industry. But I'm here to tell you that there's another way, a path def...
Is Your Agency Ready for Rapid Monthly Revenue Growth?
December 13, 2023 16:00 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBIn Today's episode we've unlocked the secrets to epic growth with Austin Irabor of Netfly Digital. In just 18 months, Austin catapulted his agency's revenue from $30,000 to $530,000 per month by focusing on high-ticket legal clients. Austin's transformative journey proves that with the right relationships and a tailored digital marketing playbook, any agency can achieve freedom and scale. Discussion Points 00:00 Intro 06:30 Created game plans, launched agency, transitioned niches. ...
How to Deal with Stubborn Managers
December 06, 2023 16:00 - 18 minutes - 17.8 MBIt's Chris here, and in today's episode of Operation Agency Freedom, we delved into the art of dealing with stubborn managers and leaders. Whether you're struggling to get through to a strong-willed manager or striving to enhance your own leadership skills, this episode is packed with valuable insights and strategies to empower you to navigate such situations effectively. In this episode, I shared practical tips on how to engage with stubborn managers, fostering constructive dialogue, and ...
Cracking the Branding Code: Lessons Learned from Cliff Pollard's Agency Journey
November 29, 2023 22:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBWelcome back to Operation Agency Freedom! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Cliff Pollard, a branding expert with an intriguing journey. Without a conventional agency background, Cliff has cracked the branding code and shifted the paradigm in his business, Unlimited Fix. Cliff shares his expertise on the importance of brand polish and how it reflects on the service provided by a company. We discuss the need for a discovery and strategy phase in branding, as well as the significance...
Work Life Balance
November 22, 2023 22:00 - 16 minutes - 15.8 MBWelcome back to Operation Agency Freedom! In today's episode, I dive deep into the highly debated topic of work-life balance. I explore the various perspectives and opinions swirling around social media and offer a unique take on finding your own definition of balance. Whether you believe in the "hustle and grind" mentality or the need to prioritize relaxation and family time, this episode will challenge your thinking and provide insights on creating a fulfilling work-life balance as an en...
Attracting Talent with Shared Values: Building a Team that Aligns with Your Agency's Mission with Mike Brevik
November 15, 2023 22:00 - 44 minutes - 41.6 MBMike Brevick has fascinating insights on scaling an agency with a focus on retaining its unique values. In this episode, I spoke with Mike about him transitioning from a one-man show to delegating and leading a team. We also discuss the significance of work-life balance, setting boundaries, and the importance of trust within a team. Don't miss out as Mike sheds light on sticking to a plan amid pressures, hiring specialists instead of seeking unicorns, and empowering team members to excel...
When To Talk About Politics in Your Agency
August 04, 2022 13:00 - 11 minutes - 16 MBDiscussing politics and divisive topics in the workplace are tricky since it can damage interpersonal relationships, create anger, divide people, and hurt the overall culture of your company. Externally, if you take a stand against something as a company you can risk losing customers who don’t agree with your viewpoints. I’m usually one to keep politics/religion/personal viewpoints out of business altogether, but every once in a while you have to take a stand for your team and for the...
Are You Paying Too Little or Too Much
July 28, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 23.6 MBFiguring out how much to pay your team members can be challenging. But it's crucial to keep them happy and engaged with their work. That's why I'm going to help you figure out whether you're paying your team members too much or too little in today's episode, so you can finally get it right. What I'm going to share with you will help you avoid driving away your employees by underpaying them and going bankrupt by overpaying them. So if you want to learn the best tips I have for figuring...
Why You Need Job Descriptions
July 21, 2022 13:00 - 12 minutes - 17.9 MBHave you been wondering why you can’t get the most out of your team members? Or are your employees asking when they’ll be ready for that big promotion? Well the answer might be something a lot more straight forward than you originally thought…you need JOB DESCRIPTIONS! As someone who has seen first-hand how job descriptions can massively impact an agency's business growth, let me tell you one thing. Job descriptions aren't just a bureaucratic hoop to jump through – they’re one of...
Why You Need To Treat Your Hiring Funnel Like A Marketing Funnel
July 14, 2022 13:00 - 15 minutes - 22 MBIf a marketing funnel can help you drive your audience into paying customers, did you know that there's also a hiring funnel that can help you drive a potential candidate into one of the best team members for your agency? In today's episode, I'm going to share the hiring funnel we've created from scratch over the past five years to help you find the perfect candidate you're looking for. This is a tried and tested process that has helped dozens of agency owners like you bring on amazing p...
Two Massive Mistakes Agencies are Making in Their Hiring Process
July 07, 2022 13:00 - 7 minutes - 10.5 MBMaking mistakes in your hiring process can be costly – not only in terms of time and resources but also in the quality of the team you end up with. So for today's episode, I'm going to talk about the two massive mistakes agencies are making in their hiring process and how you can avoid them. By avoiding these two mistakes, you'll be able to find the best talent for your agency and make sure they're a good fit for your team. If you're interested in learning what these pitfalls are so y...
How to Know If You Have The Right Person
June 30, 2022 13:00 - 20 minutes - 28 MBWondering if you have the right people in your agency? You're not alone. It's a question that crosses the minds of business owners all the time. That’s why in today's episode, I'm going to share with you how you can determine whether or not you have the right people in your company. After all, your agency is only as good as the team you put together. So how can you be sure you've got the best people for the job? If you're interested in learning the framework that will help you factual...
The 4 Things You Need Every Time You Hit A Plateau in Your Agency
June 23, 2022 13:00 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBYou’ve got big plans for your agency. You know you have the potential to have a big agency that gives you the life of your dreams - but you know there’s something you don’t know that is holding you back. You can feel it. We all hit plateaus in our businesses. It sucks, but it happens to the best of us. That's why in today's episode, I'm going to share with you the 4 things you must focus on every time you hit a plateau in your agency. So if you're interested in knowing how these four t...
Best Practices for Submitting a Design Request
June 16, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 23.4 MBWe all know that good design leads to good business. But do you know how to make a successful design submission that will make both you and your designer happy? In today's episode, we're going to talk about the best practices when submitting a design project to a designer straight from our design team. I highly suggest you take notes because these best practices can save you 30 to 40 hours of production time a year. Can you imagine what you could've done with those hours? So if you hav...
Best Client Gift Ideas 2022
June 09, 2022 13:00 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MBGiving gifts on top of the excellent service you deliver makes clients happy, and we all know that satisfied clients mean better chances for positively boosting your business. In today's episode, I'm going to talk about everything you need to know about giving gifts to your clients. Think of gift ideas, the best places you could find gifts when to send them, how to schedule them out, and everything in between. So if you want to learn the best gift-giving tips so you can make a massive ...
You Must Be Able to Answer This One Question About Your Team Members
June 02, 2022 13:00 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBEvery agency owner wants to have an amazing team that will help drive the business forward, but the question is, do you also have the amazing ability to lead this team? For today's episode, I'm going to talk about something that's very important, and that is, the number one question you must be able to answer if you want to manage your team effectively. In today's day and age, your ability to lead will make or break your agency, and it's your responsibility to become the best leader th...
The Top Red Flags When Interviewing Candidates
May 26, 2022 13:00 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBAll entrepreneurs and agency owners I know never want to make a bad hire and regret it later on. I'm sure I made every hiring mistake imaginable back in the day. But now that I've learned my lesson, I want you to avoid making the same costly mistakes I did. In this episode, I'm going to share with you the top red flags you need to look out for when evaluating candidates.The things you're going to learn here could mean the difference between finding your dream employee or ending up with s...
The Proven Framework for Training New Team Members
May 19, 2022 13:00 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBOne of the struggles of agency owners is training new team members after they've been hired. But did you know that there's a process you can implement to get your new hire to speed quickly so they can start contributing to your agency right away? In today's episode, I'm going to share with you a very simple framework to train your new team members that have been proven to work time and again. So if you're hiring people right now or if you have team members that you feel like you haven'...
5 Things That Make 7-Figure Agencies Profitable and Successful
May 12, 2022 13:00 - 17 minutes - 25.9 MBStruggling to grow your agency into a 7-figure or even a multiple 7-figure business? Last month, I attended an in-person mastermind out in Miami and I got to sit and talk with a lot of agency folks who run 7-figure and even multiple 7-figure agencies. And guess what? In today's episode, I'm going to share with you the top 5 takeaways or the top 5 things that are common with these agencies that made their business profitable and successful. So if you're struggling to get to a 7-figure m...
Discover the 8 Business Habits Every Entrepreneur Needs to Have with Daryl Urbanski
May 05, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBDo you want to learn what science considers the success factors of businesses? In the episode, Darryl Urbanski shares the outstanding research they've done about habit building and performance optimization that could help individuals skyrocket their business success. We also talk about what motivated him to do the study, the team of researchers behind it, the tools they've used, and the excellent results they got from it. If you're interested to learn the 8 habits you need to focus on so...
Why You Have A Responsibility to Take Care of Your Mental Health as an Agency CEO
April 28, 2022 13:00 - 19 minutes - 18.6 MBDo you want to know one of the most important things that helped me grow my business and hugely impacted my life? In today's episode, I'm going to talk about a very sensitive topic that I have never heard anybody talk about in the agency space and that is mental health. I'm certainly not perfect but I've made a conscious effort to work on my mental health and now, I want to share with you what has worked for me. If you're an agency owner or an entrepreneur dealing with difficult situat...
Why I Love Hiring in Mexico & Latin America
April 21, 2022 13:00 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBIf everybody is looking for talent in the same location, then the labor rates will certainly go up due to supply and demand. When I first started my digital agency my team was based in the Philippines. Eventually, I moved all my operations to Tijuana, Mexico, and it was an absolute game-changer. This is why I love finding talent in hidden places, especially Mexico and Latin America, because they are an untapped resources that not many digital agencies know about. If you’re an agency o...
What it Means When Your Churn Rate is Too High & How to Fix It
April 14, 2022 12:00 - 22 minutes - 21 MBBetween myself and other multi-agency owners like you, we can all agree that churn in the business is an issue. Low churn rate, and client cancellations, are typical for those who break several 7-figure rates. In today’s episode, I talk about all the things you can do to lower your churn rate and grow your agency. So, if you’re looking to reduce those cancellations and fix your churn rate, you’re going to want to listen in. Discussion Points: 00:00 - Intro 05:55 - How to Calcul...
How Robert Craven’s Unique Framework (and British charm) Helps Agencies to Scale Profitably
April 11, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBAgency owners are notorious for not paying themselves enough. They can also struggle to scale their business and incomes, whilst continuing to serve their clients at the same time. I chat with Robert Craven, managing director of The Directors’ Centre and founder of GYDA Initiative, and we uncover his unique, innovative strategy for assisting agencies in effectively scaling their businesses. If you’re an agency owner looking for the answer to make your agency profitable and grow massively, ...
Why Gig Workers Screw You Over 90% of the Time
March 31, 2022 13:00 - 13 minutes - 13 MB9 times out of 10, those temporary gig workers that you find on sites like Fiverr or Upwork never work out. The real battle as an agency owner in 2022 is not mastering the technology. It's mastering how to find great talent that can contribute to your team's success. So if you want to know the main reason why gig workers from sites like Fiverr or Upwork never work out and how you can find a solution to this problem, then you're going to want to listen to this episode! Discussion Po...
Kill The Term Virtual Assistant and Replace it With This
March 24, 2022 13:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MBAre you still using the term virtual assistant when looking for someone to help you in your business remotely? “Virtual assistant” is an outdated term that I absolutely want to kill. Times have changed, and so has the way we work. Some people think that virtual assistants are people who can do anything because they are in a different part of the world. But this isn't true. They are just like any other person. They have strengths and weaknesses, and they can't do everything. We need to sto...
5 Reasons You Are Driving Your Employees to Quit
March 17, 2022 13:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBAre you driving your employees to quit? Like most agency owners, I kind of started out as a terrible manager. I've made so many mistakes when it comes to managing people. I know that I’ve lost great people because I sucked at managing them. I’m not a born leader; this was definitely something I had to learn over time. Not necessarily a fun topic to talk about but the reality is – retaining your employees is one of the most important keys for your agency this 2022. If you’re recognising t...
How to Survive In 2022
March 10, 2022 13:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBHere’s a secret. The things that helped with the success of your business up until 2021, aren’t going to work anymore. Just like many business owners, I can feel the new changes that are arising in the digital agency space. You’re probably thinking, “Chris, how are we going to get through 2022?” It’s crucial that you are equipped with the essential strategies to get your digital agency from surviving to thriving. Are you experiencing slowdowns in leads? Are your close rates aren’t where the...
KPIs for Your Agency’s Operations Team
October 07, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBDo you want to manage your agency’s operations team more effectively? Managing a team, regardless of size, is always challenging. I know of this dilemma as I went from a small team of 12 to 90 people at DUDE. What you’ll need, though, are the right KPIs to make the management of your agency’s operations team possible. These KPIs are essential to track and gauge their performance and find the right solutions when issues arise. This, then, sets you and your operations team ...
KPIs for Your Customer Experience Team
September 30, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBAre you concerned about keeping your customers happy and satisfied with your agency’s service? Your customer experience team plays a very important role to accomplish that. You see, after suffering a 16% customer churn rate, our customer experience team managed to get it down to 2%. And this has dramatically changed our agency business for the best. Now, if you’re interested in learning how we, at DUDE, measure our customer experience team’s success and know the KPIs that we have pl...
How Shaun Clark Is Revolutionizing the Agency Space With This Remarkable All-In-One Software
September 23, 2021 09:00 - 32 minutes - 30.4 MBJumping from one sales and marketing tool to another is time-consuming (and annoying, too). You want a solution that allows you to do everything on a single platform. This is exactly what High Level is about. It’s an all-in-one sales and marketing platform built exclusively for agencies. Shaun Clark, creator and co-founder of the said software, shares how High Level is revolutionizing the agency space. He talks about how his software company grew to 10,000+ users now, wh...
How to Maintain a Healthy Mindset as a Leader During Difficult Times
September 16, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 25.1 MBThese are difficult times. And as a leader who has a team that’s depending on you, you can’t just quit. It is your responsibility to keep going. This is why it’s so important that you have the right mindset. It is what’s going to help you navigate through the challenges that these times bring. In this podcast episode, Chris Martinez, talks about the importance of having the right mindset during difficult times. His message is specifically for leaders who have teams depending on them. ...
How to Price Out Website Projects to Maximize Agency Profit
September 09, 2021 14:15 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBProfitability should be an agency business’s focus from the outset. The challenge, however, is that a lot of agency owners struggle with maximizing profits especially with their website projects. One of the biggest reasons for this dilemma is undercharging. And we’re not just talking about undercharging by a couple of bucks, but by the thousands of dollars. But just like any other problem this has a solution. In this podcast episode, Chris teaches how agency owners can start charging f...
How to Grow Your MRR to 6 Figures in 60 Days
September 02, 2021 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBJuly was one of our slowest sales months, but it wasn’t a reason for us to freak out. We knew we had the money needed to cover everything so we can continue running our agency business. This sounds like a dream for most agency owners, but the reality is you can also get to this point. You can sleep soundly, too, knowing that every month revenue will come through the door. How? You ask? This is what Chris Martinez talks about in this podcast. He shares tried and proven ways you can generat...
Strategies to Grow Your Brand Up to $50 Million
August 26, 2021 15:28 - 23 minutes - 55.6 MBScaling your business is challenging if you don’t know where to begin and what to do. But with consistency and willpower, gaining millions in revenue is achievable. However, you don’t have to spend all of your time working for your agency to the extent you don’t have time to build relationships and have a fun and healthy lifestyle anymore. In this episode, Chris Martinez and Ezra Firestone talk about the strategies in growing a huge brand. Plus, Ezra discusses how tracking your finances he...