One frustration I hear from founders is that running an agency can feel like going round in circles.

Same tasks, same challenges, same hurdles to clear — round and around again.

But it's not a circle, it's a spiral.

Like climbing a spiral staircase.

At each level it can look deceptively similar to where you were before, and the journey ahead can look like the steps you just took.

But with each turn around you're a level higher. Although you may have to be involved in pitches, they're for bigger better projects. Although you may be recruiting, it's a slicker process for better candidates in higher-grade roles, and so on.

As you get back to work at full tilt after the summer — take a moment this week to recognise how many levels up you're operating at now.