Yesterday I did a 60-minute live stream on the topic of Adapt or Die: How To Reinvent Your Agency or Consultancy for the AI Age.

Here is the link to the replay, you can access it only during this week.
Next week, I kick off a cohort for SimpleOS™ where entrepreneurs come to reinvent their business, and build a simple, scalable operating system.

Main Topics & Content Ideas from the Talk

The AI Imperative: Adapt or Die

  • Why agencies and consultancies face an existential choice.
  • The death of the “hours × people × rate” business model.
  • AI as a nervous system of business (not just a set of tools).
  • Linear vs. non-linear growth in the AI age.

The Five Core Shifts

  1. Amplified Intelligence – AI as a creative partner, not just productivity.
  2. Revisiting Business Hypotheses – Questioning pricing, positioning, and offerings.
  3. Systems Before Scale – Why growth without systems = growing problems.
  4. The Money Equation – Six levers that determine profit.
  5. AI as a Growth Multiplier – Using AI across all six levers.

The Money Equation

👉 Try the Calculator: originalminds.co/themoneyequation

  • The Equation: Leads × Conversion × Deal Value × Retention × Margin – OPEX = Profit.
  • Only six levers matter for growth.
  • How small improvements compound massively - small tweaks across six levers can double your profits.
  • Why most agencies overcomplicate growth (and the math that simplifies it).

From Craft to Delivery System

  • The McDonald’s analogy: better burger vs. better delivery system.
  • The hidden “assembly line” in every agency.
  • Standardizing vs. killing creativity (hint: it doesn’t).
  • “Most agencies are running a circus, not a business.”
  • “The invisible assembly line in your business (and how to fix it).”
  • “Productization doesn’t mean commoditization—it means freedom.”

Case Example: Sarah and The Brand Consultancy

  • “From random referrals to predictable growth: a case study.”
  • $1M revenue, 10% profit, maxed out.
  • -50% decline in inbound pitches
  • Reliance on random referrals, bespoke proposals, no system.
  • Apply the money equation + AI → doubles revenue, 6x profit.


Look at what happens at the Operating Profit Level. From 105k to 605k.

Strategic Foundation

  • The existential positioning question: Why should they choose you today and tomorrow?
  • Narrowing focus for relevance.
  • 80/20 analysis to identify profitable clients and offerings
  • How to find the 20% of clients that create 80% of your profit.

Practical AI Integration

  • Break down processes (reach, connect, activate).
  • Ask: How can AI help at each step?
  • Tools are secondary—strategy comes first.
  • “Don’t start with AI tools. Start with your processes.”
  • “How I generated 3,000 leads in two weeks with AI + content.”

Management & Scaling

  • Why you need a management system, not just more marketing.
  • AI + tracking → focus on the right levers.
  • Collaboration > solo effort (Boundless model).
  • “Stop playing whack-a-mole: build a management system instead.”
  • “Why agencies that refuse to collaborate will be crushed.”

BIG BONUS AT THE END OF THE VIDEO

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Written by

Tobias Dahlberg
Tobias Dahlberg
Tobias is the Founder of Original Minds. Tobias started in marketing roles at Nike and Coca-Cola, later he founded a brand consultancy and eight other professional service firms. He has consulted ad advised 1000+ creative entrepreneurs.

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