There comes a point in your career when you have to decide what matters most. For me, it was never about selling more. It was never about chasing the next title. And it certainly wasn't about learning how to navigate more corporate bureaucracy. It was about keeping my integrity intact, serving clients the right way, and working alongside people who share those values.
That's what led me to 8 East Agency.
After more than 20 years in account management and business development, and the last decade dedicated to marketing, I've learned something important: trust is everything.
Not the kind of trust that's built through slick presentations or perfectly crafted sales pitches. The kind that's earned over years of showing up, solving problems, and genuinely caring about the success of the people you serve.
It's also why I've never been particularly comfortable being called a salesperson. That's probably a strange thing to admit in a role that has consistently involved sales. The truth is, I never got into this profession because I wanted to sell something. I got into it because I wanted to help people.
I was first introduced to "sales" with a job as an Account Manager, working with existing clients and helping them navigate challenges. What I quickly discovered was that when people know you're looking out for their best interests, they trust your recommendations. That trust naturally leads to opportunities, growth, and yes, sales.
But for me, the foundation was never selling. The foundation was helping.
Whether I'm helping a client generate more leads, understand their marketing performance, evaluate a vendor, or simply taking something off their plate, the most rewarding part of my job has always been making their lives easier and their businesses more successful.
That's what has kept me passionate about this industry for more than two decades.
Somewhere along the way, things changed
Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented people and some excellent organizations. But in my most recent roles, I found myself increasingly frustrated by something that has become common in large corporations, especially those owned by private equity. The client slowly stops being the priority. Not intentionally. Not because the people working there don't care. But because layers of bureaucracy, corporate initiatives, shareholder expectations, and internal politics begin competing with what should always matter most: delivering the best possible outcome for the client.
When that happens, everyone loses. The client gets less attention. Employees lose autonomy. Decision-making slows down. And the people doing the work spend more time navigating internal processes than serving the businesses that depend on them. I found myself spending less time doing what I love most: working directly with clients and helping them grow.
At the same time, work-life balance became increasingly difficult to maintain. As a single mom, that mattered. I wasn't looking for a company to offer a corporate program about work-life balance. I was looking for leaders who genuinely understood it. There's a big difference.
The phone call that changed everything
Kevin Hart was the person who hired me into my previous role. From the beginning, he understood my approach to serving clients and always believed in the value I brought to both clients and teammates. When I heard Kevin had left to start his own agency, I immediately wanted to learn more. Not because I was necessarily looking for a change, but because I knew the kind of person Kevin was.
When we sat down and talked about what he and Tyler Schoettmer were building at 8 East Agency, everything clicked. This wasn't another agency trying to be the biggest. It was an agency focused on being the best partner possible for its clients.
- Experienced marketers.
- Direct access to senior talent.
- Fewer layers.
- Faster decisions.
- Greater accountability.
- Better results.
- A culture that values both exceptional client outcomes and the people responsible for delivering them.
It simply made sense. The more I learned, the more convinced I became that this was exactly the type of organization I wanted to be part of.
Why 8 East feels different
Today's business owners are overwhelmed. I see it every day. Especially in the home services industry, where I've spent much of my career. Every day they're bombarded with phone calls, emails, LinkedIn messages, and advertisements from people telling them they need this platform, that strategy, or the newest marketing trend. I don't know how they manage it all.
Most business owners didn't start their companies because they wanted to become marketing experts. They started them because they were great at serving customers. What they need isn't another salesperson. They need a trusted partner. Someone who can help them cut through the noise. Someone who tells them the truth, even when it's not the easiest conversation to have. Someone who prioritizes long-term success over short-term wins.
That's what attracted me to 8 East. This agency was built around the idea that clients deserve experienced professionals who are focused on business outcomes, not vanity metrics. It was built around responsiveness, transparency, and accountability. Most importantly, it was built by good people who genuinely care.
Trust isn't built overnight
One of the things I'm most grateful for throughout my career is the relationships I've built along the way. Marketing strategies change. Businesses evolve. People move into new roles. But trust tends to endure when it's built for the right reasons.
Over the years, I've been fortunate to work with incredible clients who have trusted me not only with their marketing investments, but also with some of the most important growth decisions for their businesses. When I changed jobs previously, more than half of my clients chose to continue working with me. That is something I will never take for granted.
To me, that isn't a reflection of sales ability as much as it is a reminder that people want partners they can trust. People who consistently show up, communicate honestly, and put their best interests first. That's how I've always approached my work, and it's exactly the approach I plan to continue at 8 East Agency.
Why I'm here
At this stage of my career, I don't need a bigger title. I don't need more corporate initiatives. And I certainly don't need more bureaucracy. What I want is simple. I want to work with great people, both coworkers and clients. I want to help business owners grow and be someone they trust. I want to make marketing less confusing and more effective. And I want to do it with an organization whose values align with my own.
That's why I joined 8 East Agency. Not because I was looking for another job, but because I found a team that shares the same belief I've carried throughout my entire career:
When you put people first, growth happens. Right. On. Time.
— Lynn Schoeni