Turnaround times here are lightning fast, and people can never seem to sit still. Shop owners take an aggressive in-your-face approach to solicit business instead of sitting back and waiting for customers to make eye contact or ask a question. And of course why would they? The shop next door is selling the same thing.

There is no hesitation here, not much waiting, just a lot of doing. I find it refreshing.

With my roots in North America, I’m used to the “we’ll get back to you” answer, and the person-to-approve-the-approval-process process.

Imagine how much more we could do if key decision makers would just make decisions, or if we eliminated the word “passive” from our vocabulary – if we all just got brave, took chances, welcomed change.

While many of us have been lying in wait, carefully assessing the risks and asking all the “what if’s”, the rest of the world has been executing, making mistakes, and learning, then improving.

It’s time for change. We need to start making things happen. Stop keeping one eye on caution and one eye on question.

We need to have both eyes on quality, and both hands on execution.

At Switch, when we say “Get Brave” and “Welcome Change”, We mean today, now.

In a world so digital, so social, you’re nothing if you’re not relevant.

So make a move for tomorrow, because yesterday’s news gets old fast.

Stuart Chan is the Operations & Branding Director here at Switch. He’d like you to think differently about marketing in a social age. Follow him on Twitter @stuart_chan or connect with the rest of the Switch team @switchvertising.

Forcing myself to find time to write version 2 of our business plan has led me to reflect on everything that’s happened since we opened these doors. As we’ve embraced our evolution and begun implementing phases of our expansion, I wanted to share some of the lessons that helped us get to this point.

1. Write A Business Plan

It’s important to note where you’re starting from, and where you’d like to go. Even if you don’t think you will be pitching VCs, write one. They don’t call it a “Funding Request Document”, they call it a Business Plan, with the keyword being “Plan”. It’s for you more so than them, and with any luck, you’ll outgrow your first version in no time.

2. Check The Egos

Safely assuming you’re not in it alone, all partners involved need to drop their egos. Egos get in the way, hinder growth, slow down the decision making process, and can even kill the business entirely. Everyone’s in it to win it, working towards a common goal. You chose to work with them for a reason, so trust them and let them trust you.

3. Divide Responsibilities, But Aggregate Efforts

It is important to have a primary lead on any given aspect of your business, instead of having everyone worry about everything all at once. This way, you can ensure that very few things end up falling through the cracks, and key decision making is simplified. Then get to work, and work hard. When you’re the lead, manage. When you’re not, be managed.

4. Be Realistic

Don’t expect to be the big player in the arena right out the gate. Know where you stand, and act accordingly. Tons of people have probably repeated this, but paying your dues can have rewards. The worst mistake you can make is trying to sell your value based on someone else’s worth. Make less now to earn more later. The value of a customer goes way beyond a $ sign.

5. Don’t Lift More Than You Can Handle

Remember your own internal restrictions. There are only a certain number of people to do the work, and only a limited amount of hours in the day. You should always be prepared to scale, but sometimes you have to turn away business if it threatens to break your company’s back. Better to close the doors on them, than to close the doors on yourself.

6. Stop Thinking, Start Doing

While it is nice to know as much as you can about anything before you start, it’s impossible to know everything. Don’t become one of those companies that brainstorms a ton of ideas, but never executes any of them. Especially if some of those ideas don’t require third-party approval.

7. Embrace Evolution

Instill a corporate culture of change starting from day one. Understanding that where you start is not going to be where you end up is important. If everyone’s on the same page, and ready to accept change, your company will grow and evolve faster. Work this natural evolution to your advantage instead of fighting to keep things the way they were.

8. Keep Your Eyes On The Cash

Company finance is something that needs to be constantly monitored, particularly your cash flow. While it is nice to land some business that is worth big money, you can’t pay rent with accounts receivable. Actively monitor your cash, and try to avoid payment policies that revolve around credit. Work a pay schedule into every contract and you’ll be able to plan for growth. Pushing growth with inadequate cash flow could kill your company entirely. Remember, cash really is king.

Running a business can be tough, stressful, and sometimes leave you wide-eyed and bewildered. But stick with it and the risk will be worth the reward.

Got a link? A great read? Want to send us your twitter profile?

Test out the new Switch Advertising Knowledge Database.

Simply go head to the knowledge base (mentioned here) and click guest. Your link will be sent to 5 advertising executives in a flash.

What other agency can do that?

Ryan Thomas is the Social & Digital Strategist here at Switch. He’d like you to change the way you think about advertising in the digital age. To chat with him and the rest of the Switch team simply mash your key pad to getbrave@switchvertising.com.

In addition to client work, we will soon be announcing new members of the team.

We’ll still be blogging up a storm, but we’ll be doing a little work for Applied Arts in Ottawa, and Advertising Week 2010 in NYC.

Stay posting friends, Switch is going places!

Cascading amounts of information, linked from numerous media channels, regarding a ton of industry related content. Information that can be used to help better strategy and sell clients on the thinking behind the most insane ideas.

How do you keep track of it all and call it back up when you need it?

Meet the Switch Advertising Knowledge Base, brain child of our friend and partner Alfred Choi.

Retaining information, recalling it quickly, and getting it into the right hands is key to staying nimble in an Internet-based, socially-driven economy. The Switch Knowledge Base has been developed to achieve those simple goals as well as ensure that the information learned stays in the system, even if an employee leaves the company.

Follow along we’re going to tell you how it works and soon you’ll even be given access to try out our system.

Step One: Login

Staffers login with their Username and Password.

Step Two: Search

Submitted articles can be searched via tags and keywords, along with the original Switch message about key learnings or relevance.

Step Three: Recall

All articles relating to search terms or keywords are displayed along with their original relevance to Switch staffers.

Step Four: Submit

Anyone in the Switch network can submit an article. Easier than blogging and straight to the team.

Step Five: Learn

Simple as that. You’ll see a preview of your message and get an option to submit or edit. Hit submit and your article is beamed directly to the brains of co-workers via e-mail, ensuring that learnings can be recalled at a later date.

Articles, inspiration, new business, coding dilemmas, it’s all saved for future use right here.

It’s as easy as that.

Soon you’ll be able to test this new system for yourself with our guest login:

Subscribe to our feeds or send us an e-mail for more info.

Ryan Thomas is the Social & Digital Strategist here at Switch. He’d like you to change the way you think about advertising in the digital age. To chat with him and the rest of the Switch team simply mash your key pad to getbrave@switchvertising.com.

Switch will be sending a team down to Advertising Week in NYC in a scant 37 days and we are proud to announce our digital and social media personality, Ryan Thomas, will be live blogging from the event.

We will be updating you on the best parties and most valuable insights from one of North America’s top advertising events.

Stay tuned for more.

Ryan Thomas is the Social & Digital Strategist here at Switch. He’d like you to change the way you think about advertising in the digital age. To chat with him and the rest of the Switch team simply mash your key pad to getbrave@switchvertising.com.

If the world of advertising was perfect, this would be the dominate hash-tag in our industry.

#HurryUpAndMakeThings

As an industry, we spend a ton of time talking. We talk internally, with clients and with consumers.

Now with everything in flux, each one of us (brand, company, self) have become a media channel. There is a gold rush to solve communications with actual things and anyone with the skills can do it.

Which is why I would like to present you with:

A simple cross-brand solution to raising awareness and creating something honestly amazing instead of another PSA campaign. It’s brilliant, and when I read notes that a Homeless World Cup player has been signed to Manchester United I get misty.

“Bebe was living in Casa Do Gaiato, a well-organized shelter for young people on the outskirts of Lisbon when he was invited with 3 other boys from the shelter to play football with CAIS. In 2009 Bebe was signed for Estrela da Amadora Football Club, a small club from the outskirts of Lisbon. Bebe made the 2009/2010 season playing for Estrela da Amadora Football Club. In June 2010 he sign for Guimarães Football Club and now Manchester United.”

It’s real change on a real level – something Switch welcomes.

So ask yourself: Are you making another billboard, or getting a player signed by ManU?

Welcome Change.

Alexis took the time to meet with us, despite a long lunch with a global advertising and design giant, and another booking later on that evening. Coming from a small agency background  I can’t tell you how great it feels to be given the same kind of time as larger players.

It’s indicative our our idea based economy, where it’s as important to know who’s next as it is to know who’s right now.

We chatted, and now I can’t say enough good things about Spy Films or Alexis’ passion for our business.

A bit about SPY films:

SPY Films has started breaking down the boundaries between interactive and celluloid film making - collaborating with advertising companies to create amazing advertising products that look and feel like traditional film.

Some agencies will tell you that what they need is simply a product delivered, but in this day and age, every idea, every way to tell a better story and offer more engagement is essential. For any agency to call themselves “flat” with no preconceived notions about where an idea or execution should come from, would benefit to be in contact with SPY as early in the process as possible.

After talking with Alexis and learning of her amazing pedigree, Switch will certainly be considering SPY for future joint ventures. She even went as far as to offer up her directorial talent during the pitch process.

On Collaboration:

During our talk I discovered just how deep Alexis’ passion ran; not simply for advertising but for creativity in the broadest sense of the word. Industrial design; architecture; animation; Alexis proves just how plugged in a resource like SPY Films is.

No matter the agency size, collaboration and idea sharing makes everything better.

Shared Passion:

Speaking of sharing, I wanted to take a minute to share some of our favorite people.  So many names and collaborative opportunities came up during this 3 hour chat with Alexis. Our new blog seemed like an amazing  chance to share some of them.

The Bicycle Film Festival -running this weekend in Toronto. Switch staffers will certainly be in attendance. So will you when you see this trailer.

Our Friends at Playground-Digital just got a bigger office, which is still too small for their huge dreams.

InteraXon Canada’s home of mind-based computing, who blew the doors off the Ontario pavilion at the Winter Olympics.

The Juggernaut Toronto’s killer animation studio, who put together the KENK teaser video about legendary bike thief.

Artist Kestin Cornwall whose amazing art and ideas you will hopefully be seeing more of soon.

Film maker Nick Goso whose work on WSIB is simply jaw dropping.

And last but not least – Arev Manoukian who is represented by SPY but who you are already familiar with because of this globe spanning video:

In short:

A client of ours once said:

“The City Works Better When We All Work Together.”

This city is exploding with amazing people and amazing ideas. I’m glad to be able to count Alexis Victor and SPY Films as part of that Toronto explosion.

Welcome Creativity.

Welcome Collaboration.

Welcome Change.

Ryan Thomas is the Social & Digital Strategist here at Switch. He’d like you to change the way you think about advertising in the digital age. To chat with him and the rest of the Switch team simply mash your key pad to getbrave@switchvertising.com.

Its unique culture and joie de vivre is a breading ground for social change.

This weekend we got sent a calling card from artist Pierre-Paul Pariseau. His style mixes Salvador Dalí with Terry Gilliam and pop culture to create images that explode with colour and energy.

Let hope we can make him into an Artist of Change.

Ryan Thomas is the Social & Digital Strategist here at Switch. He’d like you to change the way you think about advertising in the digital age. To chat with him and the rest of the Switch team simply mash your key pad to getbrave@switchvertising.com.