In this episode, Vince Quinn is joined by Chad De Lisle, VP of Marketing at Disruptive, to unpack what happens when you stop chasing more clients, and start working with the right ones. Chad shares the story of how Disruptive transformed its business during COVID, cutting its client base dramatically to focus only on brands they truly believe in.

The conversation dives into the power of alignment, why it’s the foundation for better performance, happier teams, and stronger client outcomes. Chad also introduces the VSET framework (Vision, Strategy, Execution, Team) as a practical way to evaluate client fit, and explains why AI can either amplify clarity or create chaos depending on how aligned your brand really is. This episode is a must-listen for agencies, marketers, and leaders looking to build more meaningful, effective client relationships.

Guest Bio

Chad De Lisle is the VP of Marketing at Disruptive, a performance marketing agency founded in 2012. With over a decade at the company and nearly two decades in digital marketing, Chad has played a key role in shaping Disruptive’s evolution toward a more intentional, alignment-driven client model.

Disruptive specializes in helping brands grow through performance marketing, with a focus on vertical expertise and strategic clarity. Chad is passionate about building marketing systems that are rooted in purpose, alignment, and measurable impact, helping both teams and clients unlock their full potential.

Takeaways

• Working with clients you believe in transforms both performance and job satisfaction.
• More clients doesn’t equal better results—alignment matters more than scale.
• Burnout often comes from misalignment, not workload alone.
• A strong “why” is more motivating than financial goals alone.
• The VSET framework helps evaluate true client fit.
• AI amplifies whatever foundation you give it—clarity or chaos.
• Vertical specialization leads to better results and efficiency.
• Aligned teams produce exponential output, not linear growth.
• Great marketing starts with deeply understanding the brand.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Building a Client Base You Believe In

00:35 What Disruptive Does

01:11 The Shift to Aligned Clients

02:50 The Emotional Impact of Alignment

04:08 What Alignment Really Means

05:08 Why Alignment Is Elusive

05:57 Beyond Financial Goals: Finding a Deeper Why

06:53 Disruptive’s Mission: Activate Greatness

07:53 The Challenge of Supporting Clients

08:53 The VSET Framework Explained

10:09 Alignment and Exponential Growth

10:45 Trust and Execution in Marketing

11:49 AI as a Noise Amplifier

12:18 Training AI to Match Your Brand

13:45 Avoiding “AI Breath” in Content

16:01 Impact on Teams and Burnout

17:00 Growth Environments: The Trade-Off

18:08 The Power of Vertical Specialization

19:42 Why Specialization Wins in Modern Marketing

20:22 The Risk of Agencies Learning on Your Dollar

20:53 Where to Find Disruptive

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