In Episode 144 of the Scratch Agency Podcast, we’re joined once again by Don Shampine — now a three-time guest and a fan favorite among Scratch agents. This time, Don dives deep into one of the most overlooked drivers of long-term agency growth: annual planning with team alignment and purpose.

Don walks us through how to craft a theme-driven annual plan that actually sticks — whether you're a solo producer or leading a growing team. We talk about setting an intentional tone for the year, creating buy-in through collaborative planning, and turning big goals into repeatable behaviors. Plus, Don shares his exact framework for how he structures these annual meetings, including his famous snack log, team KPIs, and the agenda items most agents forget to plan for.

🔥 Whether you’re one person or one hundred, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you approach your next planning cycle — with purpose, practicality, and people-first leadership.

🕒 Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

03:12 – Why Annual Planning Fails for Most Agents

06:38 – Creating a Yearly Theme that Drives Focus

10:11 – From Culture to KPIs: Building with Intention

13:25 – Don’s Planning Framework (and Favorite Snacks)

16:47 – Collaborating with Your Team (Even if You're Solo)

21:05 – Mistakes Agents Make When Planning Big

26:18 – Holding Teams Accountable Without Burnout

30:09 – Branding the Theme: Stickers, Rituals & Shared Language

34:52 – The Power of Personal + Professional Goal Setting

38:06 – Agency Standards That Keep Everyone on Track

42:30 – Introducing "Want Better, Be Better" Facebook Community

46:45 – Final Thoughts: Start Where You Are, Grow with Intention

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https://open.spotify.com/show/7hutxCZ5NUPqF5hRdC79Hl

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https://scratchagencypodcast.com

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Own your future — we’ll see you next week.