1 Bold Step
Sharpening Strategy, Not Starting Over
"As we evolved from a marketing team to a true growth agency, we faced the challenge of not just doing what we'd always done at a larger scale, but fundamentally rethinking our strategic approach. We needed clarity on who we were becoming, not just who we'd been."
Snapshot
- CLIENT: 1 Bold Step, B2B Growth Agency
- CHALLENGE: Navigating the transition from marketing agency to a full-service growth agency while keeping their strategic focus sharp and operations running smoothly
- SOLUTION: The Barzel Group’s Strategic Planning Process (StratOp) (working alongside 1 Bold Step’s existing EOS implementation)
- RESULTS: Real-world implementation of Annual Implementation Plans (AIPs) that actually drove strategic goals, freed up leadership bandwidth, and gave the team crystal-clear direction
The Leader's Challenge
Founded in 2019 by Jennifer Jurgens and Adam Clarke, 1 Bold Step had carved out a unique space as a different breed of marketing partner. They didn’t just make pretty websites—they focused on marketing ROI and bottom-line impact, an approach that struck a chord with manufacturing and technology clients across the Midwest. This success fueled rapid growth, but also created some serious growing pains.
The company hit a critical crossroads:
- Making the leap from fractional marketing support to comprehensive growth agency
- Pushing beyond marketing into sales enablement and customer success territory
- Outgrowing systems built for a much smaller operation
- Keeping their culture intact while bringing new talent into the fold
They’d already put the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) in place to handle day-to-day operations, but something was missing. They needed a strategic framework to navigate this transition without losing momentum.
“We’re in the business of bringing clarity to our clients’ growth strategies every day. But sometimes the hardest organization to step back and evaluate objectively is your own. We needed someone who could help us apply broader strategic thinking.” —Jen Jurgens
The Turning Point
Jennifer and Jay Hidalgo weren’t strangers. They’d worked together on consulting projects over the years, and when The Barzel Group took shape, it opened the door for a deeper partnership.
“I’ve known Jay for years and always respected his strategic approach,” said Jen. “When we heard about The Barzel Group and their strategic planning methodology, we were intrigued by how it could complement our existing EOS implementation. We needed the ‘why’ to go with our ‘how’.”
Their early conversations revealed a critical insight: EOS gave them a solid operational framework for executing priorities, but it didn’t address their need for long-term strategic clarity during this pivotal transition.
Unlike consultants who try to tear down what’s working to sell their own solution, The Barzel Group saw the value in 1 Bold Step’s EOS foundation. They didn’t want to replace it—they wanted to enhance it with a complementary approach that filled the strategic gaps.
The Iron-Sharpens-Iron Approach
The Barzel Group didn’t show up with cookie-cutter solutions. They brought a structured yet flexible framework that gave 1 Bold Step the strategic clarity they needed during their critical shift from marketing team to growth agency.
Jay rolled up his sleeves with the leadership team and tackled the hard questions:
- Getting brutally honest about their current reality from every angle
- Digging deep to uncover the unique value 1 Bold Step truly brought to the market
- Crafting a vision that reflected their evolution from marketing to growth services
- Weaving the strategic plan into their existing EOS framework
- Creating Annual Implementation Plans (AIPs) with teeth—clear priorities and real accountability
“What I appreciated most was how Jay approached the integration with our existing EOS framework. Rather than competing systems, we discovered they addressed different needs—EOS giving us operational discipline and The Barzel Group’s process providing the strategic clarity to guide those operations. The ‘how’ and the ‘why’ coming together.” —Jen Jurgens
This wasn’t about creating a fancy binder to gather dust. The process established a rhythm of strategic thinking that complemented their EOS meetings, turning their strategic plan into a living, breathing guide that actually informed daily decisions.
Breakthrough Results
While the full impact continues to unfold, 1 Bold Step has already seen a fundamental shift in how they run their business and lead their team.
Leadership Transformation
- Leaders now spend time actually leading, not just managing operations
- Clear strategic filters for evaluating new opportunities (instead of chasing every shiny object)
- Decisions made with confidence instead of second-guessing
- Day-to-day work clearly connected to long-term vision
Organizational Transformation
- Successfully made the leap from marketing team to full-service growth agency
- Bridged the gap between strategic “why” and operational “how”
- Team members who understand where they’re going and why it matters
- A value proposition they can actually explain to prospects in 30 seconds
Strategic Implementation
- AIPs that create real action, not just wishful thinking
- A framework for evaluating new service lines without getting distracted
- Clarity on which clients fit and which don’t
- Hiring with purpose instead of just filling seats
The Road Ahead
Today, 1 Bold Step continues building on this strategic foundation. Their evolution into a true growth agency hasn’t gone unnoticed—they recently earned the “Best & Brightest Companies to Work for in West Michigan” award.
“The strategic framework we developed with The Barzel Group has become a filter through which we evaluate opportunities and challenges. As market conditions change, we have confidence in our ability to adapt tactically while staying true to our strategic direction.” —Jen Jurgens
Takeaway Wisdom
“For growing companies navigating a significant transition, I can’t overstate the value of having a strategic framework that complements your operational systems. Having a trusted voice who can help you step back and see the bigger picture—while still respecting the systems you already have in place—makes all the difference in maintaining momentum through change.” —Jen Jurgens