I never wanted the biggest agency in Girona

I've never wanted to be the biggest agency in Girona.

Not out of modesty. Out of laziness, probably. And a bit of maths.

Let me explain.

Every time someone asks about the future of a small company, the question comes with a size attached. How many people will you be? How many clients? When will you open a second office? It's as if the only direction available were up and to the right.

I understand the appeal. Big sounds safe. Big sounds serious. Big looks good on a LinkedIn banner.

But I've noticed that every step towards big comes with an invoice. And it's not always paid in money.

What size costs

More people means more salaries. More salaries means you need more projects every month, whether you like them or not. More projects means you stop choosing them.

Then you need sales. Then you need someone to manage sales. Then, often, you need money you don't have, so you go and ask someone who has it. And that someone, quite reasonably, wants it back with interest. Or wants a say.

At no point did anyone decide to give up their freedom. It just went, one sensible step at a time.

Wanting to be the biggest is the fastest way I know to lose your freedom.

I'm not saying growth is bad. I'm saying size is not a goal. It's a side effect. And if you chase it directly, it tends to bring friends you didn't invite.

What I want instead

Something less photogenic.

A small company that makes money. That Yeray and I can run without asking anyone's permission. Where we can say no to a client who isn't a good fit. Where we can spend a few months on something that might not work, without having to justify it in a quarterly report.

That last part matters to me. The services pay for the products we want to build. It's slower. But slow has one luxury fast can't afford: nobody to report to.

In the startup world, a company like that "doesn't count". It's too small. Not ambitious enough. Lifestyle business, they call it, with that little tone.

Fine by me. I'll take the lifestyle.

The view from here

This year has been a good test. When everything froze in spring, being small meant we could adapt quickly. No board. No committee. No investors asking for a new plan. Just two people deciding what to do next, and then doing it.

I'm sure there's a bigger agency than us in Girona. Probably several. I hope they're doing well.

I hope they're also free. That part isn't guaranteed at any size.

I'd rather be the freest agency in Girona than the biggest.

Nobody hands out an award for that. Which, to be honest, is part of the appeal.

P.S. If you're keeping a ranking of agencies by size, feel free to leave us at the bottom. We'll be fine down there.