Run The Play | Episode 003

Most people daydream about starting their own agency.

Shachar Aylon actually did it.

After years helping shape culture for brands like Amazon, Lyft, Google, Intel, and even Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, Shachar made the leap that scares most creatives: he walked away from big titles and big budgets to build something of his own.

In this episode of Run The Play, Shachar and host David Hampian break down the real story behind starting a creative agency from scratch. No jargon, no romanticizing. Just the truth.

You’ll learn:

 • How to know when you’re really ready to start your own business

 • The mindset shift from “employee” to “owner”

 • Why your first version should be “0.5,” not perfect

 • How to build your brand by creating your own brief

 • The loneliness founders don’t talk about, and how to find allies

 • Why saying no early defines your agency more than saying yes

 • The scorecard he uses to qualify clients

If you’ve ever thought about going out on your own, this might be the spark that gets you there.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introducing Shachar Aylon

2:15 - The Origin Story Behind Dawn

8:30 - Finding Your Allies

14:32 - Unlocking Self-Promotion

22:14 - The Biggest Surprises in Starting a Business

25:04 - Building a Repeatable Process

27:44 - Shachar's Project Management Criteria

32:32 - Traits Required to Start a Business

35:43 - Finding Space to Reflect and Learn

40:39 - THE HILL

43:22 - Final Words

🔗 Connect with Shachar and Dawn

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/saylon/

- https://dawn.la/

- https://www.instagram.com/dawn.losangeles/

🎙️ Run The Play is a Field Vision podcast hosted by David Hampian. We break down the plays behind the world’s biggest brands, boldest ideas, and the systems that make them work.

👉 Follow  @FieldVisionGroup   for more episodes