Hook Agency

What used to work in marketing… doesn’t anymore. 2026 is about acting with purpose and clarity. Here’s what’s OUT vs IN this upcoming year. Save this for your 2026 planning, your next moves start with getting clear on where you’re headed.

This is me about 8–9 years ago… absolutely stoked to have my logo on an office door. When I jumped into Hook Agency full-time 9 years back, my goals were pretty simple: • Maybe hit $3M one day • Escape the basement office • Hire… someone 😜 I wasn’t dreaming about a 50-person team. I wasn’t picturing getting trained by marketing geniuses like Jay Golden or Marcus Sheridan, like I get to be this week. I definitely wasn’t thinking “Inc 5000” or “Fastest Growing Companies in Minneapolis.” And I had zero clue how much stretching it would take. Owning a growth-mode business basically means living in a constant state of discomfort.. with every type of problem somehow landing on your desk. So no, this isn’t a “look at me, triumph achieved” post 😂 If anything, the ‘success’ goal posts move faster than I do. And the more successful people I get around, the hungrier I get. But today, I’m pausing for a second. Just surviving 9 years as a small business is something to celebrate. Grateful for the hard-working clients who trust us. Grateful we get to put real good into the world — $30k donated this year locally in Minneapolis + team volunteering. Grateful for the impact we’re having on the people who choose to build this thing with us. Here’s to more in 2026. 🥂🚀

Most contractors wait too long to hand off the phones, and it costs them. Lynn Wise and Danielle Bartus from Contractor In Charge break down how specialized roles like booking CSRs and dispatchers drive real profit and better customer experience. Smart delegation isn’t a luxury, it’s a growth move. (Link in comments)

Brett Tesson of Tesson Roofing & Exteriors, LLC gets real about what it takes to grow a roofing company the right way, prioritizing profit over ego, building recurring revenue through maintenance, and creating value without adding risk. Big respect to Brett for keeping it honest and sharing what actually works. (Link in comments)

Every strong brand is backed by a stronger team. Meet the newest faces behind the work at Hook, we're so pumped to have them!! 🤩🪝

Most roofing companies are sleeping on one of the most valuable parts of the business, a strong repair division. Repairs aren't just worth doing, they're essential if you care about profit, referrals, and long-term growth. Huge thanks to Jonathan Ulyatt, Kent Panovec, Jacob Fuchs (Fox), and Cameron Uranga for sharing the real playbook and showing what it looks like to build businesses with staying power. (Link in comments)

When you lead with gratitude, your team stays motivated, your clients feel seen, and your vision gets clearer. This season is a good reminder: you can’t scale burnout. But you can scale gratitude. Save this for the next time your week feels heavy, because progress starts with perspective. Happy Thanksgiving, and tag someone you’re grateful for today!

Dustin Mitchell and Tiffany Mitchell of Half Moon Plumbing didn’t wait for “someday” to build the business they envisioned. After years of steady growth, they made a bold mindset shift, got intentional about strategy, and scaled to $10M, turning deep roots and internal leadership into real momentum. (Link in comments)

Gregg Schonhorn of SF&P Advisors lays down what every contractor needs to hear about selling a business in today’s private equity landscape. From vetting buyers to avoiding bad roll-ups, appreciate Gregg for bringing the kind of insight that saves companies, not just sells them. (Link in comments)