Devin Gough

Devin Gough is a serial entrepreneur who has many skillsets across numerous industries. Devin has a decade of impressive experiences in business. He has a proven history of increasing productivity and profits, as well as a natural talent and passion for doing so. His additional areas of expertise include: digital marketing, data analysis, senior leadership, and major process improvements.

Where did the idea for The Gough Administration come from?

The idea for The Gough Administration (TGA) came from a need that I saw during my career in corporate marketing. I worked with small business owners who were always working in their business and didn’t have the capacity to work on their business. I saw this problem amplified within the educational industry. Many school principals and superintendents needed help on the marketing and advertising front, and that is where we’ve been able to help in a great way.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

A typical day at TGA consists of managing the deliverables and expectations of our clients. There is so much that is needed from a marketing perspective within schools these days due to the highly competitive landscape. So many schools are doing whatever they can lure the same small pool of students to their educational institution. The rise is charter schools, private schools, and School of Choice within the public-school sector has made school marketing and advertising an essential part of the school’s budget makeup.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Ideas! That’s our sweet spot. Execution of those ideas? That’s what separates us from the pack! We bring a creative solutions-based focus to our clients. Listening intently to their needs is so important. The days of cookie-cutter marketing tactics simply won’t do in today’s agency world. Having an incredible team of thought-leaders and doers has been our key to successfully bringing great ideas to life.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Collaboration, by far, is one current trend among small businesses that excites. Especially since the pandemic, I have seen a rise in business collaboration to not only help in business surviving but also bring better solutions to clients for their long-term sustainability.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Writing things down on paper. I know it sounds so old-school analog in a digital world, but it really is my secret sauce. I get far more accomplished when I do that as opposed to not doing so. AND I MEAN, WRITING THINGS DOWN ON PAPER, not the Notes App on my mobile device. For me, it’s a big difference. I even try to take notes in business meetings or at seminars/workshops because I never want the person I’m meeting with or the person presenting to think that I’m doing something else on my device. So, I guess you can say, pen and paper is also a sign of respect, too.

What advice would you give your younger self?

If you don’t look silly when you launch, you’ve launched too late!

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Where most people tend to think, “If it’s not broke, don’t try to fix it.” I tend to abide by this rule, “If it’s not broke, break it and try to make it better.”

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Go for a walk every day. It does so much for the entrepreneurial mind and spirit.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Invest in systems. That’s the strategy. I believe there is a difference in growth and sustainable growth. Most people grow their business and it’s very dependent on a specific individual. However, when you have a system in place that is not dependent on a particular person, you can thrive.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Not hiring an assistant sooner. I overcame this by hiring a great one the moment that I could. Increasing your capacity by having someone take the mundane things off your plate, is invaluable.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

A gas station restroom cleaning company. It is a multi-million-dollar company just waiting for someone.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

A birthday gift for a mentor. It was a little over $100 but it was indeed well-spent because it is so important to honor the vessels that pour into you so that you can continue to pour into others.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Dropbox, without a doubt. I know there are other cloud-based storage services out there, but Dropbox is it for me.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. I was so transformed by the teachings contained in that book. We as business owners should keep perspective that we should never live our lives hurried. We should never run our businesses from a “hurried” posture. Life has a pace, and we should learn to never try to speed it up.

What is your favorite quote?

“We the unknown, taught by the unlearned, have done so much with so little for so long that we’ve now become qualified to do just about anything with little or nothing.” – Author Unknown

Key Learnings:

• Invest in an assistant as soon as your budget allows you too so that you can get more accomplished and get things done in a streamlined way.
• If you don’t look silly when you launch your business than you may have launched too late!
• The best way to clear your head as a business owner is to take a walk everyday.