Let’s start small. What does that mentality actually mean in the context of a marketing agency? Probably something like: don’t overthink, just act. Meet deadlines. Ship deliverables. Move fast. Be scrappy. Solve problems quickly. Avoid red tape. Focus on execution, not perfection. That sounds appealing at first glance, especially in fast-paced environments where clients expect quick turnarounds.
But wait… is that always good?
Let’s break that down.
Okay, so marketing agencies operate on timelines, often tight ones. There’s pressure from clients. There are campaign launches, product deadlines, reporting cadences. A “get shit done” mindset can help teams power through that. If you're too cautious or bogged down in planning, you might miss the moment. Speed matters, especially in digital marketing where trends evolve fast. TikTok algorithms shift, Google rolls out a new update, a meme explodes and if you hesitate, the opportunity’s gone.
So... that part makes sense. This mentality helps capitalize on timing. It helps prevent paralysis by analysis. There's value in that.
But now I’m wondering… what’s the downside?
Well, maybe… is there a risk of prioritising speed over thoughtfulness? Like, could a team fall into the trap of rushing without thinking strategically? That seems plausible. Marketing is supposed to be creative and strategic. If it becomes just a checklist of tasks, does it lose some depth?
Hmm… and what about burnout?
Ah. Right. That’s probably a big one. “Get shit done” doesn’t usually imply a healthy work-life balance. It sounds almost proud of overworking. Hustle culture, maybe? There’s that romanticisation of the late-night grind, all-nighters, weekend emails. In moderation, that can show dedication… but sustained? That’s exhausting.
And then there’s the question of quality.
If the goal is to just do the thing and get the social posts out, write the blog, push the email - is there space to ask: is this the right thing to do? Like... what if you're creating assets that don’t actually move the needle? Or worse, hurt the brand? You might be executing brilliantly on the wrong goals.
So maybe… there's a false efficiency here?
Because doing lots of things fast isn't the same as doing the right things well.
I wonder, then, if agencies that live by “get shit done” sometimes conflate activity with impact. That’s tricky. In marketing, especially with clients watching, it’s tempting to show how busy you are. Deliverables become proof of value. But high output isn’t the same as effectiveness.
Then again, maybe it depends on how the mentality is interpreted.
Like, what if “get shit done” doesn’t mean mindless hustle, but rather… relentless focus on moving forward? Maybe it’s a rejection of unnecessary meetings, endless revisions, approval bloat. Maybe it’s more about cutting through politics and inertia. That would be a more generous reading.
But now I have to ask... can it be both?
Could the “get shit done” mindset be both a blessing and a curse? Could it push teams toward productivity, but also prevent reflection?
And where does leadership fit into this?
Maybe leadership sets the tone. If they champion “get shit done” but don’t model boundaries, the whole team could feel pressured to deliver constantly. But if leaders balance speed with strategy, urgency with rest, then maybe the mentality works.
Also, personality types matter. Some people thrive under high-pressure, fast-paced environments. They like solving problems on the fly. Others need more structure, reflection, and space. If a marketing agency runs entirely on “get shit done,” does it exclude the second group? Could that lead to homogeneity in team culture? That might limit creative range.
And what about long-term planning?
Do agencies with this mindset invest in foundational work? Brand building. Strategic positioning. Infrastructure. These things don’t yield immediate results. They’re not “shit” that can be “done” quickly. They require patience, testing, iteration. I could imagine agencies neglecting that kind of work in favor of visible output.
Also, could this mindset obscure learning?
If the goal is just to finish, not to reflect or improve, teams might miss chances to grow. There’s no pause to ask: What went wrong? What could be better next time? Without feedback loops, you end up repeating mistakes. That’s not efficient, just reactive.
How does this mindset affect the client relationship?
On one hand, clients like to see progress. They want things done. So a “get shit done” team might be exactly what they need. But what if it leads to a transactional relationship? Always producing, never partnering. Clients become taskmasters instead of collaborators. That seems risky.
And what about creativity?
Creativity needs room to breathe. Iteration. Failure. The “get shit done” mindset might choke that. If the focus is just output, there might not be time to experiment. That could make campaigns feel formulaic. Safe. Boring.
So maybe... the core issue is balance.
Speed and reflection. Output and strategy. Hustle and rest. If “get shit done” is one gear in the agency machine, fine. But if it becomes the only gear, things break down.
I’m also thinking about junior staff.
Are they being mentored properly in this environment? Or just thrown into execution mode? It might feel like trial by fire, which builds toughness but does it build wisdom? Are they learning the why behind the work, or just doing the work?
And finally... culture.
The phrase itself, “get shit done” is kind of macho. Aggressive. It assumes that forceful action is the ideal. That’s not always true. Sometimes restraint is wiser. Sometimes silence is better than noise. Does this mindset make room for that?
Maybe not.
The “get shit done” mentality in marketing agencies offers clear advantages: speed, execution focus, client satisfaction, and momentum. But it carries serious risks like burnout, shallow thinking, poor strategy, weakened creativity, and a culture that may exclude more reflective or process-oriented individuals. Its effectiveness depends heavily on how it's implemented, the values of leadership, and whether it coexists with time for thinking, learning, and resting.
It’s still unclear how this mentality scales long-term, and whether it can coexist with deep strategic work in high-pressure environments. Context matters, in some agencies it might work brilliantly, in others it might hollow out the culture.
The “get shit done” mindset is a powerful tool but a dangerous master. Used in balance, it drives progress. As a dominant philosophy, it can reduce marketing to output without meaning.
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