There are mistakes in business that scream.
And then there are the ones that stay quiet, until they cost you thousands.
When Brady Dahmer got two phone calls in one week both from friends facing marketing disasters, he didn’t just give advice. He started writing a checklist. That checklist became a book. And that book is now a survival guide for business owners who don’t want to learn their lessons the hard (and expensive) way.
Brady’s been in the marketing world for 25 years. He’s built a creative agency, worked with startups and global brands, and helped businesses sharpen their messaging and brand strategy. But the insights in his book Blind Spots didn’t come from conferences or college textbooks.
They came from real mess-ups. The kind that make your stomach drop.
Like the client who lost everything because their designer’s hard drive crashed and no one had a backup. Or the woman who found her commissioned illustrations being sold on Etsy because she didn’t clarify the licensing terms.
What do those stories have in common?
- Assumptions.
- Lack of process.
- And a big ol’ blind spot.
The Hidden Dangers Lurking in Creative Projects
If you’ve ever hired a designer, photographer, or videographer, this part is for you.
Brady’s stories expose a tough truth: most small business owners don’t ask the right questions.
Why?
Because no one ever told them what to ask.
Should you have your own copy of all design files?
Should the copyright be in your name or the designer’s?
Should you sign off every single time something gets printed?
Yes, yes, and yes. And yet… most people don’t know that until something breaks.
That’s the core of Brady’s book: Blind spots aren’t just things you don’t know. They’re the things everyone assumes you already do.
When Design Goes Wrong (And Costs You $12,000)
One of Brady’s most expensive lessons? A $12K print job for a tourism brochure.
He forgot to get final approval from the client.
The phone number on the back was wrong.
Twenty thousand copies, gone.
It wasn’t a lack of skill. It wasn’t bad intent. It was a blind spot. And it nearly wiped out the project’s profit.
That experience is why Brady now swears by checklists, sign-off protocols, and finishing strong. No shortcuts. No assumptions. No “it’s probably fine.”
The Danger of Referrals Without Research
Brady also cautions against what many entrepreneurs rely on: referrals.
Just because someone’s “highly recommended” doesn’t mean they’re the right fit. In fact, some of his own worst hires came from trusting referrals without doing interviews or asking the right questions.
He compares hiring a contractor to hiring a full-time employee:
- Would you bring on a team member without checking references?
- Would you skip the interview because someone said, “They’re great”?
If not, why do it for your designer, developer, or brand strategist?
Referrals aren’t due diligence. They’re a starting point.
Scaling Slowly, On Purpose
Aside from client horror stories, Brady also shared practical lessons about growth.
He didn’t start with a big office. He started in a bachelor apartment with his desk beside his bed. He didn’t hire a team right away, he waited until the work demanded it. And when it came to investing in tools or new equipment, he used a simple rule:
“Think about it for two weeks. Every day. If it still feels essential after that, then buy it.”
For creatives constantly chasing the next shiny thing, this advice might be hard to swallow but it’s one of the reasons Brady’s agency has lasted.
It’s not about looking big. It’s about lasting.
Want Better Results? Track What Matters
One insight Brady dropped that flies under the radar?
Track your impact.
Not just likes. Not just views. But the actual business effect of your marketing campaigns. Set timelines. Compare results over time. Make decisions based on what worked not just what looked cool.
Most businesses feel their way through marketing. The successful ones measure their way through it.
Final Blind Spot Warning: Ask More Questions
This one’s simple, but underrated: Ask. More. Questions.
If you’re not sure how a contract works, ask.
If you don’t understand the process, ask.
If you don’t know who owns the files, ask.
Because as Brady puts it:
“There’s no such thing as a stupid question only expensive ones you didn’t ask.”
Want to Avoid These Mistakes?
Here’s what Brady recommends:
- Get everything in writing (especially design rights and deadlines)
- Treat contractors like hires, interview and get referrals
- Don’t skip sign-offs, even when you’re in a rush
- Be transparent when you mess up, then fix it, and then some
- Always ask the “obvious” questions… they’re often the most important
Brady Dahmer’s book Blind Spots is a must-read for entrepreneurs who want to avoid costly assumptions and build smarter branding systems.
He’s not just teaching design or marketing, he’s teaching business survival.
And the best part? This is just Book One.
Want to learn from Brady?
You can connect with him on LinkedIn or grab the book. If you’re stuck in a creative contractor nightmare, send him a message, he’s open to helping you out.
Want to have a Remote Executive Assistant in your business? Your journey starts here!