When Warren Jolly launched Affiliate Media, Inc., in 2006, he was just 22 years old. He was a young entrepreneur, no doubt, but Jolly had a solid vision for his Orange County-based online media company, which specializes in pay-for-performance (a.k.a. affiliate) marketing. He brought a wealth of industry knowledge to the table, and this skill, in addition to his drive to succeed, played a significant role in getting Affiliate Media off the ground and running.

From the start, Jolly recognized the need for business growth and was determined to take the smartest approach to ensure expansion and profitability. However, how to navigate this course was a bit unclear. Jolly had little experience in management and personnel, but he knew that he wanted to be an effective leader, on-board the right people, and excel in management. Being a hands-on, committed CEO was his goal, but like most new leaders, he struggled a bit with how to properly structure the company so that he could focus on strategy and growth. Hiring the key people, those whom he could trust and hold accountable, would enable him to delegate more responsibility and better maximize his own time and talents.

In May 2007, Jolly heard about how MAP helped another business and decided to explore the program by attending MAP’s 2.5-day executive development workshops in Newport Beach. Joining Jolly for this workshop was his VP of Business Development, Wade Schlosser. Together, the two quickly recognized the value MAP could bring to Affiliate Media, and decided to implement the program to create a customized business-management system.

Jolly enlisted the services of one of MAP’s top business coaches to help Affiliate Media start building an effective management team and staff. MAP also helped them set up a proper strategy for growth, organizational alignment, and the goals and measurements necessary for achievement. Vital Factor Team meetings, held monthly with the management team, instilled newfound accountability among the leadership team. These meetings became crucial opportunities for communication, monitoring progress, and regularly establishing new benchmarks for success. As accountability among staff developed, Jolly saw concrete results in terms of business growth and improvement. Jolly’s personal leadership skills also sharpened. With the right people on board, a culture of trust and dependability blossomed at Affiliate Media, making it easy for the CEO to delegate responsibilities and focus on growing his business.