An agency sells hours. A studio sells judgment — and the distinction shows up in every incentive downstream of it.
When you’re selling hours, the healthiest client relationship is the longest one, regardless of whether the work still needs doing. When you’re selling judgment, the healthiest relationship is the one that ends because the problem got solved and stayed solved.
Building Inflection Studio around the second model has meant saying no to retainers that would have been easy revenue and yes to shorter engagements that were harder to price but better for everyone’s trust in the outcome.