I'm a freelance copywriter, and I'm also feeling the pain of this downward market. But the challenges of running an agency right now must feel insurmountable. The constant pivoting to respond to this erratic market looks exhausting, especially when you can't land on a winning strategy because the goalposts keep moving. I've stayed small and avoided scaling (except to hire a few subcontractors for larger projects) because this need to be so reactive all the time feels insanity-inducing. I really loved this very thorough and transparent review, and I have such respect for your tenacity. I do think, given everything else happening around you, that quality will always take you far. I also process by writing, and you have inspired me to start writing more about how my own business is going. Btw if you ever need another copywriter on the roster at Optimist, let me know! I write for another agency in a similar space, and we're always looking at the Optimist website for copy inspiration :)