NORTHERN PLANNER

These are dark times, which has brought into sharp focus something I've been observing for a while now. Agency/marketing/planningish blogs rarely discuss the bad times, the dark side of working in an agency for planning types/

Things go wrong. I'll wager that a fair amount of blog authors have have more than fair share of hiccups during their careers. Just like I sometimes fear you could think planning is all blogging and coffee is you just read most posts, you could be lulled into thinking every agency experience is easy going, good natured fun.

Let's be positive for one second. There is nothing quite like the people you meet, the variety of work, the constant challenge, the pride in a job well done. But it's not always like that. Bad things are very likely to happen at some point. Things go wrong. Campaigns will fail,  clients get lost.

This happens on a personal level too, and in most cases, it not entirely your fault. Like much in life, some things will happen that are simply unfair.

A big client will move on, even you'be done their best campaign ever. If you've ever wondered why so many brands are so schizophrenic, it's because most marketers change jobs about every 18 months. The new broom wants to make their mark, everything gets changed, usually the agency as well. Or there's a consolidation exercise and everything gets put into one regional or global agency – which leads to much of the 'beige' creative work we see. At best, simply inoffensive drivel. At worse, the badly dubbed insults that are all too common. Yes, it may go wrong despite excellent work and a great relationship.

But sometimes you can be really good, but the chemistry simply isn't there. It's impossible to click with everyone and sometimes you cannot get along, no matter how hard you try. Sometimes you're both able to admit this and find a way to work together, sometimes your moved.

This can happen with bosses and suits and even colleagues. Even a whole agency culture. It's not them, it's you, but it's also not them, it's you. If your boss leaves, the next one may be completely different in approach, temperament and personality.

You may be smothered by the account team that wants to do everything, leaving you little space to find your voice. There's the suits who can't get their heads around the fact you don't just work on their stuff, who organise key meetings at the last minute when you've something else booked in.

Then there's redundancy. By default, redundancy means it's not your fault but it still hurts – ultimately it means you're now surplus to requirements. All it takes is a few of the, mentioned above, account losses, a relationship with a client you just can't make work, maybe the new boss and suddenly it's the delights of Jeremy Kyle and the empty feeling on Monday morning as the rest of the world returns to their jobs.

Yes, there are lots of things that can happen that are neither particularly good, or down to anything you've done, or not done.

Be ready.

There's no point shaking your fists at the cruel world. Life's unfair, get over it, get on with it.

And be sure there isn't anything you could have done differently, learn from it.

This is really important. Never, ever try and get revenge. Much of the above is NO one's fault, so there's no point. Even if someone has shafted you, this industry is small and just don't know when you'll bump into them, or when they'll bump into someone important to you.Remember, that same size means they'll get found out eventually.

Sorry if all that's a bit depressing. Most things that will happen to you will be amazing, but every now and then they won't. So prepare for them, and be as good as you can possibly be as often as you can.

Finally, make sure you're in agency you love, with people you trust that support you. Don't stay somewhere out of some sort of misguided loyalty if doesn't feel right. Find a place that fits.