NORTHERN PLANNER

Just in case the previous post came across as a bit cynical, grumpy and flea bitten (it shouldn't have, it's simply hard won learning and unvarnished truth with tongue firmly in cheek) here's a much more cheerful counterpoint.

I'm ashamed to admit I'm old enough to remember:

Faxing artwork to clients for approval (used to be a suit)

A sense of magic and wonder at sending my first works email

Having to know what CMYK meant and the difference between a film and chromalin

When agencies were discussing if they needed a website

When everyone was telling clients blogs we're the the future

In short, I may not have done as much with my career as I would have hoped, but I've been doing it for a while and there have been some standout moments of mirth and full on joy.

They outweigh the negatives by the proverbial country mile. The downsides are a Star Destroyer, but the ace bits are the Death Star. You have to be happy with that.

Some of the funny bits have been previously hinted at.

Unfortunately, the mind plays tricks with the memory and the most recent are the most accurate and vivid.

But the great moments of fun and joy can be summarised as, in no particular order, and this is just the tip of the iceberg:

The thrill of watching telly and your stuff (or the stuff the creative's did) actually appearing in the commercial break for the first time. TV is a slog, but it's understable why everyone still wants to do it. It's magic.

But that's trumped by work that works. It's just ace when you know you've actually made a difference to the fortunes of a company. Especially if you've taken the time to meet the real people on the ground in that organisation and know that you've contributed to their bonus, job security or even saved their job in rare cases.

An all female creative team who were just a joy to work with when I was still said account manager. Generous, smart and always not bothered with the male, macho creative thing. I wrote some of my best briefs because I'd talked to them first.

A copywriter who worked in Doncaster who was as humble and modest as could be, yet was quintessentially brilliant. We worked as a 'planner and creative team' most of the time. I still miss working with him

An account director I work with now, he knows who he is

Junior people. It's endlessly invigorating to be around energetic people in their twenties who haven't learned the rules and don't care and always ask why. Mentoring people makes YOU better because you have to justify your own habits and recieved wisdom. And when you see them do well, and pass you in flash of genius lightning. It's wonderful

Creative reviews where you see spine tingling work. Where the brief and all that stuff melts away and you see stuff that's just great. Every creative review has the potential to change the game.

The people. The best thing about this industry is the people who tend to live in primary colours.You don't get into this business to make tons of money. Even the interesting job itself can hard at times, but this industry is mostly populated by great people who you want to be around.

 

Meeting Fred

Getting to work on endlessly different stuff. I've worked on supermarkets, showergel, womens' haircare, biscuits, football, computer software for labs, glass packaging, banking, cars, engine oil, homebuilding..the list goes on and every new client and new market is a chance to learn something

Meeting folks from around the world

Awards do's. Yes they're self indulgent, yes they mean nothing, but don't deny the fact they're bloody good fun

Overcoming my own shyness and introversion. I'll always fear small talk and big groups, but doing this job has forced me to stretch my limits

Some friends I've met who will be friends for life

The kindness and generosity of the best and most talented people in this industry. I've always found that the very best, who are still good, no matter how senior, to be very free with advice and encouragement. At its best, this industry enables you to do anything

After doing real jobs, like call centres, care homes and waiting on tables, getting paid to look out of windows and think and generally do interesting stuff isn't work, it's a privilege

Pitches. Brilliantly stressful. You never feel part of a team like you do on a pitch when it goes well. The way the fear when you read the dreadful client brief, and the flailing while everyone searches for light to be shed, turns into the joy when that idea comes and you know you can move on something.When you can't wait to get into the meeting room to share your ideas with the clients

Creative people. Sociopaths, awkward, but to be honest, when they're good, the most committed, talented and inspiring people you could work with. Admittedly, the ones who try and make up for talent with ego attitude and the latest gear from All Saints can be a downer, but when they're great, they're really great

I was a failed suit. I was given the chance to be a (haven't failed too badly yet) planner. This is an industry of second chances. Some of the best people and most I've met have had professional car crashes. In this game, there are always second acts

 

This list is not exhaustive, it's just a few things that spring to mind. It's easy to moan (I do) but we should stop and be grateful