NORTHERN PLANNER

I have seen and done sone stupid things in my time. 

I have seen Mission Impossible 2. 

I bought a Mel and Kim single when I was very, very young. 

I tried to boil an egg in the microwave. 

More recently, I have been seriously riding a road bike for around two years, but only commuting for one. Riding in the city is tricky, but the problem with fast bikes is you don't want to slow down, you weave in and out of traffic, you jump red lights.

You are not brave. You are stupid. 

So I'm glad I got knocked off my bike in February. It wasn't my fault, but twinges I get from my poor neck even now tell me to not be an arse on the road, not when I'm surrounded by tons of very hard metal. 

Painful experience in the job is so invaluable too. You need some planning scars to remind you not to be so daft. You might well be brilliant and a veritable genius, but if you haven't failed miserably, or felt like a complete numpty any number of times, you're not ready. 

The scars from creatives who found out the clients' feedback was really your feedback. 

The data you conveniently left out that contradicted your argument. Then you got found out. 

The strategy you wanted to do because it was cool, rather than right. That got through and bombed. 

That pitch. 

That client. 

The clever digital stunt thing that no one actually saw. 

The time you tried to shaft the partner agency.

The time you trusted the partner agency.

The best work you've ever seen being eviscerated by bad research. 

The bad work that got through because of research.

The idea you wouldn't change, but were then too proud to alter when you thought about it. 

 

Get some scars. Get some wisdom. 

But don't let it stop you trying new things and moving forward. 

It's just a lot easier to move forward when you've been knocked back a few times.