Try harder or try another line of work
The creative/marketing industry is not an industry that starts at 9 and finishes at 5. Never has been; never will be. The business that we’re in is that of selling ideas – and I’m afraid they have a tendency of coming along at the strangest times. And I guarantee you that any idea you’ve had today could be improved on by the time tomorrow morning comes – if, of course, you’re willing to put in the hours.
And you may be sitting there thinking that ideas are the speciality of advertising, but let me assure you that the most successful companies – whether they be design, DM, digital, or advertising specialists – are all fundamentally ideas-lead organisations.
What annoys me today is that it’s very difficult to find people with the correct mindset and level of passion. You won’t last in this industry if you don’t put in the hours and, as the late, great Mr Arden said, “It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be”. And I agree with him whole heartedly. You’ve got to work at it, live it, breathe it and – more importantly than anything else – enjoy it. Find what turns you on. Find what makes you jump out of bed on cold, wet winter mornings. And I promise, you’ll rise faster than the rest.
In my first year in a top ten ABL agency, I was at the office for 32 out 52 weekends. Insane you might think – but the knowledge and experience I gained was invaluable and has helped me get to where I am today.
But strangely, the college system currently seems to turn out an altogether more relaxed individual. What I’m looking for (and struggling to find) in a junior or middleweight creative is that mindset. The work has to be good, of course; and yes, there has to be a spark of talent, but I’m looking for individuals that see the opportunity to make something great. Something better than we’ve ever seen before. Not someone who thinks that missing an episode of some dull mid-week soap is the end of the world as we know it.
If you’re lucky enough to get a job in a top agency as a creative, a planner, an account manager, a coder, a producer, or even just as someone who helps out in whatever form is necessary, my advice would be: grab it with both hands. Because that opportunity will more than likely disappear faster than you can imagine.
And you’ll never know just how enjoyable a day at work can really be.
I read your blog and weep. A great idea comes from inspiration, not perspiration.
If it’s taking working 7 days a week to do the job, then you’re employees are either understaffed, or you’re not in the right job.
on May 15th, 2008 at 2:42 pm | Report this as an innapropriate comment.Yes great ideas come from inspiration, but turning that inspiration into beautifully crafted work that resonates with the desired target audience is what requires passion, commitment and a lot of time.
There’s no substitute for hard work.
on May 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pm | Report this as an innapropriate comment.Paul, you’re totally on the money. While inspiration may generate the idea, perspiration is what turns it from a thought on a piece of paper or floating in the ether into a well-crafted, considered, complete piece of work. And while I absolutely would never want people working weekends or evenings as a rule, I would like to see more newcomers to the industry that have the passion to do that if that’s what it takes!
on May 16th, 2008 at 1:24 pm | Report this as an innapropriate comment.What a delightfully idealistic world Rachel Dyer must live in.
It was the late, great Thomas Edison himself who advocated, “Genius is ninety-nine per cent perspiration, one per cent inspiration”. And, given that TE invented, among other things, the electric light bulb, vacuum packaging, sound recording, telegraphy and telephony, I think we can assume that he knew a thing or two about producing genius ideas.
I wonder then what prompts Ms Dyer to hold such obviously passionate, yet diametrically-opposite, views.
Youthful optimism perhaps? Or is it just those rose-tinted glasses of hers…
on May 19th, 2008 at 1:43 pm | Report this as an innapropriate comment.can’t reply to this thread, I’m far too busy
on May 21st, 2008 at 5:15 pm | Report this as an innapropriate comment.I agree with Aaron, inspiration comes in micro second but perspiration is what turns it from a thought on a piece of paper or floating in the ether into a well-crafted, considered, complete piece of work. I lived this atmosphere working with agencies, working late nights and working on weekends.. its fun.. and believe me that was the best time in my life.
on May 27th, 2008 at 7:42 am | Report this as an innapropriate comment.do you think it could also be because creative-types tend to be perfectionists? i’ve spent many a late evening tweaking pixels and yet it often goes unnoticed.
on May 29th, 2008 at 10:22 pm | Report this as an innapropriate comment.You dont get anywhere in life without working hard, be it plumbing, landscaping or even being a cleaner, its not all about the creative industries. Its the self gratitude and the self satisfaction you get knowing that you have crafted something so beautiful and worked hard on it. Jonny you will get recognition when it comes, those who look hard for recognition will never get it.
on May 30th, 2008 at 9:58 am | Report this as an innapropriate comment.