An insignificant so-and-so humbly presents:
A bullet list of opinions that can help turn good advertising creatives into amazing advertising creatives:
- You don’t know what you don’t know. Creatives not in charge always think they see a simpler, better, super easy way to present work, sell work and get work produced. You can be vocal, ask questions, but also understand, you don’t know everything being discussed in meetings you’re not invited to. So also, trust the process. Do the feedback. And learn what you can so eventually, you’ll know as much as you think you do.
- The squeaky wheel doesn’t get the oil, it gets replaced. Don’t focus on everything you think should change or could get better at work. Don’t constantly point out and complain about everything you think is messed up. Just shake it off and keep going. Change what you can, but don’t let the things that need improvement stop you from having fun and getting your work done.
- Do what you were hired to do. Not every assignment on every account is a chance to start a political revolution. Or promote a social cause. Sometimes you just need a good ideas that get people to buy hummus or beer. And the truth is, most clients don’t want purpose driven ads, and they for sure don’t want to tell you they don’t want it for fear of backlash. Just know, unless they’re asking for purpose driven ideas, don’t fill your meeting with them. Find joy in doing what you’re hired to do. If you were hired to be a writer on Auto Zone, write ads for auto zone. Not climate change. If you were hired to work on Taco Bell, sell Chalupas not building a wall on our border. Clients hire us to connect them with people in ways that improve perception and drive sales.
- There’s no us versus them. It’s just us. The cliche in ad agencies is that creatives are against account. This creates an “Us versus Them” mentality. Don’t buy into this cliche. Find a way to work and collaborate with all the members on your team. Hear their POV. This doesn’t mean you have to do everything they say, but work to find a solution that both are happy with. In a kind and thoughtful way.
- Read every creative presentation you can get your hands on. If you’re not selling work or your ideas always getting killed—request access to every presentation made on your account or any account making work you wish you could make. Or by the CDs who are selling work. Read the write ups. The strategy. The scripts. How they’re written. How they’re set up and sold in. Then try to mirror that on your next creative review.
- The other Kool Aid can kill you. Every agency or company wants you to buy into the company vision. Wear the swag. Be a team player. A cheerleader on behalf of the company. This is the Kool Aid they want you to drink. But there’s always other Kool Aid being passed around the company. The toxic gossip. The politics. The back biting. The rumor mill. That Kool Aid will kill you and your career. It will make you cynical and jaded. It makes coming to work a negative. You Have to ignore the people passing out this Kool Aid at work like you do those people on the corner passing out flyers for a new restaurant.
- If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. Always remember, we get to be creative for a living!!! Extra !! intended. We get to think of ideas, write a fun headline for a social post, concept a commercial or make a campaign. It’s all fun. Don’t beat yourself for what you’re not doing, do what you’re asked to with a smile. Learn what you can do to improve and find joy in doing that. There’s a lot worse ways to make a living. Yes the industry is competitive. Yes it can be hard. But if you’re not having fun doing what we get to do, you’re not doing it right.
