Making a transition in an industry that’s always transitioning
Spring is a transitional time. In Chicago, it’s like finally seeing the light but experiencing the second winter and third winter…
But there’s changing seasons in advertising too. When you move off an account, you win a new business pitch, you get that new agency role or you move to a new agency.
I wanted to talk about what it’s like to transition in advertising along with some tips to help make it easier.
I think many people now are in transition, given the Great Resignation - moving from a job, a role, a client, or career all together.
It’s harder than you think. Many times, even if you’re moving toward something positive, you think about the elements of the role you’re in that you like the most. It’s easy to consider staying, because as humans, we don’t like change as much as we think.
Even as someone who likes to be in constant motion, moving to unfamiliar territory can be quite exhausting and confusing.
A few things I try to do to keep myself sane:
Prepare your past to be successful without you. Get together the documents, contacts, little nuggets inside your brain and pass them along to your prior team. They will appreciate it, and it will help you remember and reflect on all that you accomplished with that team.
Start saying no to the old. Now, I recognize how hard this is, particularly when you’ve built relationships with those you work with. But the faster they move on without you, the better off they are.
Gear up for what’s coming by taking time off. No, this isn’t diving right in. Recently, I regretted not taking time off between different accounts because it’s a chance to regroup, separate one from the next, and breathe a bit. Take a vacation or a staycation, doesn’t matter.
Slow yourself down. This one, I am constantly trying to learn. You’ll be up to speed and integrated soon enough, but day 1 isn’t the day you dive right in.
Get excited. Despite all the worries, you deserve this new opportunity and you’ll be great. Don’t doubt yourself, because other people aren’t.
Most of all, transition is growth. Even if you regret your move, you learned something along the way that is making you better. Staying in place stunts you and your ability to flex into new challenges.
I wrote this first for myself, as a way to process what I’m thinking through. I hope it helped you a bit too. Keep transitioning, keep growing.
