The Denver Egotist asked advertising pros in Colorado what they learned this year.
Naturally, they’ve uncovered some interesting results. I particularly like Evan Fry’s response.
Sure, I learned a shit-ton about clients, business realities, finance, revenue models, leadership, empowerment, allowing folks to succeed on their own (or fail, and thereby succeed), fearlessness, change, pushing, allowing, etc. But for me, within each of these larger areas was one common or constant. And that really and truly was acceptance. Accepting that folks might be smarter than me. Accepting that clients know what they’re doing, or don’t, and either way they hold the keys. Accepting that I have to step aside in some areas in order to help others learn. Accepting that I still have to do more than I thought I would. Accepting that things don’t look the way I originally envisioned. Accepting that maybe it’s better than I originally thought.
Then there’s this bit of wisdom from Blake Ebel: “When you operate like you have all the business, you’ll be surprised how often clients give you all the business.”
I also appreciate how my friend Matt Ingwalson learned “that it is vaguely unsettling to achieve your goals.”
Thanks for the coverage, David. We still have at least two dozen more to post, two per day until we run out. There’s a lot more wisdom to come.
Sure. It’s making me think about my own lessons learned in 2011. I’ll have to jot down some notes…something about learning the limits of what digital media (and the brand called you) can do.