Post Launch

My career launched as soon as I graduated college. I can’t believe how fast almost a year has gone by. I cannot put into words how much I’ve learned during this time. It really does feel like I’ve been launched into the sky – I love it. I read an article a few days ago one of my good friends shared to Facebook about what it’s like being in your 20’s. I wanted to shed some light into what it’s been like for me after college, some advice I can share and specifically, what it’s been like in the ad world.

College

I call it the constant state of “AHHHH”.

You know the feeling you have when all of your exams are scheduled on the same day, back to back? Or when you’re so tired but have a list so long you don’t know where to start so you just sit there for a while? Well, it gets better. Seriously – it does. The truth is, you’re always going to have a to do list. The key is how you handle that list. I often say,

“I can’t believe I get to do this.”

Saying you get to do something vs. you ‘have to’ do something is a game changer. Embrace everyday as an opportunity and remember that the college stress is temporary. Anything worth doing is going to be tough. Transitioning from college to the work world is a step in the right direction. It helps to know that everyone has been there at one point – and like anything, it will take some time to get used to.

It's not a race.

College, life, a family, etc. is not a sprint – it’s a marathon. Don’t be in such a hurry and feel like you’re competing with the world. There’s no deadline for that stuff – focus on your work deadlines, those are the ones that matter.

Learning what not to do is just as important as learning what to do correctly.

Never stop learning. You’ll switch from textbooks and exams to taking notes from others during meetings and making mistakes. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m 22 and have time to learn things. This will still hold true when I’m 40. You’ll never know it all, but you should try.

Give it your all.

Everything. Give anything you do at your job 110%. Even if you make a mistake, never let it be because you weren’t trying hard enough. I don’t mean that you won’t have an off day, because we all do – but just take any and every project and give it all you’ve got. Even if it’s something simple like organizing a list. Organize it like a list has never been organized before.

Passion goes a long way.

Working with people who are as passionate as you are is an amazing thing. It’s important to really love what you do so you can contribute. I rave about my job and one of the best things are the people. When I was an intern, I was assigned a mentor. We would meet during the semester to talk about work, life or anything we wanted to. It was one of the best things about my internship because I was able to talk to someone who loved being there as much as I did, and who wanted to help me grow. Now that I work there, I’ve been assigned a mentee! It’s a great feeling knowing I could be that for someone else and impact their life the way mine did. Be that person who can help others.

I work with some of the most talented people who are so passionate about what they do. As a team, we feed off of each other and we do great things, which leads me into my first advertising campaign.

Career

First I launched my career, now I helped launch a campaign! How cool is that? As if I wasn’t cool enough, I just got cooler. You know when you’re on line for a rollercoaster and you’re watching the people’s reactions who are just getting off the ride? That’s how this has felt for me, except this time – I’m on the ride.

You have ups, downs, even a few loops and corkscrews. But you get off the ride, laugh, smile and get on line to do it again. I love how many moving parts there are, seeing everyone do their piece and having it come together. It’s important to stay organized and ask questions. Communication is key. Learn as you grow.