Jenn Calvi on LinkedIn: #marketing #growth #agencylife | 10 comments (2024)

For anyone out there who may be struggling with imposter syndrome or information overload, I hope this makes you smile. How two decades in Marketing has taught me that I know nothing. Someone once asked me what I do for a living and when I told them I was a Senior Digital Producer, they replied, “I have no idea what that means.” I hate to admit it, but there are days where I don’t either. When I started out in 2003, I quickly thought I had all the answers. In fairness, print media was a much simpler time. Display advertising was all the rage and little made me happier than the buzz of energy surrounding Automotive deadline day. I thrived in the fast pace, sending final copy via fax machine through at the last second much like Indiana Jones barely escaping before the wall came down. I memorized lease legal and Brand requirements and knew monthly programs like the back of my hand. Each week, I’d open the newspaper and see my beautiful babies with right hand placement and feel so proud of the work I accomplished. I was successful, overconfident and eager to grow. With several productive years under my belt, my ambitions (and the evolution of our industry) led me to a digital agency. Overnight, I went from expert in my field to entry level rookie, an exciting albeit humbling role. I truly had no idea what I was doing and was very much in over my head yet I was driven and dedicated to learn as fast as I could. Lucky for me, I had joined a team of talented, patient designers and developers who took mercy on my ignorance, investing in teaching me. Colleagues would see my eyes gloss over as they waxed poetic about Content Management Systems and stop to ask me if I needed a minute. Tenaciously, I spent my spare time on webinars and Googling industry acronyms. I felt like I would never know everything and it turns out, I was right. So here’s what I’ve learned so far:1. Embracing the unknown is intimidating, and it’s also one of the smartest things you can do. The sooner you make peace with what you don’t know, the stronger you become. 2. Change is an inevitable constant and growth is uncomfortable. So if you’re constantly uncomfortable with regard to the process, you may be on the right track. You don’t have to know all the answers, you just have to be willing to ask the questions. What matters is that you don’t take it so seriously that it derails you. 3. Being human means being brave enough to face the fear of making mistakes. You can be a professional and a human at the same time, the world will adjust.4. Lean into your Team. Technology may streamline how we do things but there is no automating the wealth of knowledge to gain from collaboration. Be a student of your peers, regardless of their title, stage or experience. 5. Celebrate the small wins. They’re just as important as the big milestones.6. Have fun! Life is short and we dedicate a good share of it to our career so make it count. #marketing #growth #agencylife

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