My first few months as an account executive definitely weren't easy--but I learned more during that short period of time than I learned in the few years leading up to it. My boss and I worked together, just the two of us, on two small-ish accounts--he's a hardened NY'er and doesn't hold anything back. He taught me a great deal--how vital it is to know all the information and all the details all the time (especially before opening your mouth on the subject); how important it is to phrase things appropriately and what a huge difference it can make if you say things the right/wrong way; ask question after question after question and don't be afraid to look stupid if you don't know the answer--go out and find it. Not to mention, I was taught what are not my most favorite things, but certainly necessary, like meeting minutes, billing, managing large budgets with multiple job numbers, working with vendors...all challenging but rewarding when they are done correctly!
You see...I was a bit of a know-it-all before I met Greg--I had always excelled in everything I had ever attempted to do--sports, other jobs, more sports, making friends, school...but now that I was in a profession where clients can hang on your every word and take it as concrete fact--whoa--a whole other story. I realized I knew absolutely nothing.
I had a little bit of experience with clients but only as an observer before DraftFCB, but had always been noted as a "people person" so I thought that would help--and it did, but after about 6 months in the Greg Faherty School of Account Service I was nearly a pro...not to mention much less sensitive.
There's a story behind advertising too--when I was 10, I drew pictures of me as the CMO of BMW North America (I know this because my mom pulled it out and showed it to me when I got my job at DraftFCB). We moved to Washington when I was 10, from Wyoming and I saw my first BMW and was instantly in love. And I loved marketing, so therefore I was going to be the CMO. Back then I don't think "CMO" was invented yet, so I called it the Executive Director of Marketing (My dad's title is "Executive Director" so if you were any high-up, that's what you were equated as).
Well...now I'm in advertising and it's everything I hoped it would be. Analytics, media, photo shoots with clients, creatives being nutty, high-pressure pitches, print, online, TV...all of which I've already had a big hand in.
Let the crazyness continue!
