37. 9 Things That You Need to START Doing Right Now
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWelcome to Episode 37 of Navigating the Fustercluck\u2014a podcast full of snackable insights to help you navigate the unpredictable world of creativity & marketing.My name is Wegs, like eggs with a W, joining you from Deaf Mule Studios in Dallas, where we\u2019re here to talk about 9 things you need to start doing right now. That\u2019s not to say that your career will go to Hell if you don\u2019t, just that these things tend to be very helpful. Number One:Stay Close to the Cash RegisterBe billable. Whatever you do, be billable. You can have amazing performance reviews, but they won\u2019t matter if clients aren\u2019t paying for what you\u2019re doing. So make sure that when your company wins new business that the contract reflects how much you\u2019ll be working on the account. And when contracts are ready to be renewed make sure that you\u2019re fully represented then, too. Sometimes people\u2019s numbers are cut just to make the numbers work. They may not be accurate numbers, but they\u2019ll get the deal done. As you go on in your career this becomes more and more important because you become less and less billable. Clients hate big salaries and expect you to be a value-add. Unfortunately, this diminishes your value.Have a Deep Understanding of How Your Client Makes MoneyDo they make it in retail? B to B? Online? Subscriptions? Overseas? It really helps to understand what makes the cash register ring. It will affect how you approach your work no matter what department that you\u2019re in. And clients will weep tears of joy if you actually understand what they\u2019re up against.Moving on to #3\u2026Share InformationShare it and share it at the right time. When you hold off sharing pertinent information, projects or deadlines and people receive them at the last minute, you are immediately public enemy #1. And you deserve it. It still amazes me that people forget to share the right stuff at the right time. That\u2019s not saying that you should have diarrhea when it comes to these matters, and share everything all the time, just share what is needed when it is needed. Knowledge flow is key. It keeps a team working smoothly. Trust me, there is nothing worse than someone dropping knowledge on you at the last moment when they\u2019ve had it for days or even weeks. You don\u2019t want to become that person.#4: Give Credit Where Credit is DueSee a great idea on a pitch wall? Leave a post-it saying so. Hear a great idea in a meeting? Support it. Wherever you find them, and no matter who created them, if you believe in great ideas then fan their flames. Be their champion. You help raise the bar and help young talent rise. Or more seasoned talent remain. Do this and people will appreciate you and praise your good ideas, too. And they\u2019ll take your criticism more seriously as well.\xa0Face it, if bringing others down is the only way to bring yourself up, then you should probably look for a new line of work. It\u2019s much better to have generosity of spirit than the kind of competitiveness that refuses to recognize when others do well.#5: Create Something Outside Your Job DescriptionStart a public speaking club. An agency \u201cuniversity\u201d. A podcast. A blog. A book. Bring in a speaker. An event for clients. You don\u2019t have to be part of \u201cleadership\u201d to be a leader. Anything worth belonging to is worth leading. Worth caring for. Worth trying more for. And it will give you good experience and a good reputation. (Or do you prefer \u201cpersonal brand\u201d?)#6: Mentor and Reverse MentorHave a special skill or knowledge? Offer to share it. Reach out to someone who\u2019s less experienced or struggling. Also, don\u2019t just mentor newbies and juniors. Hold events to open the minds of senior leaders, too. Or make them mixes to help them stay current with what\u2019s popular today. It will be good for them and it could be good for you.#7 Work on Your Presentation SkillsEver notice how most of your leaders happen to be the better presenters in your office.