63 Simple Ways to Become a Better Adman

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So you want to be a better adman do ya? Well, I don’t blame ya.

It’s a competitive and sometimes cut throat industry that requires people to push themselves to the limit. I’ve been in the advertising game for a little under two years now and after working and chatting with some of the brightest in the city, I’ve definitely learned a thing or to about what it takes to succeed. A few of these items might come as second nature to you others may not, either way, I’m sure something in this list will benefit your career.

Note: Being an “Adman” has nothing to do with gender. However, it has everything to do with being able kick ass and take names in the communications industry.

1. Don’t try to be the next Ogilvy or Bogusky. Create your own legacy.
2. Make mistakes that matter.
3. Grammar and spell check are sexy.
4. Don’t steal ideas. Modify and improve them.
5. 95% of the things you worry about, are not what you should be worrying about.
6. Don’t get too attached to an idea.
7. Learn how to sell.
8. Call BS when you see BS.
9. Force yourself to get in front of crowds and present.
10. Embrace the idea of being the Bad Guy.
11. Don’t press send if you’re angry.
12. Stop bragging about a campaign you did six months ago. Your worth is your current work.
13. Try something new everyday. It doesn’t need to be related to work.
14. Avoid conversations about sex, religion, politics and fight club.
15. The only time rule #16 can be ignored is when coming up with an idea.
16. Watch the movie Boiler Room and recite the best speeches.
17. Watch the TV Show Mad Men and recite the best pitches.
18. Learn from those mistakes you made during tip 3.
19. Learn from those who are also making mistakes.
20. Think like Michael Jordan and always be a team player.
21. You start to lose every client the moment they sign a contract. Keep them close.
22. Start a blog, tumblr or twitter account. Create & Tell your own story.
23. Keep your social networks respectable. Do the Grandma Test.
24. There’s no such thing as a 4 hour work week. Trust me.
25. Stay well connected within and outside of the industry.
26. Be nice to people but don’t hold it in forever. You’ll die.
27. Live everyday like you’re Ari Gold.
28. Understand the art of negotiation.
29. Make some personal standards and try to stick to them.
30. Bring an agenda to your meetings.
31. After a meeting with a client send them an email discussing what you already discussed.
32. A Healthy Adman is a Wealthy Adman.
33. Is this project important? Yes? If that’s the case, over-do it.
34. Compliment people over and over again.
35. Stick to what you love and know. If you’re a digital strategist, stop trying to be an Art Director.
36. Know when to shut off the internet and being productive.
37. Ask as many questions as you can possibly think of.
38. Keep your brain fresh. Just because you graduated doesn’t mean your brain is done growing.
39. Start your mornings earlier than anyone else in the office.
40. Drink more water than you usually do.
41. Don’t take your laptop to bed with you to do work. Keep the bed and your work separate.
42. Find a mentor in the industry you can talk too.
43. Find a confidant within the company who you can trust.
44. Dont open your inbox as soon as You’ve Got Mail.
45. Never forget how you got where you are. Hard work.
46. Embrace Risk.
47. Don’t mope at the office.
48. Don’t share your personal life with the whole world. Not everyone wants to hear it.
49. Don’t rely on your colleagues. Rely on yourself.
50. Practice your presentations over and over and over again.
51. Take your lunch.
52. Delegate work if you have the ability to do so.
53. Be friends with the intern.
54. Read stuff that will make you look good if you died reading it.
55. Always have a moleskin and a sharpie in your desk.
56. Don’t play with a colleagues heart. If you’re not interested, don’t flirt.
57. Be confident not arrogant.
58. Only speak when it will benefit others or yourself – Avoid pointless conversation.
59. Out read everyone around you. It will do wonders for you.
60. Work hard to perfect the art of first impressions.
61. Sweat the details like you’re sitting in a sauna.
62. Avoid negative people like the plague. They are contagious.
63. Don’t write a status update on Facebook about your boss or colleague – Say it to their face.

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