30 Years in Marketing: Reflections and Lessons Learned

As I approach 30 years in the crazy world of marketing, I find myself reflecting on the journey, the lessons learned, and the experiences gained. Over the past three decades, I have encountered diverse challenges, celebrated big wins, met incredible individuals, and travelled the world.

My career has been a kaleidoscope of moments that have shaped my perspective and enriched my life – from rubbing shoulders with celebrities and industry leaders to working with some of the most spiritually rich people living on $2 per day, from traveling in open-air trucks in the middle of a jungle to flying first class, from working in startups to large-scale organizations across a variety of sectors – it’s been one amazing ride.

At the core of my career experience has been the people I have met. From mentors who have guided me to colleagues who have inspired me and those who I have had the privilege of leading, the connections forged have been invaluable. These relationships, whether for a season or lifetime, have left an indelible mark on my journey.

Yet the corporate world rarely leaves people without battle scars – I have not ever met someone with career tenure who has not had significant challenges – the test is how you navigate through challenges to find new growth and resilience.

I was asked by a mentee recently for my top pieces of advice – the truth is I am still learning and still get it wrong – but here are my top learnings.

1. Be Like Water: Adaptability is paramount in a world of constant change, especially in marketing. Embrace flexibility to navigate through shifting landscapes.

2. Embrace People Power: Cultivate meaningful relationships, invest in networks, and pay it forward. I have always believed in this quote ‘if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together’.

3. Find Your Zone of Genius (and outsource the rest): Identify your strengths and delegate tasks that lie outside your expertise – it will save you a lot of time!

4. Take the Driver's Seat: Own your career trajectory. Seek guidance but remember, you are the architect of your professional journey, do not rely on anyone else.

5. ‘Game of Life’ Mentality: Embrace that your career will have twists and turns. Setbacks are not permanent – you just need to roll the dice again.

6. Be Solutions-Focused: I had an old boss really embed this solutions-focused mindset. There’s power in maintaining a positive outlook and actively seeking solutions, even in the face of adversity. It is also the number one way to get noticed at work!

7. Value Feedback Wisely: Filter feedback, recognising its potential for growth while discerning its source and intent. Not all feedback should carry the same weight - although sadly so many people hold onto the negative feedback more than the positive.

8. Reliability Is Key: Honour commitments and be on time, both professionally and personally. Structure and organisation really do support success, especially with so many different things now competing for our attention.

9. Put up ‘Friendly Fences’: I am not sure there’s ever real balance between work and personal life, but I do believe in putting up ‘friendly fences’ to establish boundaries to ensure you have the right downtime to avoid burnout.

10. Do the ‘Sleep Test’: You do not always need to decide immediately – some of my best decisions or responses have come after a ‘sleep test’.

11. Embrace the Danger Zone: Step out of your comfort zone and embrace new challenges. I did a year of ‘yes’ and it was one of my favourite years.

12. Never Stop Learning: Continuously seek knowledge and skill enhancement. Education is a lifelong journey. I try to do at least 1-2 new courses a year, next one is AI that feels like an exciting yet dauting new era.

13. Speak Up: Find your voice and advocate for yourself. Your perspectives and insights are valuable contributions to the discourse.

14. Craft Your Brand: Work out your personal brand rooted in authenticity. Knowing your brand helps drive good decision-making.

15. Perfection Is Overrated: Strive for excellence but recognize that perfection is elusive, and the time spent bridging the gap between 80% and 100% could be twice as long as getting from 0% to 80%. Be comfortable with iterations along the way and it is ok to make mistakes. I had one boss say to me, ‘I want you to make mistakes, otherwise you aren’t doing anything different.’

16. Combat Imposter Syndrome: Acknowledge your achievements and capabilities. You belong in the spaces you inhabit. Get supporters in your network that can shake you out of feeling like an imposter…and remember everyone feels like an imposter sometimes.

17. Know Your Worth: Advocate for fair compensation and recognition. Your contributions deserve acknowledgment!

18. Get inspired: Surround yourself with environments and individuals that inspire and uplift you – this is both personally and professionally.

19. Leave a Lasting Impression: I always say your character is defined not by your first day but by your last. Leave the right legacy.

20. Back Yourself & Be Brave: Believe in your abilities and resist self-doubt – I have never met someone my age that says, ‘I wish I was less brave when I was younger’.

I am still on this journey and still learning everyday – but it has been a great 30-year rollercoaster, and I am so grateful for those that I have met who have shaped me along the way.