Always a beginner, never an expert

I strayed from JPIA because once in the industry for a while, I didn't want to blog as a "newbie." I wanted esteem. Well I'm here to say that was a rubbish idea.

Andrew Hovell, a planner over the pond, says it best: "I'm an idiot. Good." No matter if you just found out you want to be a planner or you've been in the industry for 20 years, keep your newbie hat on. Stay curious, stay involved, keep reading, keep trying.

A planner's job is never done.

Do you want to write for JPIA?

So I was thinking... would YOU like to write for JPIA?

A lot of the traffic that comes to this blog is young planners looking for their first job in advertising. What better resource to find than to hear it from junior planners themselves?! It would be pretty neat to see new posts and shared stories from others just like you.

So, if you are a junior planner or if you want to be a junior planner and you're interested in blogging but just don't know how to start and would like to join a collective for the greater planning good, please leave a comment below. If you leave your email, it will be easier to contact you. :)

Look forward to your feedback.

A new blog @ erinmiddleton.com

I've decided to graduate. Junior Planner I Am has been an absolutely invaluable networking and thought-development tool for me during the past two and a half years. In fact, in all of the response emails I've sent out to you regarding "how do I get a job in account planning?" I've said, start a blog - it is an extremely easy tool to use that will not only help you network but will help you develop your voice as a planner. As you try to get into the industry, you have to turn the discipline on yourself and differentiate your brand from all the other brands trying to get the same job as you. The focus of differentiation needs to be in how you think - how can you illustrate your thought process? How does it differ from the next person's?

Essentially, we all have access to the same information, so what's your spin going to be on it? As you think about your planning brand, keep this quote in mind:

"Creativity is essentially the combination of old ideas in new relationships." ~ James Webb Young in his book A Technique For Producing Ideas (1965)

It is with this in mind that I'm evolving my brand of ideas into a new blog to cover my love for social media, strategic marketing (planning), trends, culture, and some life along the way. :)

If you came here looking for advice on the question I address above, check out the category of links called "finding a job." And, as always, plan on.

my mission

WOW. Even though I've changed the header several times since I started this blog, my mission is still the same idea:

One of the most motivating words to me is connectivity: the value of being connected in order to grow. This blog should be a center for a learning, a place to share experiences and knowledge, and a social media outlet for junior planners who read blogs.

Funny that I probably wrote this in early 2008, and we couldn't be more connected to each other as we are today, and social media has taken off like wild fire.

I need to pay tribute to Piers for teaching me how to spot trends. :)

Overhaul

Hey JPIA fans, I want to apologize for the lack of serious content lately. I hate to disappoint. I have a lot to say and have found myself getting setback by "the fear of perfection" lately...it's stupid really. A wonderful recruiter once told me about stalling on my resume: "Well you're definitely not going to get a job that way!" True dat.

So I think what I need is a clean-up. As a strategist, I need a BIG IDEA to inspire the direction I go with this "overhaul."

BIG IDEA: creative connectivity? Inspire productivity? (woah, a rhyme!) how about: connected productivity? I wish I had a better word for productivity...NOTE TO PLANNERS: EVERY WORD ON THE BRIEF COUNTS, don't ever think that it doesn't.

I'm looking for inspiration lately. The work day sometimes just seems to fly by without any of it...damnit, I can do something about this. :)

Ok, so I know where I want to be. Where am I now - feeling stuck, bogged down by "too much stuff," overwhelmed with idealism, inhibited by deadlines. YIKES!

JPIA needs a pep-talk. Come on Junior! Get your sh*t together, you can do this! You love planning, creating ALL aspects of a strategy, and being creative with communications; The "social world" is so easy to get wrapped up in. Make time for your solo act; it will pay-forward into the social sphere tenfold.

off to clean-up now. Go!

Hulu is super COOL-u

An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy.



I did. Thank you.

pS > blogger peeps! I owe you lots of information, a ton has been going on in the agency lately and I'd love to update you all about it. lots of learning happening on my part. :) It's all good. I thank you Miami Ad School for inspiring me to be diligent, effective and creative.

Stay tuned, but until then

plan on plannaz