We’ve all been in this situation; unsure if the grass is greener elsewhere, and whether we’re getting the most out of the place, time, space and challenges. Truth is, there’s definitely more to experience, but it’s never going to be absolutely perfect, and that’s an unrealistic goal.
The naive way to think about agency life is to believe there is a perfect model out there somewhere else. An agency that is wildly creative and ruthlessly organised. Totally trend-aware and strategically disciplined, often following good process at every step (ahhhh). Full of senior brilliance and generous with junior opportunity (🥹). No politics, great clients, healthy margins, cultural relevance and the kind of ideas that make everyone else feel sick.
I’d be crazy to not admit at this point that this is exactly what I expected from my first job at an agency who had a great reputation for big ideas. But the reality is, this perfect place does not exist. Nor does it need to. I don’t say that to burst your bubble, I say that earnestly because when you know what’s important to you and your work flow, you can choose what you will and won’t accept.
It’s not because the people are bad, and not because the industry is uniquely dysfunctional, but because agencies are built on trade-offs. They are businesses made up of competing priorities. These are the 5 you need to know:
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