On the Porch, May is “grad …” month. Believe it or not, it’s not just graduates and graduating. “Grad” definitely has to do with branding and marketing. Overall, it’s about great celebrations for our Porch team, family and clients.

Grad Is For Graduation Graduates

We have two kiddos graduating from kindergarten. Rock on, twins! And one team mate has an accomplished high school graduate going on to do great things in business school and in golf. Our intern, Lillian, is planning to be an August MBA grad. Plus, I have a college graduate — go on with your bad self, son. I couldn’t be prouder.

Grades Start With Grad

All those with school age children feel me here. That final grade card is coming to a mailbox near you. We see how hard you worked! And, oh yeah, the standardized test results. How’d we all do on those AP tests and finals? Whew! What a feeling! (It’s over. At least for now.)

Gradual Branding and Marketing Changes

It’s rad to be grad! Gradual, that is. Taking a measured approach on marketing pays off. Our clients are embracing incremental changes in strategy and tactics this year. This deliberate and consistent path to progress allows our clients’ brands and teams to experience sustainable enhancement. It is a more stable approach to marketing resulting in visible, continuous improvement. Slow and steady wins the race I always say.

Grad … okay … GraTitude, But It Works!

We are so grateful for our team, clients and advocates, here at the Porch. Amidst all the grad chaos that May brings, we are celebrating those who value that we continue to do what we love, with those we love, for those we love, while taking care of our loves. May was something else and we enjoyed every chaotic moment of it. Congrats Grads!

It’s graduation season! As thousands of young people across the country don their caps and gowns, I’d like to give some advice to all of the future marketers out there. Here are a few things to remember that have taken me years to learn. And to be honest, I am still learning.

It’s Okay to Ask for Help

There’s a pit in my stomach that forms whenever I need to ask for help. I have to remind myself that I don’t have to do it all myself. One of the wonderful things about working for an agency is that everyone has different skills. Different co-workers can pitch in on different parts of a project when needed. They can also give you advice on how to get things done.

Asking for help doesn’t mean your slacking or not taking your responsibilities seriously. It means you should thank your lucky stars that you have a team backing you. Marketing is a team sport and it works better when you work with others.

Writing Skills are Important – and Rare

At the start of my career, I took my writing skills for granted. I thought everyone can write. No big deal.

After a few more years in the workforce I learned that everyone can write but not everyone can write well. So much of marketing is writing. Or starts with writing – advertising copy, scripts, creative briefs, white papers, taglines, web copy, blog posts, social media and the list goes on. If you can hone your writing skills, you will stand out from the pack.

Stop Worrying So Much

Early in my career, I worried about so many things. I worried about finding my “niche.” It seemed like everyone in my office was good at something I wasn’t. (Which is by design, see “It’s Okay to Ask for Help” above.) I worried that I wouldn’t be able to get to where I wanted to go, which was a title with the word “director” in it.

Its understandable to worry a lot about your career, especially at the beginning of it. In my case, the only antidote that I could find to my constant worrying was time and experience. I stopped caring about having a niche when I figured out that I am interested in many things . My advice: figure out what you’re interested in and what is important to you. Develop your natural talents and stop trying to force yourself into some mold you think you need to fit into.

Your Goals Might Change

Which brings me to that “brass ring” syndrome I had for the longest time. At some point, I figured out that being the director of something was not going to make me happy. Making things, working with great people, moving fast and yes, sometimes breaking things, that makes me happy. A fancy title does not.

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In sum, it’s important to think about what makes you happy and fulfilled. I know that’s easy for me to say, especially from my vantage point of having spent many years in this industry. And I know that the first few years in any career are going to feel like you’ve been thrown into the deep end.

Remember, it’s easier to float on a rising tide than to swim against it. You just have to find the right tide. So, go and catch your next wave, and see where it takes you.  

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More advice for recent graduates:

• Just graduated? Here’s how to start looking for a job
• CEOs share their best advice for college graduates
• Graduating in a recession: Advice from ’08 and ’09 grads for the class of 2021