Finding Happiness at Work

My advice for figuring out the right agency for your next role.

This past Friday, Rob shared a good piece of advice for those considering joining a new agency. In particular, I like how he phrased this bit:

"... as much as working for one of the ‘cool agencies’ might sound great, it’s never as good as having a boss who will take you to places you didn’t even know existed."

Having spent a good amount of time either talking to, or working with, several agencies over the last 18 months and recently taking on a new role, I have a similar point of view.

My recommended approach looks something like the above diagram—which is how I evaluated places to potentially join as I talked to them. The tricky thing here is that you have know yourself pretty well for this to truly work.

In other words, it won't be easy. You're going to have to do some deeper thinking and soul searching to determine your purpose and clearly understand what you value and believe.

Or, maybe you know that stuff already. In that case, it won't be so hard.

As an aside, I think this is what the best recruiters in our industry do for us and for the agencies with whom they are trying to fill roles. But back to the point...

What this really comes down to is the people (at both the agency and the clients)—especially the agency's leadership and the team(s) that you'll work with every day. It's the people that make a job either enjoyable or miserable. That doesn't change no matter how "cool" the agency or brands you're working for and/or on.

If you want to be happy in your work life, chose to work with and for great people.

Comments

[Ashly Stewart]

This is great advice.

[Andy LeMay]

Attempting to create a similar diagram for myself over the last few weeks has been one of the hardest things I've done in years, and it's really highlighted the importance of knowing yourself and knowing what feeds your personal supply of satisfaction.

[Tyler Hayes]

Not too dissimilar from Bud Caddell's viral venn diagram on the same topic: http://whatconsumesme.com/2009/posts-ive-written/how-to-be-happy-in-business-venn-diagram/

[paul isakson]

Thanks, Ashly.

Andy - agree. It can be challenging. Good luck. Let me know if you want to grab a coffee and chat.

Tyler - Not the same topic. Bud's was about how a company can make money and be happy. This is about finding a job in advertising/marketing that will make an individual happy. Plus, mine says nothing about money because money can't make you happy ultimately.

[Rob]

You make it sound like I craft what I say - if you looked at the line immediately after the one you highlighted, you'd know that's not the case.

Very happy to hear about your new adventure and how the opportunity makes you feel. Awesome.

[paul isakson]

Rob - I wasn't intending to make it seem that way. Sorry. I just liked that you were pointing out that people need to look at who they'll be working with just as much as they look at the brands and the name on the doors of the agency. Good stuff. Thanks for the inspiration to write this post.

[Rob]

I'm only teasing and besides, I was saying you were making me sound far better than I really am which is something I could definitely do with.

[Sean Howard]

I love that money was not listed.

And I think we could all learn a lot from taking a balanced approach of weighing intrinsic and extrinsic motivators when looking for a new position. But knowing our beliefs, values, purpose and even interests is a high ask of most of us. We are the eternally lost and unmindful. ;)

Sean

[Laura Belle]

Fantastic Paul. I've been mulling over a lot of these points recently and it's nice to read some similar thoughts.

[erinn]

Paul. Love this. It's why I am where I am. It's also why I miss you :) Keep up the great work, proud to be in a community that supports this type of thinking and feeling.