Tips for a new Junior Strategist that you wish you would have been told? Slight imposter syndrome happening, but I know it’s natural.

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Read:
Sun Tzu Art of War
Thinking Fast and Slow
Marcus Aurelius - Meditations

Then pay attention when senior planners work. How briefs are negotiated. How work is sold.

And map back to these books.

Take as much time as you need. Then pick out the next books and repeat. It’s a process. Never ends

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Was a junior till last year. As passionate as I was to jump on and write amazing briefs after I got into strategy, it took me a long time to realize that I only had a theoretical knowledge of what I wanted to do. My advice would be to learn as much as you can from your director/ cso. Take on as many projects you can no matter how small. If you trust your boss and show your enthusiasm, they'll probably end up miyagi-ing you. Oh yeah and also read, check what resources you have available at the agency. There's also a couple good books lying around the web that you can get for free. I'd say also figure out what kind of strategist you want to be. Keep working towards your T by building a solid foundation in all respects to planning

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PS: imposter syndrome is still going strong even at the next level especially when working with more senior people from other departments. Just keep in mind that you're learning every day and you'll eventually build a trust in your own skillsets

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Ditto on Art of War, using silence as a tool for acquiescence should be taught in pre-k.

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Talk to your boss about expectations for your role. You are there to learn and at this level you’re not yet expected to have intrinsic knowledge. We need your curiosity, responsibility, energy, and commitment at that stage more than a specific answer to a given question. Odds are you will be MORE than fine

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It’s ok to know nothing, it took me 9 months to feel like I knew anything and figure out how I could truly help

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Do the thing you’ve been asked to do - that’s where you’ll be most helpful. Don’t try and reinvent the wheel. Well, you can do that. But first do the thing you’ve been asked to do, then reinvent the wheel.

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Have a point of view! Send weekly emails with category/competitive/industry updates. But don’t just send links, say what you think about the thing. And take a stab a drafting every brief that your team has to write. Even if someone more senior is owning it.
And if all else fails just remember, no one has all the right answers. We’re all just guessing based on experience. ❤️

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Thank you so much everyone! I’m trying to learn as much as I can

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