The Great Value of Experience
It's been said that there is no substitute for experience. Yet, know-how developed down in the trenches over a period of many years is often overlooked.
I'm 40-something and often look to my friends in their 50s, 60s, and 70s for advice. More and more of them are leaving the workforce (most on their own terms), taking irreplaceable institutional knowledge with them. Thankfully, many are pulled back into the fold, lured by lucrative part- or full-time consulting arrangements. I like the trend. These experts have been down the road and learned many lessons along the way. No matter how talented we are, they can offer insights and direction that improve our decisions as well as help make us better professionals and people.
So what does this have to do with marketing? Frankly, a lot. It's definitely something to think about when you are hunting for creative talent. My advice is to look for a good combination of energy, fresh perspectives, and experience. If you are already in the middle of a campaign, and it's not quite where you want it to be, seek out the experienced. He or she may be able to offer a quick, affordable, intelligent solution.
Fact is, I've work with people who have probably forgotten more than I'll ever know, and I truly value them as mentors and friends. I've also worked with those who think that they know a lot more than they really do. Their lack of experience shows up at the worst possible times. When the going gets tough, they can't (or won't) rise to the challenge.
No matter what age group you are in (although my 78-year-old father-in-law is not likely to be in the market for a wise old counselor), ask yourself if you are making the most of all that older generations have to offer in the way of guidance. You might even try building a multi-generational project team. It's a dynamic that has worked for me, and I've seen it produce results for others.
A final bit of advice in closing: Forget the sages at your own peril. They have learned from their successes and failures and should be treasured resources. Ignore their advice, and risk re-learning what they already know and are often all too happy to share. As the Danish proverb puts it, "He knows the water best who has waded through it."
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