I haven’t worked at Resource for 30 years, only a few people here have (shout out to Easty and Alan).

I’ve been in the industry for 13, and at Resource for around 3.5 years, with 2.5 as Head of Creative. Which, in agency time, is somewhere between “just getting started” and “I’ve seen some sh*t.”

But when you join a 30-year-old integrated comms agency, you inherit more than just clients and credentials. You inherit expectations, standards, loads of stories, and occasionally, a few questionable file names from 2017.

So, in the spirit of Resource turning 30, here are 30 things I’ve learned along the way.

The early years

1. Is attendance optional?
   I skipped a fair amount of art college to play Mortal Kombat. What I didn’t skip was being around other creatives, which turned out to be the actual education and still one of the most enjoyable aspects of studio life.
2. “Most Improved Student” is exactly the back-handed compliment you think it is
   Scooping that accolade at my Degree Show was technically an award win, but emotionally… a little dig in the ribs.
3. Being thrown in at the deep still counts as “development”
   Straight out of uni, branding and designing three major events a year.
   No fear. No clue. Lots of learnings that I’ve carried through my career.
4. At 25, I was basically a one-man magazine publisher
   Booking adverts, writing articles, interviewing celebrities and sports stars, designing spreads, overseeing production… all for a lads’ mag aimed at garage technicians. As niche as it sounds and as chaotic as it was – I loved it all.
5. Just grab a pen
   I always had (and still have) a sketchbook and fineliner in hand. You never know where or when the golden nugget will appear.

Learning the hard way

6. Big mistakes
   30,000 copies of a magazine with “Gavin” plastered over a supplier advert… now I make sure placeholder copy is always in magenta!
7. You can quit a job after 4 days
   And sometimes, you absolutely should.
8. A newfound respect for freelancers
   12-hour days while freelancing… completely by accident. Turns out when you’re the only one responsible, you never really switch off.
9. Sh*t briefs are universal
   Doesn’t matter where you work. They will find you.
10. Dream jobs aren’t always forever
    Being made redundant after 10 months in what I thought was the job. Turns out, it was just a job and lead me to where I am now.

The plot twists

11. The 6-month sabbatical to travel (some of) the World
    Left to re-energise and came back refreshed with long hair and a shocking attempt at a beard. But my trusty sketchbook was by my side the whole way.
12. In-house vs agency
    Having worked both sides, both think the other has it easier. Both are wrong.
13. Freelancing isn’t for everyone
    Chasing invoices and cancelled bookings will have you questioning your life choices at 2am on a Wednesday night.
14. Fast pace isn’t a phase
    It’s fundamental.

Joining Resource

15. First project – a casual £500,000 campaign
    Nothing like a West Yorkshire wide behaviour change campaign to ease you in. A true baptism of fire – but it allowed me to set my stall out early.
16. Standards exist before you arrive
    Joining an established agency means the bar is already set. Your job is not to trip over it. I joined a team of experienced, talented creatives and continue to learn from them daily.
17. Sh*t briefs still exist here too
    No further comment needed.
18. Rebrands, rebrands, rebrands…
    Whether clients, commsHERO, or Resource itself – rebranding is always a challenge, but always enthralling.

Becoming Head of Creative

19. Promoted after 11 months
    A career defining moment, and a real show of faith from the Directors.
20. Leading does not mean DIY
    Leading a team of 6 multi-skilled creatives is not the same as doing-the-doing. It’s fun, frenetic and by far the most rewarding facet of my role.
21. You’re only as good as your team
    Luckily, mine are very good. I’m still learning, both leadership and my craft, and having a strong team around me allows me to push myself every day.
22. Also, you learn from them constantly
    Equal parts humbling and reassuring.

The Team

23. Six multi-skilled creatives = controlled chaos
    In the best possible way. Whether that’s getting Trav’s “Fresh pair of eyes” on a job (satsumas stuffed under his glasses), Gav’s giddiness at a creative concept, Andy’s Joker card, Erin’s spillages, Georgia’s wrong end of the stick, or Lee’s insane Daylist names… it’s all fun and games in studio.
24. Mentoring beats managing
    Watching Georgia, our Graduate Designer, grow through the graduate scheme has been one of the highlights of the last 18 months and my career on the whole.
25. Recognition and reward
    Promoting Erin in under a year felt right and her work is testament to that.
26. Hiring can be a gamble
    Sometimes you build a brilliant team… sometimes someone quits on day two. It keeps things interesting.
27. And then you hire again anyway
    Because that’s the job. Bringing Lee into the team makes us a team of 7 and rounds our skillset off nicely.

The culture matters more than people realise

28. Fixed tea breaks are non-negotiable for some
    10:30am and 3:30pm. I know not to book meetings with Trav during his scheduled tea times. God forbid.
29. The nights out are… heavy
    Kirkstall Brewery, the races, the walks… the hangovers.
30. The work is only half the story
    Campaigns, rebrands, pitches, lots of workshops, presenting to the Mayor… it all matters. But the thing you remember most is the team around you.

Closing thought

Resource is 30 years old. I’ve only been here for a small part of that, but long enough to know that Resource will be here for another 30 years.

I’ve learnt plenty of lessons along the way in my career, and I’m sure I’ll learn plenty more. But if the next 30 years are anything like the last few I’ve had here… they’ll be fast, slightly chaotic, and definitely worth it.