The last thing anyone needs right now is another “hot take” on the state of the industry. Doom meets gloom. Worst it’s ever been. We all get it. It’s shite. So, I’m going to zig when everyone else is zagging.

Here’s something positive. Something useful. Something helpful.

Like Ted Lasso, all the best creatives I know have one thing in common – they’re curious. They love exploring new brands and products. They search for insights to turn into ideas. They take joy in walking in someone else’s shoes. To see what someone else sees. To feel what they feel.

But there is one exception. There’s one set of shoes that never quite fit. Our own.

Let me explain. You read The Stable for a bunch of reasons, right? You’re looking for industry updates. Who’s winning and who’s not. Pitches. Awards. Promotions. You’re looking at who’s hiring and firing. In the back of your mind, you’re thinking, “What’s my next move?” But you can also hear the voice of self-doubt. Is my folio good enough? Should I crack just one more big idea? What if I get retrenched in this market? When you think about the next step in your career what’s the first emotion that comes to mind? Fear? Nervousness? Confusion?

Most creatives are our own worst critic. We’re terrible at knowing where we are and seeing when we’re going.

It’s even true for a grizzled, old creative like me. I recently relaunched my consultancy business – new name, new logo, new tagline. It was well overdue. But relaunching had never occurred to me. It was not my idea. I’d become so blinkered that I’d completely forgotten that was even possible. It took a fellow creative to suggest it to me. Someone I trust.

Which brings me to what we all need right now. Mentors.

Today, more than ever, we creatives need to embrace each other. To help each other. To communicate better. We need old hard-heads to help new-arrivals find their feet. We need newbies to help re-energise those close to the end of their careers.

It’s a tragedy. So few agency mentoring programs still exist. I know Ogilvy ran a great program 10 years ago. Rumour has it Accenture Song, Clems and M+C have programs.

But there are options out there. Assisterhood is an amazing program putting glass-ceiling breakers side-by-side with those who what to do some smashing. Young bloods ignore agency boundaries to link the next generation of creative with each other. There’s even the Hermit Club for WFH freelancers hankering for a bit of office cooler banter.

But honestly, if you want a mentor, just ask. You’ll be amazed who says ‘Yes’.

Rob Morrison is a rarity in advertising – a grey-haired working creative. His consultancy, ‘morro’, is dedicated to curing businesses laryngitis. Giving companies back their human voice. 

Here are two more opinion pieces from Rob Morrison:

Cover image by Luca Nardone