Field Technician

I coach a lot of creative professionals who come to me at real crossroads in their careers - some have a menu of choices they are trying to decide from, or for some, it’s, ‘help me to do anything other than what I am doing right now!’ Regardless of which curated coaching path we end up travelling along, the process starts with a deep dive into the unconscious mind and ends up with a lateral shift and a conversation with someone you never imagined. (I say ends, but that’s really the start). My point is this, we are all capable of polishing a CV, calling a recruiter or going to a network event but real finds are made when you step outside your networks and allow yourself to get curious. Rather than think, who do I know, think who don’t I know? Time and time again people tell me I want to do X but I don’t know anyone, or they give up when a quick-fire email to friends, or friends of friends yields nothing. SLOW DOWN . Do your detective work. Challenge yourself to think outside your normal circle and widen your contact strategy. Get comfortable with using LinkedIn, it's still, in my opinion, the best platform for seeking out professionals who share your interests and voice interesting opinions. See what causes they support, and what events they pop up at. There will be someone doing something very similar to what you’d like to try somewhere in the world. 9/10 times those people are very generous with their time IF they sense a real connection and passion. And this is the point, your standard cover note and a CV will probably not be enough. Neither is the sycophantic, I’ve been a great fan approach. Take time to do your research. What nugget of info can you share with them that shows a deeper level of interest or knowledge? Equally, as much as you want to speak to the CEO, are they the right person? A great piece of advice someone once gave to me was, to aim your intro to the middle ranks of a company. Someone within reach of the decision-makers, but not…

Posted 25 Jul 2026

(And how to say it. ) No to free pitching. So the ad industry finally seems to be finding a singular voice on calling out unhealthy business practice. The message is clear. Learn how to say, ‘No’, or raise your hand to being a (worn out) door mat. For too long we’ve given, ‘Yes I can’ gold star status. So let’s hear it for, ‘No, not for me’. And relish every word. But why is it so damn difficult to say? What scares us the most about ‘nope’ is that we perceive it to somehow diminish us, make us less ‘good’. Less likeable. Truth is it’s where respect starts. So much of this people-pleasing stuff goes back to when were children. It came gilded as manners - being good and polite. But boy was it loaded. And we knew it. So now when every fibre of our being is screaming, ‘No!’ there’s a mute child within, worried about doing the wrong thing. Bringing this back to creative basecamp. I’m sure you can think of a million and one examples of when ‘no’ is the perfectly right thing to say. Can you stay and work up a few more examples? Can you work the weekend? Can you give me some ideas (that I will then not credit you for)? Can you knock me up a quick logo /speed read my script (again)? Cut to that feeling when you show up or hand over. You’ve been ‘had’ AGAIN. You missed out on doing something you really wanted to do. You denied yourself. You know what I hate the most? Rather than say, ‘No’, we fall back on those pathetic well-worn excuses. You know the ones. Who is fooling who? And the guilt, the need for a fantastic memory. All because. And even when we’ve made a pact with ourselves to say, ‘No’, we still get caught off guard. Why does a perfectly reasonable, ‘No’, pop out as a, ‘Yes’? I’ll tell you why. We don’t practise saying, ‘No’ enough. Unlike all our positive affirmations, we just don’t flex the, ‘No’ muscle in a way that’s easy to voice when we need it. ‘No’ needs a brand refresh. ENTER…

Posted 25 Jul 2026