I am “just a student”
Well it has been a few months since I have submitted a post. After being laid off I have actually been pretty busy with a variety of projects. In addition to performing some contract marketing and design work, I have also been involved in a variety of projects including a couple non-profits, my alma mater’s Board of Governors and several local business associations. I also have been lucky enough to get back into the academic world by taking a few classes in Graphic Design. What happened in one of my classes last week is the topic of my post today.
It’s the first day of class and everyone has a little trepidation. To try to alleviate this, the professor has everyone go around and state who they are, why they are here and what they want to get out of class. Most of the students communicate well and articulate exactly what was asked. It was the two younger students’ responses that really were profound.
When asked who they were, two students stated, “I am just a student”. I thought this was odd and really got me thinking about why these two seem to have a low confidence level. After more discussion, it was apparent that I was correct. They didn’t think they had very much to contribute, which is wrong. Just because their age, experience and knowledge doesn’t match the rest of the group, doesn’t mean they cannot bring value to the group.
I began to think about my own career and how I have battled with confidence over the years. Professionally, I have become very comfortable about my skills and know my contribution to the marketing field and my clients is significant. Now, I regularly become involved with colleagues that are smarter, more influential and better than me at a variety of things. BUT, that doesn’t mean I can’t contribute significant value to the project, initiative or campaign. That is not to say that I don’t have my days that are tougher than others. But, when I am in doubt, I know that I need to take ownership of myself and my skillset. I know I play a valuable role in business and have the talent to achieve what I choose to pursue.
That applies to everyone. Own your abilities and know that they are important to your business, family and society. You are not “just a student”.
adam-oleary
Adam is a graduate of Colorado State University (bachelor’s degree in marketing), and he has experience on both the client and agency side of the marketing world. These experiences led him to come up with a unique, more efficient business model, which he’s incorporated into Encite Marketing. Adam sets the strategic direction for all Encite projects, developing integrated marketing campaigns that bring results. He takes a consultative approach with clients, educating them about how the process works, and keeping them in the loop about end goals, steps, and tasks.