Doing my bit

It seems that the reaction to my recipe wheeze has gone to my head. I'm going to try to be useful again. But it won't be for many.

Let me explain.

While I dearly love the fact I'm part of global subculture thing, like the name says, I am a Northern Planner. I plan Up North. Hopefully, people will have an idea of what it's like doing what I do, where I do it. There must be a bit of osmosis through visiting here from time to time - and in the vainglorious hope that it may be a little bit diverting, I'll get around to being a bit more specific about life out here.

For now, I'll start with the obvious. Planners out here are rare. I'll meekly venture that planning in these boroughs is different too - more of a mindset than anything else. That's a whole post,and then some, so I'll leave it there for now. But however you cut it, getting a planning job outside of London ain't easy.

Unless you're very lucky, getting to be a northern planner  usually means doing something else in an agency first -  usually being a suit - or having been a planner somewhere else.  I was very lucky to have a boss who let me learn on the job (do you ever stop?) and send me on loads of APG courses.

Which brings me to basics. Reading John Steel is a great start, but learning mundane, essential things like the difference between groups and quant is virtually impossible without a mentor, or trips to London. You can have the skills, with no where to put it.

It would be easy for a suit up north, who blogs, to think planning is easy - all theory and drinking coffee. So I'm taking it upon myself to share some basic learning from all those courses and learning the hard way Sorry if 99% of you find it like sucking eggs, but if I want more planners to talk to out here ( and I love the ones here already by the way) I've got to put my money where my mouth is and help people who may want to be one.

Little of it will be original, it's gleaned from the wisdom of course leaders, so I'll name check where I can. Hope that avoids any delusions of grandeur accusations. While I'm no one, these people are not. Folks like George Bryant, Merry Baskin, Janet Grimes and, of course Russell. And I'll be starting with what the hell planning is actually for.

For now, here's a link to this blog's most visited post - working with suits. In case you weren't around in this time last year.

And hopefully those people who actually know what they're talking about can add to this stuff with their comments.

Comments

[Marcus]

You know what NP - that's probably the most damn useful post about planning ever.

I have the advantage that I live in Europe so I'll get my comment in before Rob. I can't imagine that he'll disagree with me and either, I suspect, would Russell. They'll do a better job of explaining why but it's a fact none the less.

If you're a young planner, or someone who wants to get into advertising and thinks planning is tops then hang around here. Honestly people.

[Marcus]

I meant... neither would Russell.

[Rob @ Cynic]

The thing that I love about 'Planners In Regions That Don't Typically Plan' is that they are so rare, their mindset is to continually fight for the right of their existence.

Rather than sitting back in the safe, comforting knowledge their discipline has achieved mass acceptance and credibility - these people look to relentlessly demonstrate their value and capabilities to bosses, colleagues and paying clients.

The reason I love this is that to me, planning is becoming too much about conversation and not enough about action - and yet the planners who are held up in the highest esteem [ie: George, Russell, Merry and the like] are not the ones who just pontificate for days and days and days ... they are the ones who have got off their arses, worked and collaberated with a wider team and MADE STUFF HAPPEN.

I think there is a humungous value in this whole area NP and personally I believe you should be part of continuing Russell's "Ad School On The Web" thingy because planning is an active role, not a passive role and quite often - unless you are with the right boss or mentor - you could quite easily miss this element all together, especially if you are brought up in an area where planning has little left to really prove.

Love this post - love your attitude - love that planning still has people with fight left in them.

[Marcus]

See, He did a better job of explaining why.

[russell]

I'm with Rob, I love the back to basics stuff, I was going to ask you to be part of the Faculty at the New School of the Web. Fancy that?

[Rob @ Cynic]

You'd better say 'yes' to Russell NP ...

And I am glad my comment met with your approval Marcus. You are a tougher judge than Simon Cowell!

[NP]

Russell, of course and thanks for asking.

Marcus and Rob, you're too kind. Fight left in me? You've no idea...

[Rob @ Cynic]

Why do you think I like you?

[NP]

For my looks of course...

[Rob @ Cynic]

That's right - your looks, how did you guess? Don't tell me, because 'I'm only human!'

[lauren]

this is why i love hangin' around this blog and others like it. it's not all pontificating and wanking on about how great you are* - it's about real contribution and giving away what you want to keep. yay!

*although you are great and the occasional pontification is justified

[Jade]

NP - this is great.

I'm not a planner but once upon a time worked in BD for an agency that didn't have planners - I now realise that what I was doing then was part of a planner’s role.

I'm not sure where to next, career wise, but I will definitely be considering working my way into planning. In the meantime I am enjoying reading and learning from blogs like yours.

Thanks

[NP]

Thanks Jade, and I've got to agree that planning is (and should be)done by people without that job title.