Live for the Moment and Enjoy the Downtime

There are so many great things about the advertising and media industry: the people, the creativity, the energy, and the excitement of pitching. But perhaps one of the best things is its relative irrelevance.

What we do isn't life or death. Most consumers won't notice if an advert goes out incorrectly, or even if it doesn't go out at all.

Taking pride in your work and striving to be the best you can be is important. But don't beat yourself up too much when things don't go to plan.

It's all about perspective. Enjoy the friendships, connections, and experiences you've built throughout your career in an industry you love.

This weekend, I'm flying to Madrid to spend time with friends I first met through working in Leeds for over 30 years. Although I now live in Lisbon, I've come to appreciate how important it is to maintain genuine friendships, regardless of distance or the effort required to keep them going.

As I've got older, it's become less about the quantity of friendships and more about the quality. Strong friendships take effort — not just when you need something, but also when you're simply checking in for no reason at all.

You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends. Choose wisely and hold on to the good ones.