Page 111 - Sorry, We're Not Hiring Any Visionaries Today

CHAPTER 13
There are always fresh bodies coming in to replace those who get over- whelmed. There are so many people in this field, and they are willing to do anything. Until they burn you out, and then they get fresh minds and the process just repeats.
I was burning the candle at both ends. I was in my early 20s and remember coming home at 2 a.m., waking up and then going to work. You can do that at that age. Despite the intense work schedule, the job felt like I was going to summer camp with my friends.
After about a year, I was let go. I don’t want to get into detail; I will say I learned a tremendous amount. I started freelancing when I was 23 years old. I helped out an agency with their very hectic pitch period. They were trying to win new business. I also helped with the existing business. But mostly, I was there to help them and support the strategy team.
I had my first actual consulting client at the age of 24. It was pretty awesome, but I still felt like I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing.
I worked with a brand called 10 Tree. They are an apparel company that plants 10 trees for every item purchased. I was the one who helped them de- velop the brand strategy for the company. I created the whole presentation and approach. After two solid months of work, I presented things to the team. I was scared shitless because I was young, and like most people who are in their 20s, I didn’t really believe in myself. At the end of my presenta- tion, I just heard silence. No one knew what to do, and eventually, people started clapping. It was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever experi- enced. It validated me and my work and capabilities and the value I worked so hard to bring to them. The strategy that I developed turned this company into a huge success.
I’m good at my work because I can look at a complex ecosystem. I can distill key insights, whether it’s around culture or competitors. But I can also bring personality and life into the world of analytics. I also see where we can go beyond this analytical pinpoint on a map.
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