I keep a written to-do list in a small notebook on my desk that I review at the beginning of the day to assess what important deliverables I have for the day as well as what I need to focus on in the future. My days are usually jam-packed, but I do my best to write out a to-do list that includes immediate tasks as well as inspiring project to think about in the future – because that is what really gets me through my day.
The day is usually packed with meetings, which means planning for when I can focus on work (e.g. reviewing briefs, writing briefs, planning reports, reviewing reports, content reviews, and personnel related reviews). Meetings consist of either discussing strategies in place, planning for new campaigns and sometimes they are broader business meetings where marketing is just one piece of the discussion. But a daily schedule can look like the following:
9:00am – Get to the office, review daily tasks, catch-up on email or any follow-ups that were not completed the day before
10am – daily stand-up with the team
11am-4pm – meetings interspersed with time blocked out to address tasks
5pm-6pm – final review of the day’s projects and planning for the next day
Rinse and repeat.
What advice would you give someone considering this career?
I cannot emphasize the importance of active listening when you’re in a position of a marketer. Listening to your team, listening to your departmental partners, listening to your audience, to your direct reports, your managers. When at the office, you want to be actively listening. Active listening is fully concentrating on what is being said rather than just passively ‘hearing’ the message of the speaker. Practicing active listening will help you understand a message better and foster reassurance and trust with the people you work with.
What is a book or movie that has inspired you?
The Lord of the Rings books have always been an inspiration. The themes of triumph over adversity, the strength of friendship, the idea of fighting for the greater good are all beliefs I take with me in both in my personal and professional life.
Do you (or your company) offer internships or job shadow opportunities to high school students? If so, how would a student go about applying for one of those?
My company does offer internships to those who are looking for a career in the music industry and want to understand products. The internships are not standard, i.e. they come about when there’s a need for support in a specific department. However, I’d encourage students interested in working in the music industry to keep tabs on the careers page – they usually list internships there.
https://www.daddario.com/careers
