1. It’s hard to get the hang of things. Maybe by nature, you are a human who is used to juggling deadlines, projects, and clients. But most of the time that isn’t the case. The first couple of months will be a whirlwind. But, after a while, things will start to make more sense.

2. Track your time accurately. Switching from project to project every 20 minutes might be a pain, but be sure to actually track your time properly. Otherwise, your project manager will kick your butt. Seriously, accuracy is key.

3. It’s OK to make mistakes. Messing up and having to start over a few days before a deadline isn’t the end of the world. Granted, it is a huge bummer. But, the project will get done and the world will continue to spin. Promise. Science says so.

4. Read all the things. Especially with digital strategy, trends change and technology is evolving. It’s extremely important to stay up to speed if you are wearing any sort of digital hat. You don’t want to get to a presentation and pitch an idea of a social trend that died five weeks ago. You will get laughed at.

5. Take chances. You aren’t going to know everything (don’t pretend to either, no one likes those people). But, if you have an idea, speak up. If you think something doesn’t make sense, or something is missing, don’t sit in silence. Some of the best ideas I’ve had I was afraid to say at first.

6. You are going to work outside of the hours of 9-5. Especially working in social media, which never stops. I work seven days a week, and I am monitoring channels every hour I am not asleep. Clients will text you at 7 p.m. on the weekend, sometimes just to tell you about their lives. Learn to love it.

7. Communication is extremely important. You probably thought you had strong communication skills. Maybe Aunt Sally endorsed you on LinkedIn so now—boom—you are an “expert.” Strong communication skills are a must in the agency world. You need to know how to communicate with clients, creatives, and bosses about the same thing but in a different way so they don’t A) freak out; or B) freak out.

8. Find a patient person to be your friend. Could be your parents, a roommate, or partner. Regardless, find the person who is readily available to listen to your BS day in and day out because they actually kinda care. (P.S. Thanks, person.)

9. Music helps. I would say that working in the creative industry almost requires you to have an awesome playlist that puts a little extra bounce in your step. Invest in Spotify premium and good headphones.

10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Again, no one knows everything. It’s OK to ask for help from your team. They are your team for a reason—they are there to help. The worst is when you wait too long to do so. I do not recommend that.

In the end, I wouldn’t trade agency life for anything. The fast-paced, team-oriented, critical-thinking nature of it has me hooked. I thrive on the competition, deadlines, and lifelong learning. And my team here at Redhead really is the cherry on top.