Shake things up.

Working abroad. We should all do it at least once, especially as it’s so accessible in this industry. David Droga encourages creative people to work abroad to understand different cultures and tackle obstacles they can only face in foreign markets. It’s hard to disagree with him. He's worked in Australia, Asia, Europe, and America—now look where he is. Plus, who the fuck doesn't want to travel? My partner and I were lucky enough to land our first proper job for DDB Vilnius. Yes, that is in Lithuania, and yes, we didn't have any idea where it was either. But, it was a massive opportunity at such an early stage of our career. We had to make the most of it. It really was a case of being chucked in at the deep end, before we knew it we were in front of clients, heading up pitches, on set, pulling 16-hour days for 3 weeks solid, basically just getting shit done - and loving it. The pressure was immense, but it's true what they say, you really do thrive under it. I think it's all about finding that balance between work and life that helps keep you calm and focused. The fact Vilnius is rammed full of pubs that practically give booze away for free helped balance out the long working hours. Our Creative Director, Gediminas Juskys was a fountain of advertising knowledge and an absolute legend. He pushed us, taught us, and let us take credit where it was due. Never one to kill off an idea, he'd let us explore it and figure out it didn't work for ourselves. I appreciate that he put his trust in us and left us alone on set with directors numerous times. There's no better way to learn. 

He pushed us to create campaigns that I'm still proud of today and helped us win some silverware. The one thing I didn't like (but is impressive nonetheless) is how much better his understanding of the English language was when compared to ours.
Anyway, that's my account of living/working abroad, and it certainly won't be my last. I've got my sights set on Amsterdam, maybe even Hanoi. Possibly somewhere in New Zealand? Who knows? I definitely didn't see myself in Eastern Europe, but it happened, and I loved it. All I know is that no matter what happens, I'll be ready for it. 

Go out and explore - creative problem-solving is a worldwide language.