We're Lucky If We Can Get People To Do Their Timesheets

Sister Mary Catherine and her team of expert PMs are here to make sure you do your timesheets. Daily.

What?

I can't believe what I heard at conference. 

A job gets opened, you do the work, then it gets billed. You go to work, then you get paid.

In order to bill that job so you can get paid, someone probably did an estimate – which the client approved. Then you got the parameters of the project, and then off you went!

You worked a bunch of hours this day and that, maybe you worked on the project for a week solid. Plus overtime.

Sometime a week or a month (shame on management for allowing this) later, you are scrambling (and bitching) about getting timesheets done.

It takes for-ever. Why do we have to do timesheets?

Oh, it’s the end of the month and the agency has to do billing.

Because the agency needs cash flow.

The agency needs cash flow so they can pay you. They’re required to.

The problem is, you don’t remember exactly what you did and when. So maybe you go through email, or your notes, and you come up with an idea of what you think you did on the project.

I’ll bet you are way off. I'll bet you filled your required 8 hours per day. Because you're on salary - even though it actually took you 12 hour days. Hmm.

Why is this a problem? Because the estimate the client agreed to probably doesn’t match the hours you posted. Then the billing folks adjust the time.

Or worse – you’re on the hot-seat because you’re constantly over on hours. And that doesn't even count the hours you didn't post. It actually took a lot more time than anyone knows.

No record of reality.

The agency is losing tons of revenue because of you.

You are choosing to give away your raise.

Bottom line: if we don’t know exactly (or as close as possible) how many hours you are spending on a particular project, we will continually estimate incorrectly; the client will continually expect the same level of service for the same price – and the client will continue to make changes because they never seem to get billed for all those hours.

Do you work for free? Nope.

Do your timesheets. Every. Day.  

Are they a giant pain? I’ll bet the system you’re using is actually very easy. You just have to quit whining, open the program and click a box.

Wow. That’s not so hard. Try it for a week. You'll be surprised at the free time you'll have at month-end. To do more billable work. 

Wow, I see a bonus coming.

I’m currently attending the Advantage User’s Group Conference at Red  Rock Casino in sunny Las Vegas.

Advantage has awesome tools that make time entry super easy. Having a hard time with timesheet compliance? Call me.

I am the PM second from the left.

Getting Ready For The Advantage Users Group

I'll be heading up to Red Rock Resort in a few minutes to check in and say hello so many friends and colleagues I've worked with over the past few years. 

Conferences are great places to gather information, share, make new friends, and pay attention too. There will be a lot of cool stuff presented, and when you pay attention, you'll learn something new that you didn't know the software could do. (It's always improving!)

So get away from all that manual crap and Just Say No to spreadsheets. Get with the program and enjoy The Advantage Software Company User's Group!

I'll see you there!

The So Called Talent Crisis

You can buy this poster at The Keep Calm-o-matic. Click on the image to take you there.

You go to university, get an advanced degree, graduate, and then disappointed – no pissed – that the offered salaries aren’t what you think they should be, or worse, your talent is not valued. So says this piece in Digiday.

I get it. You’ve been told – no you listened to – all those experts (and educators) who said that the best education, nurturing the best talent, would land you in the job of your dreams with the salary and culture to go along with it.

You may be bringing some awesome new ideas and talent to the agency, but you just got out of school.

You have no experience. You are unproven.

You have never sat across from a client who is telling you, “I want something marvelous and innovative”, but is a) unwilling to pay (much) for it, and b) has a specific idea which he will personally art direct. To. Death.

And it doesn’t matter who you are, that breathtaking portfolio – created in the dreamy (albeit competitive) world of the classroom – has nothing to do with reality.

The creative that sells stuff is, unfortunately, reality.

Oh, I know what it’s like to know you have a lot more bankable talent than anyone is willing to pay for. But you have to learn the ropes. And that’s not the old way to do business; it is the way to do business.

When clients are squeezing every single cent out of an agency, there isn’t a whole lot of cash to go around. Especially for someone who is extraordinary but hasn’t a clue on how agencies make money.

So I don’t have a lot of sympathy for new grads who aren’t willing to do the ugly work at an agency.

Ugly is where reality lies. If you want to live in a fantasy, stay pissed. If you want to be in advertising, get real. Go to work for a crappy salary (agency salaries are always crappy at the beginning) to get some real experience.

If you pay attention and drop the arrogance, you’ll learn really important things – like where your talents can take you; learning to do what you do efficiently (aka make a profit); aligning with the people who will teach you the reality of agency life and how to work it; and how to really get what you want without whining.

Talent crisis? I think not. It’s just that the talented aren’t willing to invest one second beyond graduation in learning. It is an investment, but one with a big payoff if you’re willing to do the work, and yes, even work in a place that doesn’t have a game room or a keg of micro-brew in the break room.

Take it from me kids, I’ve been in the business nearly 40 years (even kept up with technology too – unimaginable at my age, I know) and there’s still a ton to learn.

And by the way, there are a million ad folks out there – with real, live experience – willing to teach. It’s the cheapest, most useful class you’ll ever attend.

A Practical Guide To Attending A Conference

I’ve been to a lot of conferences and if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that attending sessions and paying attention is important. Pretty. Basic. Stuff.

You (or your boss) paid for it after all.

But there’s more to attending a conference than just being present.

You also have to keep work moving along back at the office; you have to be comfortable; you have to keep all your devices charged.

So here’s some practical advice. I apologize for the length – there’s a whole section on Las Vegas at the end because I live there and want you to have a good time. Responsibly.

During a conference –

Do your timesheets from the convenience of home via your Webvantage app on your mobile device. Warm and cozy.

Conference rooms are cold – Take a sweater, sweatshirt, favorite Snuggie® – or something to keep warm. By design, meeting rooms at conferences are always cold. Temperatures are set to cooler temperatures to keep you awake. In Las Vegas, where I live, everything is over-air conditioned. I always have to wear a sweater inside during the summer. So if attending a conference in Vegas, it’s doubly important to bring a layer or two to be comfortable.

Speaking of Comfort – Comfortable shoes are a must. There’s usually a hike between your room and a conference center. Unless your conference is MAGIC, leave the stilettos at home.

Take notes – You’re there for a reason and there’s usually a few nuggets of wisdom to share back home.

Bring business cards – You’ll find a lot of like-minded folks who have pondered the same issues; or solved the same problems with a different approach; and you could make a life-long friend. You could also find your next job at a conference – or your next colleague.

Scope-out outlets* – Preferably near a chair. Hopefully you’ll be able to snag it during a break and you can charge your fading battery. A lot of conferences are in rooms with movable walls so charging within the room can be futile.

Find the restroom right away – That’s right. During a busy conference you may need to hike it (they’re rarely convenient), and at break time it’s a pain to wait in line once you get there. Know where they are (and sometimes it’s better to travel a little further to avoid the wait, then use your valuable time grabbing a water and a muffin – or check-in on work back at the ranch).

Eat – Food at conferences is usually okay, and cuts down on your expense budget. And it will help keep your mind from wandering (feed your head). Don’t want it now? Grab an apple or cookie for later.

After conference hours –

Socialize responsibly – As one who has ignored this advice a time or two in the past, I speak from experience. It is a ton of fun being with colleagues away from work. Everything in moderation is the mantra.

Check-out the town – Find the best restaurants, shops and music – and put a little money out there and boost the economy. The hotel concierge, others who’ve been there before (always my first choice), or your favorite app. Unless you’re planning to order-in room service while you work, leave the hotel. The food will often be better.

Get to bed at a reasonable hour – enough said.

After the conference –

Give feedback – If you get a form, fill it out. At least do the checkbox portion. The organizers do read them and are always working to make each conference better than the last.

Keep in touch – You just met a whole bunch of people who like to help and need help. You’ve just been (re)introduced to a unique community so keep sharing updates. Connect on LinkedIn or other social sites. Know what’s going on in your community, provide guidance to the newbies, and. . .ask for help. There’s always someone out there with bona fide credentials, and then there are hacks willing to flame. Weed through the crap. There’s good stuff out there.

If in Las Vegas –

The economy is based on gambling – Surprise! that’s what fuels the city. So if new to gambling, set your limit, $20 max and you should have a good time on a nickel machine. If you’ve been here a time or two, you know the ropes. Be responsible and don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. The odds are always in the house favor. So with that, if you’re up, cash out and spend the extra on a little something for yourself. Head over to Bonanza, the World’s Largest Gift Shop. And with that. . .

Shopping is everywhere – you can shop in your casino, on the Strip, in the ‘burbs. Lots of high-end stuff. It’s actually kind of fun to stride into Harry Winston and see something that only the 1% can afford. However, when I shop (I actually hate to shop), I head to the Premium Outlets (I prefer North). There’s a bus from the strip, and thousands of cabbies willing to take you there.

Eat – Las Vegas has some of the finest chefs in the world. Splurge – just one night.

Be prepared for the cost of a drink – Casinos are really expensive (in my book, and I live here). A $6 Corona or $17 scotch is stupid (any liquor out of a speed gun is 3/4-ounce). But play a slot machine (you can play penny machines), and a lovely cocktail waitress (I’m not sexist, they’re always female, and always super nice which equals lovely), will come by, ask you what you want, and she’ll bring it right to you. It’s “free” because you’re gambling. BUT – do give a tip. $1 - $2 is nice, more is nicer.

Drink water – The humidity in Vegas is really low. Air conditioning lowers it even more. It is dry. And if it’s hot outside or you’re drinking alcohol, even more the reason – hydrate with water.

Be prepared to walk – a lot. This time of year it’s pleasant outside and a stroll from Mandalay Bay to the Bellagio looks easy. It’s a 1.4 mile obstacle course. Beware: There are only a few remaining intersections that do not have pedestrian over-passes. And a little piece of advice: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RUN ACROSS LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way outside of crosswalks in this town. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve almost killed someone with a drink-on-a-sling running across the street from Paris to the Bellagio to watch the fountain. You’ll only have to wait 15 minutes or so for another chance to see the grandeur.

"Red Rock Canyon-800px". Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution

Be a tourist – Come to Las Vegas a day or two early or stay an extra couple days. Where else can you see the Eiffel Tower, Pyramids, Venice, a volcano, and a Pirate Ship in one place? Once you’ve filled your soul with that experience, Red Rock Canyon is just a few miles to the West with wonderful (and many easy) hiking trails; Death Valley (Badwater is awesome at 282 feet below sea level) is a couple hours further to the West; Hoover Dam is just an hour to the East; and the Grand Canyon is a 4-1/2 hour drive to the East. If you’re that close, you should check out the real wonders of this area.

*If you’re attending the Advantage Users Group next week, I’ll be there, near an outlet during breaks (as a courtesy), with plenty of plugs to power your devices. That is until security shoos me away. I’ll even offer up a bit of advice on the terrific new features of Webvantage. I might even offer some well-honed opinions.