I was asked to tell our brand new starters (kadets) what I'd say to my younger self, 20 years ago and just starting out. They seemed to enjoy it (mainly because they're contractually obliged to mind you) so thought I'd share.

1. HELLO KADETS

2. THINGS I'D SAY TO MY YOUNGER SELF
20 YEARS AGO
JAMES DENTON-CLARK

3. YOU WON’T REGRET JOINING THE STUPIDEST,
MOST SATISFYING, MOST INSANE INDUSTRY.
POPULATED BY THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY
PEOPLE YOU’LL EVER MEET

4. THE REST OF THE WORLD AND MOST PEOPLE
IN IT AREN’T ANYTHING LIKE US.
WE LIVE IN A BUBBLE WITHIN A BUBBLE

5. YOU’LL BE JEALOUS OF HOW MUCH
YOUR CITY MATES EARN, BUT THEY’LL
BE JEALOUS THAT YOU ACTUALLY ENJOY
GOING TO WORK

6. NEVER LIE, YOU’LL GET FOUND OUT.
ALWAYS TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BOTH
WITH YOUR CLIENTS AND WITH THE PEOPLE
YOU WORK WITH

7. THIS IS THE MOST INFURIATING JOB IN THE
WORLD. YOU KNOW YOU’RE RIGHT, WHY
CAN’T THEY FUCKING SEE THAT!
TAKE A BREATH, SMILE, IT’LL BE OK

8. THIS IS THE MOST REWARDING JOB IN THE
WORLD. THERE’S NO FEELING BETTER THAN
WINNING A PITCH OR DOING SOME WORK
THAT YOUR MATES TALK ABOUT

9. EVERYBODY THINKS DIFFERENT. YOU HAVE
TO MAKE THE PICTURES IN YOUR HEAD
MATCH THEIRS.

10. TRY TO BE NICE. THERE ARE TOO MANY
WANKERS ABOUT AS IT IS

11. YOU’LL DRINK AND EAT TOO MUCH,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU SPECIALISE IN CLIENT
SERVICE. FOR GOD’S SAKE JOIN A GYM

12. MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE FIRE IN
YOUR BELLY. IF THAT EVER GOES OUT, MOVE
ON, DO SOMETHING ELSE, LEARN
MANDARIN, GROW SHEEP, WHATEVER.
JUST DON’T BE CARRIED

13. NEVER TREAD WATER. WHEN YOU STOP
LEARNING IT’S GAME OVER

14. SPEAK UP. THERE’S NO RIGHT ANSWER,
JUST PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT SKILLS AND
LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE. YOU’RE PROBABLY
RIGHT. IF THEY DON’T LISTEN, SHOUT

15. YOU PROBABLY WON’T CHANGE THE
WORLD. BUT TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.
THERE LIES SATISFACTION

16. DON’T MEASURE YOURSELF AGAINST
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY BUT IN
THE WORK YOU PRODUCE.
PEOPLE WILL JUDGE YOU ON YOUR LEGACY

17. YOU WON’T BE DOING THIS JOB IN 20
YEARS TIME. BUT YOU WILL BE WORKING
WITH THE SAME EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

18. GOOD WORKS