By Karen Barrett, Brand Strategist

When I began my career in advertising 20 years ago, I never really thought about how the attributes of my job in account management would translate to my later title of “Mom.” But as I now do the two roles simultaneously, the similarities I see are hilarious. Below is a list of parallels between being an account manager in marketing and being a mom (of three, in my case):

The ability to multitask

This rule is crucial for both. In marketing, you better be able to manage multiple clients in various fields, and those meetings and project deadlines. You may very well be writing a creative strategy for a non-profit client in the morning and handling a photo shoot for a commercial client in the afternoon. As a mom, you need to wear many different hats and be able to keep all of your children’s activities and schedules straight. You are probably the keeper of the master schedule, the one who ensures that everything happens effortlessly (yeah, right!). All kids get to their different activities on time and well fed, with all required materials (can I get remembering-to-pack-a-snack ftw). Good thing multi-tasking is in your DNA.

Calendars and lists are everything

How in the world could you keep your day straight without Google Calendar and/or a planner (I’m still the one who also likes to write everything down, although I know electronic calendars are necessary for coordinating with your team and clients)?!. You manage all of the timelines and others rely on you to make sure deadlines are met. Creating a list of hot jobs provides the outline for the week ahead and time management is crucial. Well, the same is true for being a mom. In addition to the regular schedule (bus pick-up and drop-off times, dance, piano, soccer, etc.), you better not miss your child’s turn to shop at the school book fair or their annual wellcheck. I always say, if I don’t write it down, it’s not going to happen.

Plan ahead

Nothing good happens when it’s rushed. Although we often have to turn things around on tight timing, it’s easier for everyone (account manager, creative, production, client) when you’ve had time to think through all of the logistics. As the saying goes, “A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.” As a mom, you should really send that birthday evite three weeks before the party, to help limit potential conflicts and ensure that your child’s friends will be able to come. Same is true for playdates, special events, etc. Plan ahead. You will never regret it. But you know what you will regret? Feeling rushed or dropping the ball and disappointing someone.

Be a team player

Your clients and team depend on you and should always be able to count on you. The same is true as Mom. My family, kids’ school, PTA, friends and other parents need to know that I’m here for them.

Pay attention to detail

I think this is one of the most important traits of a good account manager, as we are the direct point of contact for the client. If I’m sending work for review that has typos, it isn’t a positive reflection on the agency. Well as mom, I better know when I signed up to lead the class holiday party or I’m going to let down 20 kids and a teacher. Details matter. 

Put yourself out there

As an account manager, you will probably be at different business events, representing your company and/or your client, where you may see no familiar faces. It’s time to make new relationships! When called “Mom,” your child may talk about a new friend in class and wanting to have them over for a playdate. You may need to look up said parent’s email address or phone number and reach out to them with the at-first awkward, “Hi, my child has enjoyed playing with your child at school ya da ya da…” It feels very daunting when you do it for the first time and then it’s no biggie. Good things come when you put yourself out there.

Know things come in waves

Sometimes it seems as if every client is operating at 100mph, and the workload can seem daunting. Every mom will know what I’m talking about when I say “MAYcember,” that special time of year when school is wrapping up, you have 15 teacher gifts to purchase, dance and piano recitals, end of year testing prep for your kiddos, and the list goes on and on. It all gets done and things then settle down. Try not to lose your cool or get too overwhelmed. 

Every day is different

This is kind of the reason I chose a career in advertising. I love that no two days are the same. You may have back-to-back meetings one day and none the next, some days you are in the office all day and others you are out running around. Nothing could be more true in the life of a mother. 

One of my favorite saying as it relates to motherhood is: “The days are long but the years are short.” This also applies to my career in account management–how has it been 20 years since I started in this field? How do I have a child in middle school?! It all goes by so fast, although some (most) days may not feel like it. As hard as it is in the moment, I try to remind myself to enjoy it all, the highs (happy clients! happy kids!) and the not-so-highs (decreased budgets, carpool lines). Ah, the similarities between account management and motherhood!