Getting ahead in Marketing for all ages

This post is not specific to the 50+ marketing but applies to all marketers.

Marketing is coming in for a lot of criticism, most of it misplaced. In the UK is be going through a mega crisis of confidence. The Chartered Institute of Marketing appears to be pulling itself apart, there are lots of articles and debates about ‘Why Marketing isn’t working any more’ and you sense that marketers feel under immense pressure to perform. I suppose I have done my bit to add to this despondency with my article 'so what’s new in marketing – not at lot'.
I thought the advice given in the current edition of Management Today was worth sharing – titled ‘How to get ahead in Marketing’ (an abbreviated version)

1. Get some background with one of the ‘big name’ fmcg companies.
2. Don’t specialise too early. Work in as many areas of marketing as you can.
3. Build good relationships with creative and media agencies.
4. Really understand what makes the sales function work.
5. Build an understanding of marketing metrics and measurements.
6. Think beyond the marketing function – get a broad understanding of business.
7. Make sure you can talk the same language as the accountants.

I guess I would add an eighth point. Make a point of understanding all of the marketing and business implications of the aging population.