Color Me Capsized

Early in my career, I was fortunate to work on the sales development marketing team at a major media publisher. It was a fast-paced environment, offering a mix of creativity and strategy as we executed projects for both B2B and B2C advertisers. As someone who prided themselves on being capable and resourceful, I approached my work with confidence, believing I could figure things out with minimal oversight and I had the confidence and support of my managers. However, one particular experience humbled me in ways that have stayed with me ever since.

One of my responsibilities at the time was managing the production of materials for our trade show booth. This was an important project, because we hadn’t participated in trade shows before and the booth and signage represented our company to industry peers and prospective clients. While I had managed smaller print production tasks before, this project required securing and working with a vendor to produce free-standing floor signage for this industry event. I thought I knew what to check for when coordinating with the printer, so I didn’t feel the need to involve my managers or ask for additional guidance.
The day before the materials were scheduled to ship, I was tasked with picking them up from the printer and bringing them to the office. I arrived at the vendor’s location, and feeling relieved that the job was done, I brought them back to the office, expecting the team to be as excited as I was to see the finished product.

When we opened the box to review the materials, it was clear something was wrong based on my managers facial expressions. The colors were off, the images weren’t as sharp as they should have been, and the overall quality didn’t meet their standards. My managers were frustrated and asked why I hadn’t inspected the materials before leaving the printer. I felt embarrassed and deeply frustrated with myself. How had I missed something so obvious?

As I reflected on the experience, I realized I should have asked my managers for their tips on what is and is not acceptable, added more time for review and worst-case scenarios (e.g. quality issues), and not assumed everything was perfect without inspection before leaving the printer location. But it wasn’t just my mistake, it was also a lesson for my managers - we can’t assume someone knows what we think is “obvious.”

From that point on, I adopted a more methodical approach to my work. I began planning for risk management, project management and communication. This mindset didn’t just help me avoid similar mistakes; it also enhanced my ability to anticipate challenges and communicate more effectively with colleagues and vendors. The experience also taught me the importance of clear instructions and setting expectations when managing others. In any workplace, assumptions can be dangerous. What may seem second nature to one person can be entirely new to someone else, especially when they’re early in their career.

Looking back, I’m grateful for that humbling moment since it took place in the first couple of years of my professional work-life, and it shaped how I approach all aspects of project management. Whether coordinating with designers, clients, or print vendors, I now prioritize thorough reviews and proactive communication. Most importantly, I’ve learned to view mistakes as opportunities for growth.