AgencySpy
 
Receive mediabistro.com's Daily AgencySpy Feed via email


Daily Media Newsfeed Click here to receive mediabistro.com's Daily Media Newsfeed via email.

Thursday Jan 31, 2008

Guidance Counselor Agency Spy: This Is Your Life.


There's something poignant about the YouTube spot we got sent this morning. We've heard the pseudo-poetry featured in the video spilling out of many a slightly drunk mouth before. The narrative flows down the litany of advertising employee complaints from the opening line of, "I am creative" all the way to "I can't believe that won gold."

This is the creative malaise. Look, this happens to folks in every creative industry, not just advertising. Our suggestion? If this video really hits home with you, take a day off. In the morning, get up at 8am and go for a walk. Sit a diner. Look around you. Eat a hearty breakfast and maybe read some fiction. Come home. Turn off your phone. Do not check your email. Sit still. Shut your eyes and ask yourself the following questions:

1. If I could do one creative thing other than making ads what would it be?

_________

2. Can I manage to work work at my agency and do this creative thing?

If the answer is yes, then proceed to question 3. If the answer is no, skip to question 4.

_________

3. Why haven't I done it then?

If the answer is you are scared, welcome to the real world of being creative. Everyone is scared. Shitless. Suck it up and go on the you hero journey. This will help.

If it's that you need to take a class or find out more information, get online. Talk to friends. Make moves.

If it's that you are too tired when you get home from work, then skip to question 4 or take some ginseng and just be tired. Plenty of people have worked two jobs to make their dreams come true.

If it's that you will miss the money of working in advertising proceed to question 4.

If it's that you have children who are dependent on you, well... that's trickier and needs to be navigated inconjunction with your spouse. We have no advice. Sorry.

_________

4. Am I prepared to lose the security of my day job, borrow money from parents, take out a loan or get a night gig as a bartender in order to fulfill my creative dream?

If the answer is no - shut the hell up and go to work tomorrow and stop answering these questions.

If the answer is yes, then congratulations. You are ready to head down the path many creative minds have already traveled. Ever hear that saying that nothing good comes with a struggle? It no applies to you. You may succeed, you may fail, but at least you tried. You won't be that sad sack of shit crying into your smashed peas at 70 wondering what the hell went wrong. Why you didn't go for it. Why you just didn't tighten up the ol' jockstrap or wonderbra and make a run for the gold. Trust. You do not want to be that person. Just think about that reality. Seriously.

DISCLAIMER: Obviously, we've simplified the dilemma of grabbing the dream. We did not address those folks who are in advertising, but should really be in like, fashion or something. That's a different set of questions, but our advice to you is - get a new job in the industry you want and be prepared to take a pay cut.

No everyone go get busy. Life is not that bad. You could be a guy with trees for hands! We don't want to see any more of these videos showing up on YouTube.

We have faith in all of you. Make it happen people. MAKE IT HAPPEN.




new on mediabistro.com

How to Write an Arts and Culture Review

Learn everything you need to know to write a smart, publishable review of music, film, books, theater or any other arts and culture topic.
Watch the video

Email This Post

Fill out the following information and click on the Send button in order to send this post, Guidance Counselor Agency Spy: This Is Your Life., to a friend.
Friend's name
Friend's email address
Your name
Your email address
Note to your friend (optional, max 200 Characters)

Read more on AgencySpy >

Interested in advertising on AgencySpy?

AgencySpy is a blog about the advertising industry

Editors:
Matt Van Hoven
AIM: agencyspy

TheSpyWriter
AIM: thespywriter

About

Syndication

Anonymous Tips


mb Blogs

FishbowlNY

FishbowlDC

FishbowlLA

TVNewser

PRNewser

GalleyCat

UnBeige

MobileContentToday

AgencySpy

Categories

About

About Us - Modules

About Us - Subheader Module

AD-vice

Aegis

Agencies

Agency.com

AKQA

Anomaly

Applause

Arnold Worldwide

Awards

Bartle Bogle Hegarty

BBDO

Bedtime Stories

Berlin Cameron United

Brands

Broadcast

Campaigns

Campbell Ewald

Carat

Celebrity

Conferences

Crispin Porter & Bogusky

DDB

Deep Focus

Deutsch

Digitas

DraftFCB

Droga5

EuroRSCG

Fallon

Generalities

Goodby

Grey Worldwide

GroupM

GSD&M

Hires and Higher Up...

Inspiration

J. Walter Thompson

Kirshenbaum Bond

Leo Burnett

Martin Williams

McCann

Mcgarrybowen

Media Buying

MindShare

Mobile

News

No Wukkas - The Job Hunt

Oglivy

OMD

Online

People

Print

Publicis

R/GA

Saatchi & Saatchi

Social Media

StrawberryFrog

Sustainability

TBWA/Chiat Day

Technology

Television

The Martin Agency

The Richards Group

The Spies

Tribal DDB

We Hear...

What The...?

Wieden & Kennedy

WPP

Young & Rubicam

Links

mb News Feed
5 Blogs Before Lunch
AdAge
AdFreak
AdLand
AdScam
Adverganza
Advergirl
Adweek
Mediaweek
The Toad Stool
TheBobosphere
TribbleAgency

Archives

July 2008

June 2008

May 2008

April 2008

more...


Recent

Publicis NY Taps Joe McCarthy for CEO Spot

Japanese Ad-Device Knows Your Age/Sex, Displays Content Acordingly

Savage Loses Ad Dollars but Stands by Statements


Subscribe

Click here to receive the Daily Media News Feed by email.

Job Listings

Featured Listings

National Advertising Sales
Horse Society Magazine
Providence, RI

Director, Ad Operations
IAC Programming
New York, NY

Account Executive
Beyond Race Magazine
New York, NY

Advertising Sales Representatives
Vendome's HCD, LTL, HCI Magazine titles
New York, Cleveland,

Become a partner


ADVERTISEMENT


mediabistro.com l Member Benefits l Jobs l Freelance Marketplace l Courses l Events l Forums l Content
mediabistro Blogs: Media News l TVNewser l GalleyCat l UnBeige l FishbowlNY l FishbowlLA l FishbowlDC l mbToolbox l PRNewser l AgencySpy l MobileAppsToday l MobileContentToday l MobileMarketingToday l MobileDevicesToday
Site Map l Advertising/Sponsorships l Partners l About Us l Contact Us/Help

JupiterOnlineMedia

internet.comearthweb.comDevx.commediabistro.comGraphics.com

Search:

Jupitermedia Corporation has two divisions: Jupiterimages and JupiterOnlineMedia

Jupitermedia Corporate Info


Legal Notices, Licensing, Reprints, & Permissions, Privacy Policy.

Web Hosting | Newsletters | Tech Jobs | Shopping | E-mail Offers