Why did you get into this business? Not how – a topic for another time – WHY?
I’ll start. I wanted to be in a creative environment and have fun. And I did! And I still do…
I could have done a lot of other things, but this is the one thing that seemed to be the most challenging with concurrent “fun”-ness.
At the height of our best “fun,” we are exciting; exuberant; amusing; entertaining; stimulating. In short, we are all of the best ingredients for creativity and challenging thinking.
At the worst, we are boring – a sure fire way to lose clients.
Clearly there is way more to the equation; accountability; experience etc… But, look around – read the trades – “Exciting” is a damn good place to be. “Boring” isn’t…
So:
“You’ve achieved success in your field when you don’t know whether what you’re doing is work or play.”
- Warren Beatty
And so it goes… Everything else aside, that is a great definition of success – particularly when you’ve worked through yet another night, or traveled through yet another time zone, or answered yet another RFP…
Are you having fun? Tell us…
I´m here because is the perfect mix between science and art.
For me it was a question of pace. I began as an architect, and found waiting months, if not years to see the final product was not in line with my personality. I also enjoy the idea creation too much to wait for long periods of time before getting to dive into a new challenge.
Your column reminds me that I went into this business because I liked to write and at least in advertising I could make a living. It also reminds me of one of my first bosses, who said “I hate writing; I love having written.”
This business generates a very frustrating, crazy and insane environment for people who like to create. But when a seed package lands on my desk and I feel compelled to open it, when I read through the copy and it flows like water, despite the 30,000 revisions no consumer will ever know about, when I go to a landing page and I can’t help but move my cursor to the key link—I finally understand what that boss was talking about.
Growing up I became extremely interested in both art and computers. It didn’t take long before I found out that both interests could be pursued at the same time. Back then I was using Harvard Graphics to develop birthday posters for the family. Now I have the pleasure of working with a large team developing campaigns for major marketers.
It’s like I never had to grow up, but just found more friends who had the same interest.
Truthfully, I was in book publishing and I wanted to make more money. Which I did.
But the more interesting question is why did I stay in this business. One night at 3:00am I was complaining to a coworker about the hours and the demands of the job, and she said, “Yes, but you love the challange.”
“What makes you think that?” I replied.
“Because you’re here in the middle of the night, trying to get this job done. If you didn’t love the challange, you would’ve found an easier way to make a living.”
She has since gone on to making her living in an easier way. I’m still here, trying to get jobs out in the middle of the night.
Apparently, I love the challenge.
To understand the others.
To share creativity with the others.
To improve our communication together.
To make the others happy.
A friend sold me this vision of heaven. Where I could put my feet up on the table the whole day, drink endless cups of coffee, sleep through work and if someone asks what are you doing, I could reply, “Thinking”. That was advertising and as advertising goes it was exaggeration of a lie. I sit the whole day, I only get 4 cups of coffee, I don’t get to sleep and on most days at 3 am I’m striken with a persecution complex. Good question – “Why did I get into this business…”
Advertising is in my blood – literally. My father has been in the business for about 30 years and whilst both my brother and I were determined NOT to get into it – I guess you could say it was like the call of the wild… we neither of us could resist.
So here I am in London whilst dad’s still running a small agency in Sydney and my brother’s in New York!
I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life – I love communicating with people, talking through ideas, learning from those more experienced, seeing the creative process in action etc
But most importantly – I love the fact that I can go home knowing that in some small way, I’ve made a difference to my client’s business.
Truth be told, I got in this business by mistake! But I STAYED in the business (the How of your question) because it constantly gives me the chance to do things I’ve never done before.
As a young guy in college, I initially thought about what profession sounded cool to talk about at cocktail parties. Being 6′7″, I realized I was too tall for a Jet Fighter Pilot. Damn. However, I felt that this industry would offer a variety of opportunities for fun, interesting and “cool” challenges.
I’ve now been in some form of online/DM/advertising for awhile and the thing that keeps me excited and motivated are the people I work with. No other business I know allows me to interact with artists, writers, strategic thinkers, information architects, data specialists, project managers and business leaders. I charge on the enery that comes from working with teams who create partnerships with our clients and the excitement generated when an idea works!
The diversity and richness of the people in this industry are unlike any others. It is simply this that keeps me here.
Answer is simple for everyone. TO MAKE MONEY. No matter what everyone says, no one starts business for charity or for enviornment or want to be creative. The only goal is to make money.
Berry Tree
i am here to understand others.
http://www.cashpotatos.com
Its good that you are using these advertising methiods. Another thing you can try is advertise on free classifieds website and target local audience
local classifieds are actually targeted towards local audience only. if marketing globally, i doubt local classifieds will do any good
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