It's been a long, crappy week at work already. So this morning I did deep breathing, ate a good breakfast, made the bed, put on a pretty blouse instead of a snide t-shirt, polished my nostril ring and otherwise girded my girl loins for the upcoming hell.
And before I left, I stopped in front of the mirror and stared into my own eyes. I gave myself the pep talk. I said, "It's Just Advertising."
Everyone will have their own special complaints about their chosen fields. This is mine: Advertising is a shitty business, with understandably high rates of alcholism, drug abuse and suicide. It's populated by asshats, dickweeds and douchebags. And, God help me, I'm one of them. I think I'm more of a douchebag than a dickweed or an asshat, though. Depends on the day.
This morning, I got to work and looked at the pile. This is the pile that haunted me all night long. Because yesterday, I slogged at the pile and because of various interruptions and sundry stupidity, I got absolutely nothing accomplished. Nothing. Nada. The TV casting I'd sent to client was received with outrage at our choices. The lines I'd written for a major hotel ad with major placement were received with silence. The New Year's Eve invitation I'd written suddenly had all-new information. The homebuilder direct mail that I thought I'd rid myself of last week came flying back, requiring a whole new direction by end of today. TV spot music I was having recorded came back for for my approval and wasn't even in the time zone of what I was hoping for. There was easily ten pounds of proofreading bowing my inbox. And by the way, where was I on those witty lines for those restaurant ads that I just found out about that morning even though the job had been open for three weeks?
It's Just Advertising, though.
Appropriately enough, I started the day with another change to something that was okay the first seven times everyone involved saw it. So I devised an addendum to the little pep talk. This, I put on a sticky note and hung on my computer: Not Every Change Is Stupid. Because that's my knee-jerk reaction. And it's not fair, because there could be a really good reason for the change. That wasn't the case this time, but it could be the case on another job.
Ten minutes and another change (to the same frickin' thing) later I amended the addendum: Not Every Change Is Stupid. Just Yours. Then an hour later, on an unrelated job, I was told by my Creative Director to just "push that witty headline button."
The "witty headline button." That must be the button that resides somewhere around my ass, right next to the "compelling copy button."
It's Just Advertising. It's Just Advertising. It's just the place I spend most of my waking time.
I've rarely written a full-bore complaint about my job. It seems ridiculous to complain when there are other jobs out there, and especially ridiculous when I consider that I can dress like a slob, have visible piercings and MAKE SHIT UP for a living.
Thing is, Advertising has simply ceased to feel like a creative job and more like data entry. I can't remember the last time I did something creative -- something that I was proud of. I don't have a portfolio of my work anymore, because I've been unable to update it. I just don't have anything new and good to add.
It's Just Not What It's Supposed To Be.
My friends are at other agencies all over town. They all have the same basic complaints: Clients are stupid, Account Executives are stupid, bosses are stupid.
Hah. Maybe we're stupid for banging our heads against this particular wall. They that give us pain don't change. Probably because being paid tons of money seems to be a sort of affirmation. Their formula is working for them. The formula doesn't apply to douchebags like me.
I have a plan, a little plan, to bust out of the formula.
When I can make it happen, I'll let you know.
In the meantime, I have three versions of a slot tournament invitation to write.
It's Just What I Do.
2 comments:
Yikes! Sorry work is sucking. You are entitled to rant over it, and you're right, we all go through it.
"So I devised an addendum to the little pep talk. This, I put on a sticky note and hung on my computer: Not Every Change Is Stupid."
I have those little "pep talk" notes all over my office. The one I have to return to over and over is "Don't expect more from a person than they can give."
It doesn't work though. Everyone still pisses me off.
I think everyone goes through this, Shannon. Especially, the longer you do it. The more experience you get, the more upset you get over those changes.
I have a huge problem in my office because, with the exception of the boss, we're all peers. And there is, of course, the power hungry employee who absorbs duties and responsibilities and then lords over you as though you are a minion.
When this person is competent, it's not much of a problem. If this person is not as good as you are at things, it's a huge problem.
When I was in the Army doing this, I kind of wanted what I did to help define who I was. I now attempt to impose who I am on what I do. And that helps.
I am certainly sorry that things are rough, though. I hope it gets better.
HA! Word verfication code is: pwwnzs. Which reads like something a 10 year old gamer would type to an opponent after laying the smack down.
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