First of all I would like to thank everyone who has egged me on to start writing again. It has indeed been a long long time and to tell you the truth I am extremely nervous as to where I will start.
Hmmmmm...lets start this like a group therapy session. Hi I am a creative and I have issues.
What am I talking about? I am talking about the fact that if you converse with any HR professional in any organisation that deals with creative types, more often than not the most weirdest issues come from the creative department.
Lets admit it. We've all been there. You work your ass off for a few months then something just happens and you start losing it. Check in hours start getting later and later, lunch hour gets longer and longer, check out time gets earlier and ealier. The F it attitude becomes part of you.
Here are a few scenarios that will paint a picture of the truth in our madness.
Scenario 1
You get a great job at a great ad agency handling a great account. Suddenly you start seeing the possibilities of what could be elswhere and become bored with what actually is. You start getting fidegty and start looking at how cool it would be working for the competing brand at a competing agency so you decide to jump ship and within a few months again the cycle resumes.
Scenario 2
You dream of working with a certain creative director because he is the coolest thing that ever happened to advertising. Then you start getting frustrated by the fact that Mr Guru just seems to hand over to you mundane tasks. You start getting angry, you start resenting your boss and then all other bosses in other agencies seem to appear like the perfect boss, so you decide to jump ship and within a few months again the cycle resumes.
Scenario 3
You are working on a project and really giving it your all, then a big fat juicy brief lands on your desk and you immeadiately drop the project at hand and become excited about this new possibility, and thus you never achieve the great accomplishment which you are capable of achieving with the task at hand. Then another brief checks in and again the cycle resumes.
Scenario 4
Now here is the complete mind bogger. You know that you have contractual obligations and your organisation has rules to be followed then you become bitter when reprimanded by your boss or HR for your newly found attitude or seeming lack of caring. You start hating the organisation you are in and think the grass looks greener on the other side so you decide to jump ship and again the cycle resumes.
Go on, admit it. If you are truly creative you must have gone through at least one of these scenarios. I think this is living proof that creatives indeed have issues and the day Dr.Frank Njenga capitalizes on this corporate landmine he will close up shop and live happily ever after on Advertising Agency medical insurance in the name of Wellness therapy.
Here's the catch 22. Despite all these issues most of us are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. We live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Our enthusiasm lends us the ability to inspire and motivate others. We love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.
We do indeed have many gifts which we can use to fulfill ourselvess but why is it that the majority of us cannot remain centered and master the ability of following through.
I salute all you Mad Ad Men and Women who make no apologies for being who you are.
Hey that's just my opinion (I think)!
