The Reset Button
Every now and again it's good to reinvent yourself. Bart Cleveland's recent post in AdAge's Small Agency Blog reminded me that it's important in our profession to stay focused on the "now". You can't become overly comfortable in your current skill-set or you risk becoming irrelevant. Everything in our industry is affected by the blossoming mix of technology infused with the need for creative problem solving. Keeping up with the "young and hip" isn't really the correct way to label that issue. The true enemy is complacency and stubbornness. I've seen it in every aspect of my career from established NY agency executives to cranky audio engineers - we all can fall victim to feeling like we've reached the pinnacle of knowledge and we don't need to listen to anyone else for advice.
In hopes of avoiding this, I'm hitting the reset button. Next week, I will be starting as the new Creative Director for Happy Cog Philadelphia. I'm excited, nervous, and invigorated at the prospects of learning and working with some folks that I really respect. At the same time, I'm going to back to a more hands-on role where I'll have the opportunity to design again and not just be a "meetings and paperwork" professional. ...Now, don't get me wrong. There was nothing inherently bad about my previous position. It's just that I wasn't ready to hang up my design-gloves and be satisfied with watching the talented designers on my staff have all the fun. Now, they might not classify design as "fun" but I always have. This re-boot on my career will help me remember that specific feeling and, once again, allow me to be excited about going to work every day.
In hopes of avoiding this, I'm hitting the reset button. Next week, I will be starting as the new Creative Director for Happy Cog Philadelphia. I'm excited, nervous, and invigorated at the prospects of learning and working with some folks that I really respect. At the same time, I'm going to back to a more hands-on role where I'll have the opportunity to design again and not just be a "meetings and paperwork" professional. ...Now, don't get me wrong. There was nothing inherently bad about my previous position. It's just that I wasn't ready to hang up my design-gloves and be satisfied with watching the talented designers on my staff have all the fun. Now, they might not classify design as "fun" but I always have. This re-boot on my career will help me remember that specific feeling and, once again, allow me to be excited about going to work every day.
