E-1 Private

My Uber driver, who is also a PostMaster at the United States Post Office, and I were chatting. He asked what people always ask – what do you do? Instead of replying, “nothing,” “women,” “whatever the hell I want to,” I gave him a straight reply – I’m a creative director currently working on an advertising campaign. Jimmy (my Uber driver) said he wanted to get into advertising out of high school but his mom talked him out of it – she said it was a cutthroat business. The takeaway – mom knows best. Advertising is cutthroat. Not only will the ad (wo)man next to you will cut your throat for an account/a job/a piece of SWAG, but after working in it long enough, you will want to cut your own throat. This industry is not for the faint of heart.

You live life each day to remind you of the things you’ve learned in days past. My regressive lesson this week is that in the battle to win/make it/make great work/enact change, soldier is the optimal word.

soldier

–noun 1. a person who contends or serves in any cause.

soldier

–verb phrases 1. soldier on, to persist steadfastly in one's work; perservere.

This is the reminder – in this business you are always serving someone and something and you have to be resolute in your work and just keep marching forward. Your stripes will be earned. You will walk away changed. You will be better for it. This is the life we all have chosen. Sometimes you have to put your head down and march on. Let’s not forget our cadence.