For those of you who have been doing this for awhile, has it been worth it?

Yes. I make more money than my parents combined. I get to think up fun ideas with other fun and interesting people And then bring some of them to life I've gotten to live in 3 countries. Travel to cities around the world Meet celebrities I like Don't have to wear suits I genuinely believe advertising is one of the best "office" jobs you can have.

20+ years and I still find plenty to love about it. Great people who have become my best friends, more money than I ever thought I’d earn, and I have traveled widely with work. Work for an agency where the creative dept is more respected and not a treated as just a resource. Work on something where you’re in production a lot, if you’re too often in decks and not making things it can feel pointless and unsatisfying. But the longer you stick with it, and if you develop your skills as a leader (not just chasing titles, but actual leadership) the work gets more interesting, you can have a lot of influence and make a lot of money.

People are so dramatic on this app. Has it been worth it making double the median household income to do a fun dumb job with no real stakes that sets me apart at cocktail parties? Uh, yeah.

No. But has it been enjoyable? Also no.

You get paid to come up with ideas. And ideas usually get better as you consume more books, films, art, science, travel and meet interesting people with different POVs. Better ideas mean more money over time. It’s a circuit where you get paid to consume culture. And if you find joy in that, it’s great. Now the trick is, be careful about protecting your WLB, so you have enough time to keep filling your head with interesting stuff. If you work every weekend or the only culture you consume are advertising archives, then you’re doing it wrong.

Beats working construction

The first 5 years were great fun, but there was more of a party culture to it then. There was a bit in the middle where I stopped enjoying it, but then I started CDing and got interested again. It’s much tougher now, but there are more opportunities to make different kinds of things. Still wish we got paid a bit more.

I’ve had fun and I’ve made money. But I could have made more money doing something else. And I could have done something more meaningful. The ad business is a hamster wheel of a career. You feel good for a while, but then you drop dead or get fed to a snake.

Yes. 15+ years in. It’s been an amazing career so far.

10 years in. I worked on one project that I believe helped people and that was awesome. I also worked on about 459827 projects that didn’t do anything. That was annoying.

I met the love of my life, so, yes.

contracting .. yes

Nope

Yes.

Si.

Use to be. Any more…nope.

Yes. Creativity it worth it. Wasting it in advertising? Not so much. Hold onto what drives you and apply it to something that is more meaningful and serves you best.

People are responding to the question: is capitalism worth it? Hence the answers. Once you assume it's not, at least this job is better than the average I'd say.

My take is, at least some of the people I’m trapped here with are fun.