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Saw this on Twitter. Just sharing!
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Oil and gas attorneys what do you do?
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Mr. Manager is posting again y'all 🤡
I love marketing jargon.
I am not ok.
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Dude, I went back to school & portfolio school in my 30s. I was even an intern at 31. I’m now mid30s and making my way to ACD. Don’t fall into comparing your age. Like CD1 said, your state of mind will fall down a dark hole. Cindy Gallop is a beast with wisdom hopefully you have s plethora of common sense and life experience. No matter what level you start at, when you start to hone your craft, those things give you so much more perspective and ability to understand markets.
Don’t worry about how old you are. You can do it.
If your aspiration is to become a CCO, you might be a somewhat behind. But if you just want to make great work, I don’t see tenure and age being an issue, as long as your thinking is on point.
There was a thread on this earlier where an ECD got in late thirties I believe. Here’s the deal good work transcends age. Go to a portfolio school or such to learn the craft.
You hopefully have biz smarts as an analyst so that’s a good weapon. Don’t compare your path/age/title to anyone. You do you. Comparison leads to depression (state of mind not medical).
And if you’re a woman find a way to link up to Cindy Gallop. She’s huge on fighting ageism with women (wish it was men too). But even if you’re a dude like me her info on that is great.
I taught myself graphic design, and picked up my first small, project based, freelance gig at an at a large agency 5 years ago (at 32). A couple of years later I took a full time position at another agency as a Sr Art Director. Two years later I landed into a CD role at another agency. I worked my ass off, 12-16 hour days and weekends and took night classes at an ad school. I made my career ambitions my sole focus - it can be done. Be aggressive, be confident, be humble, and push yourself.
I was a junior copywriter at 37. Went to ad school at 38. My age and wisdom helped me accelerate faster than normal. Use your previous experience to your advantage.
Someone give this person some advice on how to cross over into creative .... so i can do the same 😅
If you got the gift (and I believe you do) take a sabbatical and get yourself into an intensive 2-year as school (Portfolio Center, Miami Ad School, SVA, etc). You will leave with a kick-ass book and be ready to re-enter the industry as a creative - and do it with confidence.
Your age isn’t a factor. Your book is. Your networking skills are.
Trust me, you are not too old. Some of the most successful ECDs I’ve worked with got into it when they were much older than you. Don’t sweat it, just do what makes you happy.