I’ve never struggled with how inconsequential our jobs are before, but does anyone else feel increasingly silly debating the merits of ads while Rome is literally burning? I don’t have a solution, the industry crumbling just feels like a sign that we should be using our talents for bigger things.

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Yes, absolutely. I just onboarded a new client who is the most literal, tactical devil all up in the details trying to “catch us” in something, and I can’t stop thinking about how literally none of this matters. But on the flip side, it *does* matter because it’s a huge account and people would lose their jobs if we lost the business.

Fun times.

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I’ve struggled with this since at least 2015 but it does seem way worse now. My great uncle survived Auschwitz and had to walk home to hungry. Sometimes I can feel my ancestors vibrating through my bones trying to tell me to “run!” But it’s never that easy is it? With family, friends, community, even if you run you can’t escape what’s happening because it will still happen to all of them.

But hey, maybe I’ll win that lion this year and get a little bonus out of it.

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Feeling the same in my bones. It’s eerie.

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Recent IconRecent

Rome is not literally burning.

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All of us, talking about craft and chasing awards as if it’s business as usual.

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I think when you’re young and new to the industry what we do matters but it’s normal to question our worth and contribution to things as we spend more time in it. I’m really tired of trying to be the smartest guy in the room and pushing to get the work incrementally better, when in the scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. None of it does.

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If things like America descending into oligarchy and hysterical group think makes you feel like your job is inconsequential, I fear you don’t understand what your job is or just how terrifyingly consequential it has been and continues to be.

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I mean you could go work for the FBI and work on oh wait

Ok you could go work for the Dept of Education where you oh, hold on

Ok the IRS! The IRS is a place where ah shit

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This sounds terrible, but in some ways it’s a relief that my work doesn’t matter. I’ve been a lot more focused on my mental health and my friends and family and developing skills.

But I also waver between feeling frustrated about it, too.

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The problem was agencies embraced far left culture and prioritized it over doing good work. They need to stop with the culture shit and change to a perspective of being indispensable to helping clients drive sales and revenue. If you view it that way you are critical to business development. If not you’ll just another silly goose who had a straight white woman lecture you on the importance of adding a pronoun to your signature.

smartfunny

Really interested in what you think “far left” culture is. Trying to ensure people who work for them are seen? Making marginalized groups (not just racial) feel their ideas and contributions are valued? That’s just common sense.

Also if you think any corporation—whether it be agency or otherwise—prioritizes culture over revenue, you’re as misguided as your post suggests.

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…is Rome literally burning?

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Wow that’s like, really, like, REAL, right?

Now if you’ll excuse me Ima hop back into the Heathers universe knowing my job here is done.

#very

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Years ago, Donny Deutsch concluded a speech at an ADWEEK Creative Conference by saying, “Let’s be honest. Nobody in this room is going to find a cure for cancer or bring peace to the Middle East or solve the Northern Ireland problem. What we do is fundamentally inconsequential. It’s only advertising. So, if it isn’t fun, what the f**k is the point?”

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Again, this is not me having a moral crisis about what we do.

It’s that we have these skills. Skills that can change hearts and minds.

And we’re using them to desperately fight for the life of a pretty inconsequential industry when it sure seems like America needs a “billionaires are the problem” message that we could be using these same skills to deliver.

The job will never be inconsequential because businesses will always need creative thinking get people to buy their product. But if you don’t adapt your thinking to the way audiences have changed, then you as an individual will become inconsequential.

I think we’re in the midst of a massive sea change. Clients are reevaluating if they need to be paying these agencies big money and lots of people are going to leave the industry because there are no jobs.

I’m fascinated by what comes out the other side.

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As I said in my post, I’m not ashamed of what we do. I enjoy it. But like recruiters, travel agents or real estate agents, we offer an inessential service. Companies can and will figure out their marketing without us.

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Our jobs are consequential. Our clients employ a lot of people who need their company to make money to keep their jobs.

And ideally our clients are giving the world something they’re willing to pay money for that will give them something of value, even if it’s just a tasty drink or some small thing.

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Local

The world has been burning for many years. Why are you saying this just now?

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That’s because you think the world revolves around the US. And because you’re hyper focusing on just Trump and his minions.

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