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For some people in this industry their work is their life so in that case they are full of balance. For the real human beings out there just do what you need to do without totally neglecting your job. If they job doesn't align with your ideals then leave. As a producer your young enough to take a risk and change things up. Remember it's your life. The company doesn't own you.
The magic words to achieving work life balance:
"Hey [boss's name], my work load is really heavy and quality is suffering because I can't give my projects enough attention. Could I offload a few things?"
Magic words for getting more interesting work:
"Hey [boss's name], I'm starting to feel a little stagnant. Is there any opportunity for me to work on something more [subject area of interest]"
With these powers combined you can achieve greatness, but only between the hours of 9-5. Congrats on your amazing new career life.
It used to be that I didn't mind working around the clock. Because there was hope we'd get something accomplished, something sold through, something we're proud of. That's not the case anymore. Everything will die and be redone by the client. Not worth killing myself over something I'm miserable doing.
when you're 65, looking back on your life, what work would be good enough to make you feel good about a lifetime of neglecting your friends and family and mental health?
it's just a job. even the ones you think are "dream jobs" have the same bullshit headaches.
do your best, make as much money as you can, but don't give away everything to a company that, I promise, doesn't give a fuck about you.
Same boat. Ambition is a double edged sword. I sometimes have a great work life balance but those moments are short.
I've learned the only way to pursue meaningful work-life balance, as a human with a life outside of work, is to negotiate more vacation time---and then take it. No regrets.
I am 5 months into a position where I do basically nothing but manage people. My work life balance is amazing, but I am quite ambitious when it comes to work, so this situation is killing me. I long for the nights I have to stay late with a team actually accomplishing something. I totally get being burnt out, but when the opportunity to do great things, even at the cost of some personal time, gets taken away, it's just awful.
SAP 1 for the win. It's all about taking matters into your hands and creating that balance that only you can define.
Just finished a deliverable and sent the email from a bar, so let me know if you figure out that work/life balance thing...
It's less "work/life balance." Life is more like a seesaw in advertising.
I've had pretty good work life balance at my last two jobs. I also actively seek that out in my interviews, and allow myself to leave at a reasonable time. I know there are people who get dumped on and asked to work nights and weekends, but there's also a healthy bunch that procrastinate because the drama of tight deadlines is motivation. I've learned I'll never be challenged in the way I want on regular client work, so I seek out my passion projects as internal projects. It doesn't feel like long hours when you're interested and engaged.
✋🏻
Unfortunately I haven't found a way to get to the growth and the type of projects you're looking for without a major sacrifice of work-life balance, but I will say, having moved out of that time of my career into a place where I can help other people learn and I've pretty much done this before, I now feel like I don't have to give as much of myself as I did previously and can focus more heavily on the life stuff.
@sdp1 by 'majorly grow' I mean in breadth and depth of experience - bigger, more complex projects with higher stakes and a variety of world class brands. Not necessarily title since that usually comes with advanced expertise. Besides I've met several EPs and directors who frankly don't seem to know what they're doing. With that level of growth the sacrifices take a big toll on me and I'm reluctant to continue that kind of ambition. Not sure it's worth it. But great advice everyone - balance is not acquired passively and certainly not by the grace of an empathetic company. Lol.
Agencies will take from you precisely what you're prepared to give. And hours in the office don't make for good stories in the old folks home. I have good work/life balance due to remembering the above, having 18 years experience so being quite fast and efficient and having a child for an extra dose of perspective.
As a Sr Producer about to be promoted, I ask you - in this position please define for me how you would challenge yourself and "majorly grow" in this line of work? I am genuinely curious. Thank you in advance
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