Had a second baby almost a year ago now and just can’t get back into work mode. I used to be a workaholic and now can’t find any motivation in my current job. Most of it is probably sleep deprivation and feeling like I don’t have any time to myself anymore, plus burnout. Anyone go through this after having kids? How long did it last? I don’t have the option of simply quitting, but contemplating switching to a true 9-5, no-stress job, possibly out of law, while they’re young. But that’s scary.
If you let this industry become your identity, you will get to a pivot point where you need to re-evaluate what’s important in this life.
My agency switched gears with profit in mind. And just like that, after all my health/relationship sacrifices, my position was gone. I invested everything... for nothing.
I am proud to say I’ll be joining an agency that values the creative work and the people over profit. Because I believe better profit comes from supported staff and strong work.
Don’t trade life for hollow accolades. Do what you love with people that give a shit about you as a person first and foremost.
I’m not a leader yet but I’ve made myself sick this year working too hard and too much – and now I’m on 3 weeks of bed rest when I want to be out partying and celebrating with friends and family! Don’t let your health take second place in favour of pushing up the ladder. Doctor recently said ‘a lot of the people who end up in the graveyard young thought they were indispensable’ – extremely dark (and wow that escalated quickly) but it hit home. I want to be great and get to the top too but we should be able to have fun doing it, be happy, and not overly complicate life for the people around us that we love 😊
That’s a great outlook. 100%. I’ve got a very understanding life partner who supports me and has just as hectic of a career as an entrepreneur which makes it easier as we can relate to one another. Just wondering how people fare with families down the road. We want kids and I’d also want to be there for them through their milestones, but I also want to get to the top.
I’ve always chosen family and health over work and I’m pretty sure it has affected my career. I was also a single parent for years and putting career first just wasn’t an option. There have been times when I’ve been resentful of my peers when I wasn’t climbing as they were, but I’ve never regretted my choices. I have happy kids, a great relationship, and now I work for a smaller agency that understands work/life balance. I love my team and my work, and we all go home at 5 to be parents and take lots of holidays.
https://www.businessinsider.com/its-not-worth-it-linds-reddings-short-lesson-in-perspective-2012-11
This is fantastic. Thank you very much.
For the leaders who don’t draw lines and make it a point to have a life - ive seen it consume them, many times costing them their marriages. For the leaders who do, it’s still stressful but manageable. Either way, like anything, you sometimes have to give up trips to the gym, nights with family and weekend fun. But that goes as far as you’ll let it
It’s that balance between the two that I’m trying to understand and learn more about.
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You can’t prioritize work over life. At the end of the day, they’re just TV spots, social posts, etc. Your health, family and personal pursuits should come first. It took the death of someone extremely close to me to understand that, and it was too late. That being said, we’re lucky that our job, is related to a passion, which is also a hobby. If you’re still passionate about creating, then you can separate out the day to day grind from just coming up with ideas, cool things and problem solving as part of your free time (which in turn, helps your day to day). I’m not famous by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m successful and have a family and can leave the work stuff out of my house. You absolutely can have both but need understand and be ok with drawing a line between personal and professional. There will always be another assignment, but you don’t get days back with friends and family.
</soapbox>
Ultimately the question is, is it worth it to you? Is the fame & fortune you can derive from striving for greatness worth everything else in life it will cost you to become great? It’s all in how we define greatness. Is it great to be a leader in our industry, or is it great to be out by 6 to get to those things, activities or people that enrich our life? https://youtu.be/1HGgmvpP3NM
@SR1 I love, love, love that article and have read it many times. It is good for perspective.
Agreed. Exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.
I saw my ecd at a coffee shop this weekend. He was already seated and didn’t see me. He works insanely hard and has a newborn at home, so I figured he was getting some much needed alone time before starting what will surely be a brutal year. He had an iPad, a notebook, and a cup of coffee.
I didn’t say hi because it looked like he needed the peace. I don’t know how to quantify that cost, but having people who like and respect you avoid saying hi bc they know how much you need a break is a strange cost to pay.
I wonder the same thing.
I’ve read and listened to countless interviews with Bogusky, Droga, Graf etc... but have yet to hear the impact their rise to the top has had on things like health, family, and friends. It would be really insightful to hear about the sacrifices they had to make and how they managed that side of things along the way.
In the meantime would love to hear from some folks who have been in the industry for a while and share a similar agenda or mindset to those guys. What did greatness cost you?
Whenever i come across someone highly talented or successful (I’m talking GCD or ECD... never Met Bogusky or anyone like that) i almost always look for a wedding ring. Only person I’ve seen make It work is Dan Lucey, but that’s more a testament to the type of person he is.
I feel the same, OP. Have you seen this? https://www.3percentmovement.com/video/panel-daughters-evolution
Would be interesting to get the takes of the guys you mentioned up top though too.
It definitely cost them and it cannot be worth it. I have heard CDs talking about how their spouses are threatening to/actually leaving them over work hours. I’m only a senior and my friends have already stopped inviting me out cause they know the answer