Would you have still gone into advertising knowing what you know now? Are awards and accolades worth it?

Yes I would’ve gone into it, but also I’ve never chased the awards and accolades. I’m here to get paid as much as I can in exchange for as few hours of my time as possible, and writing is the talent of mine that people seem to be willing to pay the most money for.

I will happily retire without a single award or accolade if I get to retire comfortably, healthfully, and surrounded by a large and happy family.

Yikes. You guys are so pessimistic… I mean come on, we get to think big, work with incredibly talented people, and make things that the world sees. No, this industry is not perfect, but I genuinely think in the grand scheme of things I’m lucky to walk into a job every day where I get to solve different challenges creatively. Sure beats making cold calls.

I tried to buy a lake house in Como

The realtor said “do you have a down payment”

I reached into my bag and showed them my Lion, my Clios, my D&AD pencil.

I did not get the house.

The only ones who benefit from the awards are the ones who live to work. The ones who are CONSTANTLY on. The ones who get sent to Cannes every year and that’s the closest they ever get to a vacation. They’re like real-life Instagram models, living a fake veneer of a life.

I’m painting with a broad brush. But “Awards are career currency” is generally said by people whove made their career their entire lives.

Not a single one of my friends or family (the ones worth a toss) have ever ever said “You need more awards.”

I got in late, in my mid thirties- so glad I did not go in straight from college. I think it actually sucks to be in it in your twenties - you gotta experience a hard but fun life for a few years to appreciate this biz

I’ve had some pretty amazing experiences. I’ve gone to cool places on production, I’ve met some of my heroes and even have one of their numbers in my cell phone, and I’ve laughed more than I could ever imagine laughing at any other job. In a lot of ways it’s been everything I could have asked for. So yes, probably.

Would I have a more stable life if I had just gone to law school? Also probably. But goodness, who wants to be a lawyer?

Yes. There have been years I’ve made as much as a doctor but i get to think about funny, dumb stuff all day long.

Does anyone get into advertising for the awards and accolades? I get that they’re an important part of the job, but I pursued this career because it’s a relatively well paying creative gig. And on those terms I guess it worked out for me but I sure as shit wouldn’t sign up as a junior now.

For all those saying no, what would you have done instead? Asking as someone who was/is trying to get into the field after grad school..

Yes, but I don’t think I’d go into it now. Feels like a joyless slog, but it could just be our client/agency. If I change jobs again, I’ll have a better idea if this is just how it is now.

Are the awards/accolades worth it? No. Most of them honestly are completely subjective and I’ve seen some companies somehow winning awards while simultaneously losing business and experiencing layoffs.

I would do it again because I enjoy finding ways to make my team fire on all cylinders and see people look at my work in amazement wondering how I do what I do. The praise I get often doesn’t go out farther than my immediate group telling maybe one person outside of our group about me. I’ve met a decent number of people for the first time that have said my reputation preceded me and that’s what I pride myself in.

Yes, without a doubt! The industry is similar to anything else in life…you either enjoy it or find another passion.

No. If I had put the same effort into something like medicine, I would have actually done something worthwhile and would probably be retired by now.

Probably not, the industry has steadily declined in ethics, quality and size. The thing that inspired me (big brand concepts) is all but gone as we all scramble to make tiktok 'influencer and UGC' throw away posts for peanuts, while the bean counters salivate over the prospect of replacing us all with dumb robots.

No, but I didn’t want to in the first place.

si 👏🏽

If I knew what I know now, I would have navigated my career path accordingly. But I have loved every moment.

I got in in the 80s. So if I could go back to 1985 and start over, you’re goddamn right I’d do it over again. If I was 23 today, and just starting out, no. I’d go into public service/politics or culinary school.

Now to your second question: awards and accolades have never been worth it. They’re shit. If you are in this business for awards and accolades and not because you love solving puzzles and making beautiful work, you live a hollow meaningless existence. I would suggest public service/pokitics or culinary school.

Yeah, but I would’ve tried to go into strategy at the start of my career.

Nope

NO. Peer awards are just that. And advertising in Detroit was upselling people to get things they didn't need or want and convince them otherwise.
The best rewards were bringing Cranksgiving to New Mexico where we raised money an collected food with a bike race for the battered women's shelter.
Raising so much money for the Zoo Biodome and Aquarium that they put me in a magazine.
And in Texas - working operation Turkey where we smoked turkeys and fed 44,000 people.
I never got the same feeling running an design studio, or from a kudos of an ad executive. Although it was fun having the CEO of GM during the Auto show - handing me a rum and coke.


The best reward I ever got was being put in a magazine for breaking a record for the most money ever - for a biodome (at the time) running a fundraiser.
I'm in a magazine for it. I brought 2 million families and people a better Zoo Aquarium and Biodome. I was working on my medical career doing some side work. I loved it.

No