Like, Seriously?

Back in 1992, I did something that only a small group of people could achieve.

I graduated from one of the most prestigious art and design schools in the world as an advertising art director (with a minor in graphic design).

I put in 4 long years toiling at a drafting table.
Thousands upon thousands of dollars were spent on art supplies, pencils, rapidographs, layout boards, markers, Letraset, etc. etc. etc., while studying under some of the best design instructors and artists in the world, to perfect the skills (and craftsmanship) it took to enter these professions.

Over 1300 applied to the college from around the world every year.
But only (roughly) 300 applicants were accepted.

You had to present a full portfolio of work (which I had completed through 4 years of after school programs and life drawing classes during high school) to a panel of 3 instructors and a student.
In my last 2 years at the college, I had the honour of becoming one of those students and sometimes, I wonder how many went on to lucrative careers thanks to my thumbs up?

After the first grueling year studying a wide array of courses, you had to apply again to be accepted into the “Communication and Design” program for the next 3 years.
Again, a select few would make the cut with approximately 60 students making their career aspirations a possibility.
Somehow, with a lot of work and determination, I was one of them.

When we graduated, there was a high sense of pride.
4 years of study.
The same amount required to become a lawyer, or an accountant, or any other white collar professional who made a very decent living and earned a degree of respect in the workforce.

“What do you do?”
I’m an art director and designer.
“Sweet. Which agency?”

Those (like myself) who found their way into ad agencies and design studios were handsomely rewarded for the skills they were taught.
Amazingly, in those years, I had to tie back my ponytail, take out my earrings, and put on a shirt and tie for job interviews.

Anyway, yada yada yada…there’s a brief history.
I’m not going to bore you with yet another tale from the good old “Mad Men” days of this industry.
My blog is filled with these stories (see “I love the smell of rubber cement in the morning”).

Now, you may be asking “Ronnie, what is the point of this post?”

Yesterday, I’m doing a search and I came across a job listing.
It was when I saw the bottom line that my heart sank.

As I said, those of us that were selected to put in 4 long years of study before the days of computers, Creative Suite, the internet, crowdsourcing and design “contests” were a well-respected bunch who belonged to an exclusive club.

Our profession had mystery. It had prestige.

There was a sense of jealousy and awe to those who learned what you did for a living.

Now, here we are in 2013 and once again, I’m just shaking my head.

A Confession

After almost 20 years of climbing up the creative industry ladder, I can honestly say that the ONLY person I envy (career-wise) on this entire planet, is the creative director on Google's homepage.

There will always be haters.

It has been a VERY long time since I’ve written anything in this blog.

I haven’t really had a second.

2010 has been an incredibly busy (and successful year) for me but as you have hopefully learned from reading my posts, one should never let a series of successful months go to their head (as a freelancer) because it can all come to a screeching halt tomorrow.

To make a lot of hay when the sun has been shining, I’ve had to move sharing some words to the bottom of my priority list.

This is only one of the reasons I stopped writing.

Another is that sometimes, I simply don’t feel like it.

See, I never began writing for any of you, I have always written for me, and then made these words public.

With that said, because I make it public, a lot of great stuff happens.

I end up making top blog lists like this one.

My words end up in published books like this one or this one.

And this gets me a LOT of mail. Mostly great response and words of encouragement.

But every year there are always one or two emails that are completely negative.

Not just negative but downright nasty.

When I complain about the state of the industry, I get a hater screaming at me to stop whining.

When I write that I’m having a great time, or year, or success, I get a hater calling me a “smug bastard”.

As I did recently when I posted something I wrote titled “An ode to freelance”.

It was late at night, and I couldn’t believe how alive and free I felt to do this job for a living.

I figured many of you could relate. After all, there are MANY worse jobs than creating something in a design program late at night with a glass of spirits in hand.

I had no demanding boss breathing down my neck.

There was no dumb-ass co-worker asking me how to fix the fax machine that they jammed for the 3rd time.

I wasn’t watching the clock mid-afternoon to count down the minutes.

And I wasn’t stuck in a 2 hour traffic jam to get home.

If I sounded smug, it’s because when it comes to working from home, on my own, Sometimes I AM.

Freelancing rules. Everything (when it is going well) is amazing.

Right now, because times are good, I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.

So I jotted down my thoughts at that moment.

There was no need (Mr. Hater) for your anonymous attack.

I write for me. I write what I’m feeling, when I’m feeling it.

Belittling me for that post was like slapping somebody for smiling to themselves because they are having a good day.

For those that enjoy my posts. I thank you for I am glad and honoured. You make my writing and sharing it worthwhile.

For all the haters to my thoughts and words, I have a very thick skin.

Call me whatever you want.

I’ve worked in one of the meanest industries for nearly 20 years.

One that chews people up and spits them out, sometimes as fast as they came.

On my own, playing by my own rules, for almost half of it.

Your words didn’t hurt (which I know was your goal).

You simply annoyed like a fly buzzing in one’s ear.

Sometimes, I whistle while I work.

If you don’t like listening to it, I have an easy solution.

All you have to do is click here.

If you could follow JUST one person in your creative career…

Everybody needs a mentor.

Recently, I was asked who has had the greatest impact on my career?
Over the years, I have worked with some great and talented people, I’ve learned a lot from several of them, but I don’t think I can really name one person in the workplace that took me completely under their wing. Pondering the question, what I came to realize is that one of my main mentors is actually somebody in this business that I consider a friend. I haven’t worked with her at all. I’ve only met her face-to-face a few times but we’ve just had some great chats over the years and I’ve listened…to EVERYTHING she has to say.

What I learned a long time ago is that this business is not just about the work you create, but also about making the right connections and contacts. Whom you rub shoulders with can be as important to your career as your book. As I have mentioned in past articles, I have found full-time agency work by chatting up Creative Directors at an industry function with a glass of Scotch in my hand.

Social Marketing takes this networking to a whole new level. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc. are like being at the cocktail party or award show reception 24/7.
You can introduce yourself to anybody. You can follow their words. You can have many mentors and follow many people.

I have no idea how and when I met Heidi Ehlers, but I knew from the moment I met her that this was one person I would stick close to the rest of my life. In the world of advertising and design (especially in North America), Heidi may possibly be the most important and knowledgable person you could ever know. A former creative herself, Heidi is the owner of BLACK BAG creative recruitment + career management. She’s not just a headhunter, she is THE headhunter. BLACK BAG is about creative talent. Finding creative talent, strategizing careers with creatives, studying what causes the best creative talent to be the best and what causes the hot shops to be hot.

I could go on about her “Diary of a Creative Director” series or “Camp Black Bag” workshops. I could write endless paragraphs about how inspiring she is when listening to her speak, or how many times she has been able to steer me in the right direction. But I will simply end this post with two little words of advice...

FOLLOW HER.

If I could only have one mentor in this world, or if I could follow just one person that I believe would be the greatest asset to my career, it would be Heidi.
I think you should be listening too.

On FACEBOOK: BLACK BAG creative recruitment + career management
On TWITTER: BLACKBAGtweets