People

It’s 1:05 in the morning, and thank god it’s a Friday… Technically it’s actually Saturday now.

Tonight I feel incredibly compelled to write about my coworkers. They’re a really dope group of humans, and no (clearly) this isn’t biased. This authentic opinion comes from various amounts of input, months of hard work, too many late nights, a few different agencies, and multiple accounts. The fact is, the people I work with are actually ridiculously amazing.

We’ve been working on a project for the last six months, and the brief was tough. There were nights where we woke up at two in the morning (or earlier) for midnight shoots, got on calls at the wee hours of the evening when we should have been sleeping, and even some nights that didn’t call for sleep at all.

I’ve taken a beat from writing to focus on work, and in my personal opinion I find that very valid. The work I do, while I’m not the creative mastermind behind it all, makes me want to wake up in the morning and keep doing this work-from-home thing in advertising. Thus, I’m somehow in the right place at the right time with the right people.

The key word here is “the right people”.

The reason why I love what I do is simply due to the people I’m surrounded by.

When I moved to New York, I only knew three people. I had zero idea if I would make it; how the hell I’d survive in a giant, insane, constantly moving city like this. Yet, my coworkers have made this journey of mind very… well, very awesome. And I can’t begin to explain how thankful I am that the people who hired me, the others who have accepted me with wildly open arms, the people who brought me into this incredible world of phenomenally creative human beings, took a chance on me.

I’m a firm believer that the people you’re around make your experience, no matter what it may be, worthwhile.

And, I can firmly say that the people I work with make my everyday, even the bad days, worthwhile.

For example, I work with this insanely talented producer who I vibe with on another level. Yes, he’s dramatic... Yes, he’s pushy. But good gracious, do I love his insight, care for what he does, and style. He challenges me to be a better version of myself, a better account person, and a better advocate for creative style. He’s one of my favorite humans to work with, and I’d work with him again, and again.

Another example, an additional coworker of mine, used to be my boss… But, she never made me feel like an inferior employee. She has continuously lifted me up, made me feel empowered, shot the shit with me, and would occasionally encourage the (random) tequila shot when appropriate. She has this “I’m real, and I don’t give a fuck” attitude that I respect, and have learned from.

A further example, the strategists I’ve worked with make me smarter. I can’t pinpoint a single human, while don’t get me wrong I theoretically could list off the people.. The majority of the strategic humans I work with at my agency continue to impress and inspire me. I learn from them, I (try) to challenge them, and I envy them in some ways. They’re fun, hilarious, and provide insanely smart insight to a brief, creative execution, or measurement approach that I adore.

Finally, a terrific example are the creatives I work with. Holy shit. And, pardon my language, but dang, these creative humans are absolutely fucking incredible… wow. I’m completely blown away, constantly. Their meticulous attention to detail, their effort and dedication, the attitude they have for a project that seems impossible constantly blow me away. They’re always willing to tackle a problem, odd feedback, or frustrating situation with complete and utter ease. They continuously figure out ways to solve a problem that I can’t even begin to solve myself. Yes, I’m sure they vent about how ridiculous things are on the back end, but they always show up. They always pull through.

Needless to say, I’m thankful.

I’m really, really thankful for these people. These wildly creative, talented, smart humans.

Authentically, everyone I have worked with over the last (almost) two years have impacted not only my approach as an account person, but also as a human being. I learn something every week, if not every day. I’m learning, hopefully growing, and truly I am enjoying every step of the way.

So really, this article isn’t to sit here and teach a lesson. It’s truly here to just promote how important it is to surround yourself with people who impact you and make you a better version of yourself.

It’s the people. It’s always been the people. We could be doing the most mundane activity, but if the people around us make it good, it’s worthwhile.

So this is my short-winded way of saying, surround yourself with good people. Whether it be in your personal or professional endeavors, good people make life… good. And fun.

The same thing goes with romantic relationships. And yes, we’re now shifting from professional to personal. I’ve had my fair share of romantic relationships. Many failed ones, fun ones, brief encounters, and so forth. But at the end of the day, the ones that left the most impact were the ones that taught me something.

Surrounding yourself with human beings who encourage you, possibly inadvertently, to be a better version of yourself, are the ones worth noting.

Thus, at the end of the day, or night (because i’m tired and am going to sleep now) I’d just challenge you to find a place where you are surrounded by people who make you feel whole. The people I work with and the people I surround myself in a personal sense, make me feel so… good. Move past those who don’t create value in your life and focus on the ones that do. If you’re not getting that value, move on. Make a change.

And with all this said, for those of you who have made it to the end and you’ve read my tiny, lovely rant... Thank you.

Thank you for being around. Thanks for being my friend or my coworker. I appreciate you reading, you being here, and you pushing me. I couldn’t be the woman I am today, or the woman I hope to be one day, without ya.