Then again, I'd probably end up pitching the merits of McDonalds. Or Republicans.
There are few bigger psychological canker sores than the knowledge that I should have listened to my mother. I probably should have gone into advertising. Not because I especially like manipulating people or manufacturing need in an effort to extract increasingly large sums of increasingly hard-earned dollars from a generally unsuspecting public. All of that gives me cramps.
I just really want to wear funky, chunky, black glasses and cool, flat-front trousers to work. And I can’t really consider myself a Yuppie without a coke habit and an ulcer.
Actually, it’s something I understand. And, subsequently, I think it’s something I could probably do well. Sure, I would be just as destined for hell as I am now, but at least I wouldn’t feel like a fraud on my way there.
I’m not sure I’d make a good designer or graphic artist, despite my mother’s constant reminder that I knew how to draw as a four year old. Now that I know real artists, I don’t think I harbor that fire. I just don’t feel that compulsion to create. I never have. Perhaps there was a spark there. At this point in my life, who can tell? Maybe I just never blew on it.
What I do feel is a fire to communicate.
Big surprise, huh?
When I go on vacation I spend half my time looking for things to photograph. When I started this blog I began to think about narrative. I began to look for it. How am I going to tell this story? I can spend a day on messenger, not because I’m hoping to score more Tassy porn (although I’m certainly not opposed to it), but rather it’s just another way for me to keep talking. And talking. And talking. And talking.
Jesus, this drove my ex crazy.
Advertising, at its core, is communication. Commissioned. Manipulative. Impure. Frequently unethical. But when done correctly, powerful. Sometimes poignant. And when inspired, possibly even art.
I think I could do this.
The irony, of course, is how far I go out of my own way to AVOID advertisements, tearing every advertisement page out of my Newsweek, asking my favorite mailman not to deliver any bulk mail (if I were gay I would be all over him) and switching to HBO, NPR and my iPOD almost exclusively. I even refuse to wear clothing with logos.
I may not have the creative chops (or the requisite Photoshop skills) for the design desk, but I think I could handle account management. I think I might even be able to handle copy. So long as I never have to write bad copy. Good Lord, if I never hear another advertisement claim a product can do something, anything, “like never before.”
So maybe I should look to that industry next. Take the initial (and excruciating) salary hit and bounce my ass out of technology. Could be something I’m good at. And I think I could rock funky, chunky glasses and cool, flat-front trousers like never before.
Comments
I feel ya'. I actually studied advertising in undergrad and planned to go into copywriting when I got distracted by the law... so I went from one manipulative form of communication to another. Out of the frying pan into the fire! :p
If you're really interested in it, I'm all for your career change -- as long as you post pictures of the glasses and trousers. =D
Posted by: Bridget | October 17, 2004 08:30 PM
What the hell are you talking about?!?!?
Alot of words but no sense. Keep up the good work Jim.
Posted by: Jim's Brother | October 17, 2004 11:12 PM
If you've worked as a sales and marketing director, then you could definitely be an advertising account executive or account manager. You might not be able to do the actual production of the work (graphic design and copywriting), but if your photos and journal writing are any indication, you have a good eye and you know what reads well -- which means you could probably also do some creative direction.
Posted by: April | October 17, 2004 11:48 PM
I don't get it. A male willing to talk, and often, and the girl is driven crazy? Many of us spend a day wasted on messenger. Me, in search of intelligent life forms that don't spontaneously break into song and dance. Way too much kids' shows here.
Anyway, good luck with the career stuff.
Posted by: Amy V | October 18, 2004 04:49 AM
Take it from someone who actually does work at an ad agency. It sucks just like any other job..even with the people walking around in funky glasses and cool trousers. Although I think I might work with more interesting/fun people than your average job. But a job's a job. You might make a good AE (advertising executive) I'll keep my eyes/ears open for any openings. Be ready to deal with insane deadlines and pain-in-the-ass clients. woo hoo!
Posted by: leigh anne | October 18, 2004 01:48 PM
oops, i meant "account executive". Duh.
Posted by: leigh anne | October 18, 2004 01:50 PM
Oops again....I didn't mean it to come across as "YOUR average job" meaning i didn't mean like yours personally. I meant like all regular jobs everywhere. Forggettit. I just need to give up making comments!
Posted by: leigh anne | October 18, 2004 01:54 PM
if it isn't bad enough that you're a smarmy sales exec. you want to become an even smarmier and more snooty advertising exec. now? wtf? where did i go wrong as your muse? didn't i teach you anything about nonattachment to worldy things?
pffffffffffffft to this plan, even with the cool pants and funky glasses. don't front funk, be it. ;)
Posted by: tassy | October 18, 2004 08:12 PM
ok muse.
what do you suggest?
inspire me.
Posted by: the mighty jimbo | October 18, 2004 08:44 PM
I know it's bad when my friends are saying to me on a very regular basis... "now that's blog material". Hmmm. These same friends want *me* to blog about *our* lives... Sheesh.
I like reading your blog, Jimbo -- It inspires me, and to be honest, when I finally find the guy that I'll hook up with for a while, he'll want to blog.
Communication is good. No, it's great!
Posted by: NetChick | October 19, 2004 12:31 AM
Jimbo - how about you skip the moral dilemnas of advertising and be a talk show host instead? Then you could talk all day and rock all kinds of funky pants, glasses, shoes, ties and even some pink shirts! Maybe one of those interviewer people on-the-scene types - like Fashion Police or Wild On! Especially since you like to travel - maybe Wild On! could be perfect for you... Any one else have any ideas? There are shows being churned out every five minutes - I'm sure you could find a jillion auditions to go on. Yes, I'm very much liking this idea. Plus, you have that whole gayish slim bald headed athletic guy thing going on so you'd be perfect. Yes, I proclaim it - do it :) :)
Posted by: Vanessa | October 19, 2004 12:48 AM
Jimbo - how about you skip the moral dilemnas of advertising and be a talk show host instead? Then you could talk all day and rock all kinds of funky pants, glasses, shoes, ties and even some pink shirts! Maybe one of those interviewer people on-the-scene types - like Fashion Police or Wild On! Especially since you like to travel - maybe Wild On! could be perfect for you... Any one else have any ideas? There are shows being churned out every five minutes - I'm sure you could find a jillion auditions to go on. Yes, I'm very much liking this idea. Plus, you have that whole gayish slim bald headed athletic guy thing going on so you'd be perfect. Yes, I proclaim it - do it :) :)
Posted by: Vanessa | October 19, 2004 12:51 AM
I don't know how that happened (2x) - sorry - what I was saying was dilemma - I always type dilemna because it reminds me of alumnae. just meant to post the correction not the post again :)
Posted by: Vanessa | October 19, 2004 12:53 AM
Um, yeah, funky glasses and flat front pants. Those are good ... Did you write something about a job? Sorry, I must've missed all that.
Posted by: Terri | October 19, 2004 06:24 AM
Writing for Lonely Planet would need lots of communication, a good eye, and great narrative skills :)
Freelance travel journalism?
Your slide to hell might be slower, but overall perhaps more fun!
Posted by: cassie | October 19, 2004 07:44 AM
tassy, YOU ARE RAD!
Posted by: claire | October 19, 2004 07:55 AM
cassie, i do need to submit some things to LP. on my list of things to do.
Posted by: the mighty jimbo | October 27, 2004 01:32 PM