Adman Confessions

It's been 30 days since my layoff. Thirty days of applications sent, automated rejections received, some promising interviews, and playing the waiting game…waiting for callbacks, waiting for decisions, waiting for clarity about what comes next. In my last post, I wrote about the professional lessons I learned from being caught in " The Great Flattening ." I reflected on servant leadership , visibility , and how my behind-the-scenes approach ultimately made me vulnerable when corporate restructuring came. Those were important insights about what happened and why it happened. But this post is about something deeper: how to keep going when the days stretch into weeks, and when the financial pressure starts to build. While professional strategy matters, it's the spiritual principles that are actually sustaining me through this season God has allowed. The Reality of 30 Days Let me be honest about where I am. I've submitted dozens of applications. I've had some inte...

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7. The tragic loss of Charlie Kirk reminds us how fragile life is and how important it is to live with purpose. Charlie once said, "I want to be remembered for courage, for my faith." Those words echo the apostle Paul's declaration in 2 Timothy 4:7. Like Charlie, I'm a believer navigating a professional world where faith can sometimes feel like a liability rather than an asset. Throughout my career, I am proud to have been known for my faith - but honestly, I don't know if that's helped or hindered my professional journey. Only God knows, and I've put that in His capable hands. Now, as I search for my next role, I'm reminded that our testimony isn't just about what we accomplish professionally - it's about how we live with integrity, empathy, humility, and respect, while remaining faithful to our convictions even when it's difficult. Charl...

It’s interesting how life comes full circle.  The last time I wrote here was in 2018, during another season of unemployment.  Back then, I was reflecting on personal mistakes and lessons learned.  This time, the circumstances are different.  My recent layoff wasn’t performance-related - it was the result of a macroeconomic trend many of us are now facing: “The Great Flattening.” The Great Flattening is the corporate strategy of cutting layers of middle management to create leaner organizations and reduce headcount.  Efficiency replaces mentorship, automation replaces accountability, and leadership layers once considered essential are being phased out.  My role as Director of Recruitment Marketing was one of those casualties. The Servant Leader's Dilemma When I stepped into my Director role, I promised my team I would lead with a servant mindset.  Inspired by Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur, I told them I’d lead like the apostle Andrew, not Peter...

I started my career 9 years ago and have to say that God has always provided employment without much delay. When I graduated from college, I waited a few weeks for the employer to respond, but I lived with my parents so no pressure. While employed I usually already had a better offer on deck before leaving an employer. I never really faced the impact of unemployment, that is until four months ago, and man it does really have a major impact! If you are currently unemployed, my post today is for you so you know what helped me through my four months: my faith in God's promises. Have faith that God will deliver you from problems you caused yourself, and bless you through wrongs others have done. Throughout my months of unemployment, I had the opportunity to reflect on what landed me there, God knows I had the time to do it, lol. He helped me understand that I made mistakes that I needed to learn from. I took advantage of certain flexibilities and should have paid more attention to ...

Plenty has happened to me in the last 8 years since my last post, but the most important change is wholeheartedly accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Salvation. As a follower of Jesus, I now want to acknowledge and commit my life to Him, including my professional career as an advertiser. Colossians 3:23 says "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people...". This bible verse and others make me to wonder if I'm serving God as best as I can in the field of advertising. I see advertising differently now and admit that a lot of ads use triggers reflective of society's nature, which is fallen, to deceptively suggest that a product could fulfill emotional needs that as a Christian I know only God can fill or heal through Christ. For example, why would a telecommunications company develop digital ads that promote watching pornagraphy on their channels? Well, because the marketing data shows that its customers are w...

Since it's been ages since my last post. The best way to start is by saying Happy New Year! 2010 was quite a year; the best news being that I was promoted to Account Executive. With this title came new responsibilities and a feeling of accomplishment. I have to say that it has not been easy; everyday is a learning experience. Here are my confessions for 2010. As a new AE, there were times where projects I handled felt like a crash course. I was running when I should have been taking steps. In my attempt to prove I was ready without the proper background, I managed some jobs in not the smoothest way possible. To those who read my confessions, my advice is to be honest with yourself. Be a go-getter, but not at the expense of exposing your inexperience with newly found responsibilities. Enjoy the process of growth within your career. I was used to being the best and recognized for it, until working with the boss who set me straight. You'll come across different types of Superviso...

There is a proverb which states that hard work never killed a man; well, I'm glad that is the case because there is no 9 to 5 in advertising...it's 9 to whatever time you leave. I love the fact that I'm never bored and always have something to do; I hate the fact that sometimes I have to stop a pending project because of an urgent request. I'm learning with each passing day but still often make mistakes: this is the life of an entry-level Account Coordinator. I am lucky to have an Account Executive who shares his experiences and is honest about my work. The latest advice he gave me was the following after I missed a deadline: " Always under-promise and over-deliver even with a minimal request." He also told me "don't be as good as you are, be as good as you want to be." Know that it will take time to grow into the professional you feel you are; you will not have time to learn everything about the brand you work for or the consumer you help...