I will never forget the day I got sent to planet advertising. It was about four months ago, but it feels like four years ago.
What I didn't realize when I signed my full-time permanent contract was that I was also signing away my heart, soul and entire being.
Part of me feels like I should start the story at this point and move forward. I mean, why talk about everything that's happened? Onward and upward. Fuck that. Where's the fun in that?
Plus, I think we need a bit of context. Background, if you will. Let's start with the basics. I'm a female. 33 years old. Single (does that really matter right now? No. Moving along).
I started my own company when I was 19. High Jinx Entertainment was an event production company that put on weekly club parties in downtown Toronto. I did this for a few years, my company growing and doing bigger events (think fashion shows and movie premieres).
After a solid six years of this I decided to move to beautiful Whistler, B.C. I (oddly enough) worked a regular gig in marketing and did even more fun events (ahem, first Canadian cheese rolling competition I'll have you note). At the time, it was my dream job.
Fast forward to my next career leap, Montreal. Wait, what? Yes, La Belle Province, as they call it. Threw everything to the wind and got a job working as a communications advisor in finance (I'll spare the details for another time). It actually turned out really well.
Four years later and a nasty break up that resulted in me fleeing back home, I decided to try and "settle". It's time to come home, my parents said. I saw Toronto with new appreciative eyes. Until I started looking for a job. Holy moses. I spent a year looking for work. Interview after interview. Let down after let down.
Then I finally got an offer. From an advertising agency.
Initially when I was interviewed they honed in on my event and social media skills. We think you'd be a great fit for sponsorship and event activations, they said. Cool, I thought. I want in here!
When I got the call I was shocked to hear them offering an Account Executive position. Huh? I was explicitly told I wouldn't like that exact job and it wasn't for me. I was overqualified and would get bored. And yet I still took it. Along with a $10,000 pay cut (stop judging, I was desperate, I told you there's more to the story).
Now we're in the present. Four months into the gig.
And this is where the story begins.
What I didn't realize when I signed my full-time permanent contract was that I was also signing away my heart, soul and entire being.
Part of me feels like I should start the story at this point and move forward. I mean, why talk about everything that's happened? Onward and upward. Fuck that. Where's the fun in that?
Plus, I think we need a bit of context. Background, if you will. Let's start with the basics. I'm a female. 33 years old. Single (does that really matter right now? No. Moving along).
I started my own company when I was 19. High Jinx Entertainment was an event production company that put on weekly club parties in downtown Toronto. I did this for a few years, my company growing and doing bigger events (think fashion shows and movie premieres).
After a solid six years of this I decided to move to beautiful Whistler, B.C. I (oddly enough) worked a regular gig in marketing and did even more fun events (ahem, first Canadian cheese rolling competition I'll have you note). At the time, it was my dream job.
Fast forward to my next career leap, Montreal. Wait, what? Yes, La Belle Province, as they call it. Threw everything to the wind and got a job working as a communications advisor in finance (I'll spare the details for another time). It actually turned out really well.
Four years later and a nasty break up that resulted in me fleeing back home, I decided to try and "settle". It's time to come home, my parents said. I saw Toronto with new appreciative eyes. Until I started looking for a job. Holy moses. I spent a year looking for work. Interview after interview. Let down after let down.
Then I finally got an offer. From an advertising agency.
Initially when I was interviewed they honed in on my event and social media skills. We think you'd be a great fit for sponsorship and event activations, they said. Cool, I thought. I want in here!
When I got the call I was shocked to hear them offering an Account Executive position. Huh? I was explicitly told I wouldn't like that exact job and it wasn't for me. I was overqualified and would get bored. And yet I still took it. Along with a $10,000 pay cut (stop judging, I was desperate, I told you there's more to the story).
Now we're in the present. Four months into the gig.
And this is where the story begins.
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