I’ve never been a big believer in fate. The whole “everything happens for a reason” thing never sat well with me. But, science? Now, there’s something I can put my faith in.
I see beauty in the laws that govern and interpret the physical world around us. One of my favorites is this one, Newton’s first law of thermodynamics:
“Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only change forms.”
For instance: Atoms in the sun undergo fusion, which releases energy, which we experience as sunlight, which heats our planet, which helps plants grow, which can be converted into food or firewood or fuel, which supply humans with energy to live, and so on and so forth.
One big circle of life. Nothing ever truly disappears; it just changes its name & address and gets a face lift.
So when an opportunity—or any general source of ‘energy’—disappears, it hasn’t really disappeared. It’s simply changed its name & location. The trick is recognizing it by its new appearance.
Girl won’t call you back? Maybe you’re supposed to chat up the one sitting next to you on the subway. Italian restaurant is closed? Maybe it this is your chance to discover Vietnamese. Get laid off from your job as an ACD in a big name NYC ad agency like I did last week? Maybe it means I’m supposed to reinvent myself and bring some of my other professional passions to the foreground.
I mean, I love advertising. I’ve considered it a privilege to be a part of an industry that pays me to come up with ideas all day—something I’d do for free in my spare time anyway. But, it’s not my only love. I’m a musician, too, complete with an album on iTunes. In fact, some of my friends think it should be my main career. Easier said than done.
As luck (not fate) would have it, I just completed my second album over the winter, even selling my car to help pay for it. I worked on it during vacations, nights and weekends through the spring to finish it. Right about the time of my layoff, I was thinking I could really use a month off to finish the artwork, do the paperwork, re-do my sites & launch it properly.
Suddenly that’s exactly what I have. It’s as if life is saying, “Oh yeah? You’re serious about this album, eh? How serious? Let’s take away your job and see.” And now I’ve got no excuse but to hit it hard.
Yes, layoffs are an unwelcome detour. But I believe the source from which I’ll derive my energy (and income) didn’t really disappear; it just changed its name & address.
_______
If you’re curious about Mark or his soon-to-be-released album, track him down on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, or join his email list at http://markradcliffe.net.
11 Comments
Nice one, Mark. Love the Newtonian spin on the ad game.
Good luck with the new album.
Natalie Kaufman
Great attitude Mark. In the end, agencies don’t give us creativity… just opportunity with a paycheck… and kudos for not allowing a layoff to take that away.
Of course, it’s only been a week…
You are totally right. Since I’ve been laid off its given me the time to write,time which I was always complaining I never had. Hopefully that will take me somewhere as well. Good luck with your music.
Fact is, our lives also simply switch addresses. Our hearts beat because of electrical energy. Our minds think in their synapses because of electrical energy.
We will never actually die because when our hearts and brains stop working, that electrical energy just moves elsewhere.
Sorry to hear it Mark, but I can’t wait the music that comes out of it!
Great perspective Mark. I couldn’t imagine being a non-creative and getting laid off.
Fortunately, because of our brains wiring and training, many of us can see that silver lining… but, like every great idea, the execution can be a bitch.
Mark, your inquisitive and wandering soul is an eternal spring of creativity. It cannot possibly be bound to any advertising agency, as is not bound to even a single lifetime on this earth. May your journey continue to be blessed.
(Reference material: Bhagavad-gita, said to be first spoken by The Bhagavan, Lord Krishna himself, to Arjuna in 3137 BC)
Thanks to all who have read and commented. Appreciate the support. Album should be out in September!
Check out @Markradcliffe’s post: Science Of Advertising Layoffs http://bit.ly/p8Z4l Former PDXer who leads dual life like me.
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Whoever thought a layoff means “adventure”! This is indeed a test of your true creativity….
really great post mark.
Post a Comment