There’s a new website in town. OVER 30 UNDER 30 endeavors to highlight ageism in advertising—a topic a bit too close for comfort for me and many of my peers in the business.
On LinkedIn, I recently highlighted the site’s feature on Kevin Kehoe, a creative director who left advertising behind to pursue painting full time. The article was popular with my followers, for good reason. Kehoe lays bare the absurdity of ageism in advertising.
Kehoe waxes poetic throughout the interview, which I highly encourage you to read on OVER 30 UNDER 30, the site from Susan LaSacla Wood and Rob Rooney.
I did some major soul searching as I contemplated what was really important to me and why. What I didn’t realize at the time, during my thirty-year career is that advertising proved to be the world’s best boot camp in preparing me to become a painter…advertising gave me the chops and the gumption to become a painter. I’ve always brought a lot of passion to the table but unbridled passion doesn’t guarantee success in life. Advertising gave me a foundation, a framework and the skillset to use my passion and my talent wisely and effectively.
IN RELATED NEWS, my good friend and former colleague at The Integer Group, Terry Gardner, also left advertising behind to paint full time.
Both painters gained a lot from their time in the ad business. This could be a good time to pause and ask what are you gaining from the business and what you are preparing for.
Is the ad game the end game for you? Or is it a stepping stone into an even more creative and rewarding field?
