No matter how cynical or jaded we seem, we are all eternal optimists. We truly believe in tomorrow, the next assignment, the next job. Our passion to create is never sated, nor does it diminish even when faced with having to do a country music awards polybag for a flagging automotive company.

Brilliant observation. I agree it's the passion. You guys are the best! I'm falling in love with my career choice all over again!

Passion. Everyday I look forward towards doing what I do. When I get calls, I run to the corners of buildings to talk to people I'm psyched to get to chat with. I literally walk around and accidentially discover brilliant things in random conversations with folks all over.

In what other profession could you do that?

ALexis you're not alone in your thinking - - there's a growing fustration in this entire industry with the amount of time and life that it consumes. More and more people are asking for increased time off, flex time and/or finding ways to work closer to a 40 hour week as opposed to an 80 hour one. In addition, polls are already telling us that after Katrina and Rita that most Americans are in a reflective mode about what life [work, love, family] mean to them - -and making big changes - - and I expect many of us here on AdHoles will do the same... As for your question - - a day in the life of SS+K. I've come to find out that it's not normal. We're a small agency started by 4 guys who believed in the value of family and personal life. So we're closer to a 9-5 shop than any other I've encountered. And trust me, after my last experience [14 hour days + weekends was the norm] I was about to quit the industry for good. For me it's about the people - I've never worked with a smarter, more talented bunch of misfits. Every day I laugh. Every day I'm inspired. And every day I learn something new. That's important to me. I have two personal philosophies that I'll share with you [+ others] take them for what they're worth. 1] This is an industry that feeds on ideas + creativity + passion. If all you do is work it's very difficult to find that in yourself or be inspired by the world around you [cuz your never out in it!] 2] Every day is a new experience and a new opportunity to explore and discover and learn. Think about what your job provides you and then think about what you're 'missing' and then ask yourself, when your 98 years old and sitting in a rocking chair, will you have any strong regrets? I always find that if the answer is yes - it's time for a change.

All great thinking... all thinking I happen to agree with. The past 13 years for me have been nothing short of thrilling. It's just time in the life of this gal to think it over some. I agree Capers - there isn't a dull moment and the 10 months I was out of the loop (back in 1995), I wanted back in so desparately. So... tell me more Adholes... tell me more.

I have been pulling some 70 hour weeks lately, so it does make me wonder what the hell made me decide to do this for a living. Being honest with myself, right now it's a lot about the cash. Not cash for cash's sake, but the freedom and security it provides. I used to think a full-time gig was security, but we all know that it is mostly bullshit. I have worked with too many people who got older and their careers stalled out. I am 36-years-old and am figuring on another 10-15 years of being marketable. After that I am planning on this industry kicking me to the gutter, so I am trying to accumulate assets to accommodate for that eventuality.

Apart from the jaded aspect of it, I feel at this point in my career I have a lot to offer and have been given a lot. I am at the top of my game and I am getting projects due to my sheer ability to accomplish the task. And that is cool. Then I have some pro bono projects that I get to obsessively noodle over. Right now there is more get it done work than cool projects, but I have it better than a lot of people. And considering I don't have a college degree, I am very fortunate to be where I am and to have had the opportunities put before me. I am one of those sickening stories of hard work overcoming modest beginnings.

Thinking back over the last 13 years I have had my share of interns, hedonistic christmas parties, creative directors throwing chairs, crying traffic managers, production managers drinking on the job, broken fierys, press checks at four in the morning, primodonna hacks refusing to lay out a coupon, waking up next to my art buyer, catching my boss putting Guiness in his coffee mug in the morning, finding typos on press sheets, getting screwed out of bonuses, surviving too many layoffs to recall, not sending layouts to the AE's before the presentation because they were cooler than they were on target, new business pitches that consume nights, weekends and relationships... You have to love it for the good the bad and the ugly.

I'm in it for the hot girls in media and the drugs that pile up in the mailrooms. Really, I'm in it because I get paid to learn at an accelerated rate. When I am bored, I destroy things. It would be counterintuitive for me to work in construction, yet I have destroyed little of value at an agency. They keep asking me to evolve and break rules. I think many people have here creative energy and don't want to grow up and wear a suit, but they can think like a suit and don’t want the risks of starving artists. Consulting often pays more but you work with a lot of tools. Others seem to be in it for the sport, using clients as massive chess pieces on a huge board. There’s a little bit of rebelliousness within the system at some agencies, while others are just trying to keep their pants up. Good question. Can’t wait to hear what others are thinking.

Alexis, I'll chime in here. I think we stay for two reasons, 1- there is never a dull moment, yes there are a good many crappy things that go along with the industry but the ability to learn and do new things is constant. Things are constantly changing and continually learning helps us fight the boredom that some careers seem to foster. 2- the People, You will not run into a more creative and fun group of people than we have in our industry. That being said, it is extremely important to choose your surroundings carefully- because group dymanics in this business can go horribly wrong. In those situations you need to move on quickly because life is too short to wallow in a toxic work environment. Looking back, I wouldn't change my career choice at all. I can't imagine being bored at work all day as an accountant or a mid level manager in a company somewhere, it would probably be more stable but sooooo boring after being in the industry.