I’ve sent 2 “Golden Nugget” emails this year. T-W-O! And the last one was back in June. Frankly put, I’m not inspired. I even debated turning off the auto-renewal for my email campaigns and website. And when I talk to my inner circles, I’m not the only one feeling this. 

Ever since I could remember, I’ve been the Energizer Bunny when It came to work-related success. It’s surely the millennial way: do more, do better, be successful, get your gold star, but avoid burn out (oops, I’ve done that last one before!). 🫡

I was talking to someone recently that mentioned that once you’re in your 30’s/40’s you’ve sort of built your runway for the rest of your career. To make a change now would be starting from scratch and that’s cRaZy. You just need to stick with it to keep stress low, income high, and your life the same. 

But what happens when you hit a point where you’re not even sure if the path you built for a decade is the one you want to continue on? 🫢

I’ve spent the better part of the last 6 months living my best “Ina Garten Summer” (enjoying our new home, pool, puppy, local events, time with friends and family, etc.). I’ve openly joked about “quitting my life” and starting over doing something with animals because they bring me joy. Joking, but not joking. 

Then the other day my husband put on the “On Brand With Jimmy Fallon” series. It’s an unscripted reality show where creative, clever, and competitive go-getters (across an array of industries!) create winning marketing campaigns for top brands. IMHO, a must watch.

Within minutes of the first episode, I was snarfing ideas that I thought they should consider, adding my own side-bar tangents on how that would look across different mediums, and getting completely wrapped up in the creative mindset. 

And yes, if you’re wondering, I did finish the season in 1 sitting (with bathroom breaks of course). 🙃

My husband saw me light up and asked me why I wouldn’t consider something not only back in the creative world again, but back in a creative seat – I started at a boutique branding and creative agency (re: octopus of all things). 

My response without skipping a beat: it’s been too many years, I don’t have a grasp on all the tools, and sales is what I succeed in. I sort of stepped up where others didn’t want to. I thought “Hey, no one wants to do this. I am good at this. Let’s become a badass at this.” 

Don’t get me wrong, sales is so fun when you’re winning. It’s all about people and relationships, and when you’re doing well… you can also live up that joy straight to the bank. 

But when I quit my agency job back in 2015 due to unethical biz practices, I think my creative spirit got shoved to the back of my brain with a “beware of dogs” sign haphazardly hanging in front. 

Since then, I’ve held onto the fringes of creative, but kept an arm-distance from it in the position of sales for creatives.

I go in short-stint creative phases where I doodle on an iPad (TALOOP TOONS, Iykyk), watercolor paint, and craft. But these are all short-lived. I think a therapist would claim that I likely have PTSD from my first love. 

High school Ashley (who taught herself InDesign + Photoshop CS2 circa 2005 from the provided CD booklet and created her own tutorials before Lynda and YT) would have pictured herself ideating billboards (like Netflix’s Sunset Marquee), experiential events (like Beyonce Bowl), and social campaign marvels (like Wednesday). 

Yes, all Netflix because HOT DAMN these are all great examples that I’ve been on the fringes of and said to myself “I wish I was in this war room for this.”

And yet I wonder, would I be better at a creative role like this now in my late 30’s? Especially after everything I’ve seen, consulted on, and touched? Maybeeee? 

So in the spirit of rawness, overwhelm, and full transparency, I need your help. And if you know me, I hate asking for help. 

How does one get back to a creative strategy seat after being out of it for over a decade? 😳

This may sound silly, but I am truly unsure how to even begin given my 10-year hiatus from a creative position. 

I’m hoping that putting myself out there to my network may bring to light some ideas I had not thought of, or an individual/team who’s looking for an outsider perceptive? TBH, I don’t know what I don’t know and willing to take any and all advice. 😅

Ironically it’s 11/11 I’m putting it out into the universe (& to you direct) that I won’t be letting another decade go by with my creative spirit caged up and out of sight. 

To debunking your normal, 
-Ashley

P.S.: If you’re a client reading this, don’t stress. I wouldn’t leave you hanging and I still do love what I do for you! 🖤