I love what I do. I own an Ad Agency. And loving what you do is one of the keys to happiness. Although the face of advertising is changing rapidly, it still remains (I think anyways) one of the most exciting businesses in America. My job combines business & imagination and has the extraordinary power to turn dreams into reality and reality into magic. Advertising is a people business and begins with respect for people...for those we work with...those whose products we advertise...and those that we touch with our craft. It takes a certain kind of person to excel in our profession...ones that mix excitement, enthusiasm and pride in their work with a willingness to learn and get involved. We dig, we ask questions, we labor and we learn. And it's worth it because only total involvement brings the knowledge it takes to touch people with our craft. We have the power to make people laugh and make them cry. We can inform, educate, remind and excite...But whatever the approach, it must touch their hearts ... it must be real.
The secret to good advertising is not how creative it is... Instead of people telling me how different or great my ad was... I would rather have people tell me that my ad was so interesting that they went out to buy the product or at least to find out more about it. Too many good agencys create "creative ads", beautiful works of art, however you have missed your mark when people walk away saying that's a great ad instead of wow that's an interesting product.

The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements
Don Ruiz wrote a wonderful book, "The Four Agreements" who's concepts came from the ancient Toltec wisdom. They are simple concepts, ones that I live by, yet they can be difficult to incorporate into our daily lives if we don't make a conscious effort to try. But you will become a better person if you can. According to Ruiz, "everything we do is based on agreements we have made - agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. In these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible.

The agreements are:

Be Impeccable with your word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.
Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don't take anything personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dreams. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Don't make assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement,
you can completely transform your life.

Always do your best.
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement,
self-abuse, and regret.

The Desiderata

I remember reading the Desiderata and hearing the poem on the radio back in the ‘70’s when I was in high school. Latin for “desired things”, it was written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920’s as an inspirational poem on how to attain happiness. It is amazing how some 80+ years later, it still applies today.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.