Hello stranger.
It’s been almost a year since I posted and wanted to get you up to speed before I begin posting regularly again. I know you cannot wait to hear all about my latest shenanigans like how I accidentally kinda broke into an open Uber car or how I deleted all of my dating apps, and I cannot wait to share all of it with you!
Where I Left Off —
Celebrated my first year in advertising and everything was going incredibly well. I was living the dream in New York City and I couldn’t be happier.
What Happened Next —
Things started to go downhill at work when members of my account team began to depart from the agency. It happens. It’s the way the industry works. I spent the summer trying to keep up with the overwhelming amount of work as senior management scrambled to fill the vacancies. It didn’t take long for the consistent 12-hour work days to burn me down. During this time I was tired, frustrated, emotionally fragile and ultimately felt lost. I’d always been one to juggle a million balls and when I struggled to keep all of the balls from hitting the floor, it felt like every ounce of who I was was quickly draining. Work haunted me every minute of every day. It’s all I ever thought about and it was tearing me up from the inside. Eventually I’d lost sight of why I even wanted to work in advertising.
The Big Move —
After a rough summer, my team was finally restaffed by the fall and it seemed like things would go back to order, but they didn’t. I still wasn’t happy and my confidence was at its absolute lowest. While my new team was keen to identify my self doubt, they did little to help restore my spirit. I didn’t feel like I could go on working at a place that caused me so much pain. I was ready for a change and I wanted that change to be meaningful – to my career, to my life.
By the end of September I’d been offered a new position in San Francisco and agreed to move across the country. Never once did I feel nervous or scared about my decision. Everything about it felt right.
Where I Am Now —
Next weekend will mark my fourth month in SF but it feels like I’ve been here longer. I’m so especially grateful for the opportunity to come here. Every morning I wake up excited and inspired to go to work. My team is brilliant, empowering and kind, and we have the privilege to work with the best-in-class clients that are smart and trusting. Here I actually have work-life balance. When I leave work I don’t feel terrorized by any lingering thoughts from the day.
The people I’ve met here and the friends I’ve made are wonderfully compassionate and unique. They’ve already taught me a lot and have opened my eyes to new interests I would have never considered before. They too are adventurous, and brave. So many of them have uprooted their lives to be here and have provided the most amazing support during my transition to a new city.
What Is To Come —
There is so much still to come! Being in a new city with so much new territory to explore and new characters to meet. I’m sure I will have a ton to share!
To be continued…
Marissa Osowsky 