Find Your Coachella
You’re tired.
You’ve hit a wall.
You’re on your fifteenth revision.
The direction changed again and the job is two weeks overdue.
It’s just another day in advertising.
We work in an industry where people pride themselves on avoiding vacation days like the plague, leading to burnout.
But what happens to an industry built on creativity when motivation and inspiration begin to fade?
Rather than discover the resulting chaos that would surely ensue, there are those of us who instead set off on an annual quest to rediscover our passion for these not-so-secret weapons of every good employee’s arsenal.
It’s happened to all of us and it’s more daunting than Frodo and Perseus’ journeys combined, that moment when those uncomfortable stirrings of apathy begin to creep into our bodies.
Of course, that could always be the bad Thai you had for lunch.
Sometimes, you just need to escape.
And there’s no escape quite like music.
It’s the therapy we so desperately need for our eyes, ears and — more importantly — our brains.
It’s about letting go of everything you know in the world around you and succumbing to your senses.
It’s about having something to look forward to; the light at the end of the tunnel that makes every assignment and everlasting meeting that much more enjoyable.
It’s about finding your Coachella.
Sure, Coachella may be about hippies, hipsters, and holograms on the surface, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find so much more.
There’s something to be said for an event that can unite over 75,000 people for three days of unbridled everything.
From costumes of random ridiculousness to carefree dancing from sunrise to sundown, it’s about drowning out the negativity and self-doubt, the ASAPs and impossible deadlines.
All by entering a fortress of positivity and connecting on a social level without saying a word.
And while the music is indeed the main attraction, we rarely stop to think about the before, during, and after: the stories told and memories made on the road to and from the vast desert, the massive, awe-inspiring sculptures that stand before us and the pictures that capture it all.
It’s about these moments of artistry we experience without realizing it, subconsciously allowing them to recharge our creative batteries.
We can learn a thing or two from the infamous Happy Gilmore — not only did he get the girl, but he found his happy place.
It’s an uphill battle many of us face day in and day out, but inspiration and the
motivation to fight our way past apathy can be found all around us.
Creativity is our lifeblood and the moment you feel yourself running on empty, it’s time to put more fuel in the tank.
I urge those who happen upon this blog to use your hard-earned vacation days. So what if the receptionist becomes the new Foursquare Mayor while you’re out?
As for me, I look forward to attacking each day with a renewed sense of hunger. In the meantime, I’m patiently awaiting the return of feeling in my feet.
Have you found your Coachella? Share your stories of how you stay motivated and inspired, whether you work in advertising or not.
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- by AWSC
- posted at 10:14 am
- May 4, 2012
Jannetrpv. Grat food for thought!