“Rejection is circumstantial, not reflective of who you are.”

Most of the times we get rejected in an area we pour our lives into we tend get frustrated to the point of asking ourselves: What did I do wrong?

Mixed between my visit to BBDO and JWT, we had a brilliant panel from different departments within the agency that gave me insights on how they ended up to where they are now. My biggest takeaways:

•  Matt Eastwood, now a very successful CD, worked his way up to being an art director for three years at his agency, won a few awards, then was let go short after. He didn’t know what he did wrong until he found out 2 months later that the agency went under, and they were letting go of their favorite people first so that they had time to find another job. Trust the process, you never know the entire behind the scenes of a situation.

•  Keep a rejection folder: not as a pitty party, but as a way to remind yourself of all the times you were passed up on and all the reason more to work harder.

•  When you want a raise and feel you have earned it based off awards, work, etc., sometimes you’re wrong but other times you gotta know what you’re worth if another agency will be a better fit for you.

•  If you’re unemployed for a few months - year, keep making things; show that you spent your down time working endlessly on your craft.  

Make yourself indispensable and you won’t be let go / rejected. Meaning, have a perspective , have multiple passions and knowledge about specific hobbies that aid to an agency’s success.