When I got out of the Army, I joined the National Guard in Mass because they offered free tuition for college. I took CLEP tests and skipped the first two years of college, starting as a junior. As my coursework came to an end I needed an internship and didn’t like any of those offered by the school. In fairness, I was a better writer than graphics designer so, they may have been concerned about my work reflecting on their program.
So I went to find my own.
I ended up at KK&M Advertising in Boston. It was so exciting. Their office overlooked the back bay, the people were smart and funny and I loved the work. One time, they were stuck developing a program for Emerson College. Two proposals were declined by the continuing education college and they were considering anything else. I asked if I could suggest something and they said yes. I suggested the graphics of big dominoes and a person pushing them over with the tag line, “Get Something Going” as the dominoes fell.
The college bought it. When I left, they gave me $500 for an unpaid internship.
But that experience gave me something more than a resume, a recommendation letter and a check.
Watching the relationships in the agency I learned how cut throat seeking and getting work and attention could be. I’d learned that in broadcasting, but this was something else. My watchfulness switching from the beautiful view to the actions of the staff, I made a life decision.
I didn’t want to be that way just to have that view.
Ever since then, I’ve tried to stay true to who I am and what I believe. It’s part of why my company was founded on the notion, “We work for people we like and causes we believe in.”
I didn’t make as much money as my friends who took any work they could. We’d laugh when I said, “You work for money. I work for people.”
It’s true today.
