by Yessy Alonso
About four years ago I made one of the most difficult decisions
of my life. To most it probably would have been the sort of
decision that required minimal thought and was a natural transition
or stepping stone in life, but for me it was much more than that,
it was a choice that I felt at the time would change part of who I
was, who I thought I always wanted to be.
After having studied advertising for four years, earning a degree
and being in the business for five years, I decided that it was
time for a career change. There were so many things that I loved
about advertising, Ronin and the people that I worked with, who had
inevitable become some of my closest friends. But, at the "end of
the day", I felt like something was missing; like the reasons why I
chose this career, which I had always been so passionate about,
were gone. And so, much like a relationship, although I loved it, I
felt it was time to walk away and move on; to see what else life
had in store for me, and to find something that was, perhaps,
"better".
I decided that if I was going to make a change, it might as well
have been a big one. So, after lots of careful consideration, I
chose a career that was as different as advertising as a headline
and body copy client. After all, if you've dated the same "type"
time and time again and it hasn't worked it's probably time to give
the person you never thought was you'd end up with a try. Like they
say, sometimes "opposites attract". And so, I chose to give
the commercial insurance business a shot. I know, I know… sounds
boring and typically, when you think of an insurance sales person,
you think of a stuffy, old guy with a suite and tie, who has the
personality of a rock, but I was determined to give it chance and
try something new.
After doing just that, going back to school, earning yet another
degree, so to speak, and giving the insurance business what I felt
was a fair chance (four years), I realized that I had made a
mistake and missed my "ex". The insurance business just didn't have
the qualities that I was looking for in a life-long partner, it
lacked excitement, creativity and passion, things that I admired
about my last relationship; and most importantly, no matter how
hard I tried, I just didn't love it as much as I loved advertising.
So, when advertising came knocking on my door again, I accepted it
with open arms. I was a bit skeptical, because there was no
guarantee that it work this time around, or that the love would be
the same, but it felt right and so, I took a leap of faith and
jumped.
I have been back in the business and, more importantly, at Ronin
for only four months and from the moment that I stepped foot back
into these four walls, I realized that this is where I belong. I
feel at home and at peace here, surrounded by my colleagues, my
friends, and the work that inspires me everyday. Sure, just like
with any relationship that has been given a second chance, it's
been a challenge. It's only natural that people change and grow in
four years; that things you once had in common are now differences;
and that sometimes even the love has changed. But at the "end of
the day", love is love' passion is passion and perhaps, what I've
realized the most, is that once a Ronin, always a Ronin.
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