The Advertising Rabbit Hole You Can’t Climb Out Of
Let me paint the picture, (we’re all creative in that way right… that’s what I thought.). You’ve been in the advertising game for a while. You started fresh-faced and full of creative energy, ready to take on the world with groundbreaking campaigns and award-winning ideas. But then, something happened. Somewhere between the third pitch meeting this week and the fifth cup of coffee today, you started to feel… different. You quickly splashed cold water on your face and recited that Cool Runnings motivation line to yourself in the bathroom mirror… but no… If you’ve ever questioned whether you’ve been in this industry a bit *too* long, read on. Here are ten tell-tale signs that advertising may have seeped a little too deep into your DNA. Don’t worry—it’s not necessarily a bad thing… but let’s just say you might need a breather.
1. You Speak in Slogans, Even at Home
If you’ve ever found yourself muttering “Because you’re worth it” while trying to talk yourself into ordering a takeaway *again,* congratulations—you’ve officially lost the plot. Ad jargon and slogans have taken over, turning every daily decision into a campaign pitch.
When your partner asks you why the dishes still aren’t done, and you respond with, “Just do it,” you’ll know you’re in too deep.
2. You Think in 30-Second Intervals
In your world, everything can be conveyed in 30 seconds or less. Explaining to a friend why they should buy the new phone? Bam! Thirty seconds. Convincing your partner you’re not to blame for ordering another pricey coffee gadget? Ka-Bam! Thirty seconds.
If you find yourself mentally chopping up conversations into bite-sized “key message” blocks, it might be time to break free from the commercial timeline mindset. Life is not a pre-YouTube ad… yet.
3. You’ve Seriously Considered Making Your Dog an Influencer
There was once a time when your dog was just a lovable “moofituft” who ate, slept, and occasionally destroyed a shoe. But now, every time it does something cute, you catch yourself thinking, “This could go viral.” Suddenly, you’re calculating engagement metrics for Lassi and testing out captions to maximise reach.
We know your dog is adorable, but if you’re thinking about post-scheduling his best angles, you might need to dial it back. (Or, you know, get ready to sign a pet sponsorship deal.)
4. You Have a Collection of Stock Photos You’ll Never Use
What started as a simple “download image” moment has snowballed into a full-on library of stock photos ranging from “woman laughing at salad” to “guy with VR headset looking excited.” Now, every time you scroll through your downloads folder, you’re haunted by an endless parade of overly happy office workers, scenic landscapes, and unidentified products.
And yet, when you need a specific image? None of them quite fit. This digital hoarding is just a side effect of living in an ad-fueled reality.
5. Coffee is No Longer Just a Drink—It’s a Lifestyle Choice
In advertising, coffee isn’t just a caffeine boost; it’s fuel, it’s passion, it’s your lifeline. If you find yourself discussing cold brews and single-origin beans like a connoisseur, and you’ve tried to expense a coffee subscription (successfully or otherwise), then yes, advertising has well and truly claimed your soul.
At this point, coffee is less a beverage and more of a ritual. Don’t ask how many cups you’ve had—it’s between you and your inner creative spirit.
STICK WITH ME, YOU’RE HALF WAY THERE… THIS AIN’T Tik Tok.
6. You Have a Folder of Campaign “Inspirations” on Your Desktop… And It’s Massive
“Oh, this could be useful someday,” you thought, innocently dragging another campaign screenshot into your “Inspo” folder. Fast-forward to today, and that folder now contains enough material to sink a hard drive. And the kicker? You *still* go looking for new ideas every chance you get.
You’ll probably never actually open half the files, but hey, it’s nice to know you have enough “inspiration” to last you through at least three ad agency lifetimes.
7. You’ve Had Full Arguments About Fonts
Fonts aren’t just letters; they’re an expression of personality, an emotional choice, a way to visually communicate *tone.* And if you’ve ever found yourself passionately defending Helvetica over Arial or declaring Comic Sans an abomination that “has no place in civilised society,” you know you’ve hit peak ad-life.
Bonus points if you’ve considered (or have) a collection of non-standard fonts that require at least 30 minutes of decision-making before choosing one.
8. You Can’t Watch an Ad Without Critiquing It
Remember when you used to watch TV ads just to, you know, watch TV ads? Pssshhhh, not anymore. Now you’re the critic, breaking down every commercial like it’s a film festival entry. You analyse the storyline, evaluate the colour grading, and silently judge the slogan choice.
If you find yourself muttering, “They really missed an opportunity to leverage emotional appeal here,” welcome to the club. You can no longer consume content for fun—it’s all research now.
9. You Use Buzzwords in Everyday Conversations
Advertising has its own language, filled with gems like “low-hanging fruit,” “synergy,” and “leveraging touchpoints.” The problem? You start using these phrases with people who have no idea what they mean.
If you’ve ever told a friend you’re “pivoting” your weekend plans to “optimize for maximum chill” or suggested a “call to action” at brunch, you’ve officially been indoctrinated. You might need to detox from the corporate lingo, just a little.
10. “Work-Life Balance” Is an Inside Joke
In theory, you’re all about work-life balance, but in practice, you’re answering emails at midnight and spending Sunday afternoons adjusting font sizes. When your friends joke about you being married to your job, it hits a little too close to home.
Somewhere along the way, “ad life” became just “life.” Campaign deadlines replaced vacation plans, and feedback rounds became more frequent than weekend getaways. Take a deep breath—it might be time to let the inbox chill for a while.
Time to Take a Step Back (Or Dive Even Deeper)
If you nodded along to any of these signs, congratulations—you’re an advertising veteran! But maybe it’s time to step back, stretch, and remember that there’s a world outside of campaign budgets and brand guidelines. Go outside, breathe fresh air, and try to see life beyond 30-second spots.
Or, you know, get back to the grind and embrace your fate as a fully-fledged ad pro. Either way, just remember that every great campaign is only as good as the mind behind it. So, keep pushing, stay caffeinated, and don’t forget—there’s always another slogan to be written.
