I Can’t Recommend This Business Anymore…The Holding Companies Won’t Allow Me to Lead…There Are No Advertising Heroes These Days…I’m Really Hoping NOT to Get Promoted… These are just some of the brow-raising things that I’ve been hearing lately. Some of which I’m hearing for the very first time. Perhaps each of these are a signal that creativity & management are indeed in the middle of a great upheaval. The again, when isn’t it? Welcome to Episode 51 of Navigating the Fustercluck—a podcast full of snackable insights to help you navigate the evolving world of creativity & marketing. My name is Wegs, like eggs with a W, joining you from Deaf Mule Studios in Dallas, where we’re exploring all the talk out there.  As we move past our first 50 episodes, thanks again for helping our launch year be such a success. We truly appreciate it. And hope that you’ll keep enjoying and sharing Navigating the Fustercluck. OK, let’s get back to the buzz all about creativity & management…   I Can’t Recommend This Business Anymore  This is one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard. And I’m hearing it more & more. From grizzled vets to those who should be the next group of leaders and cheerleaders for the business. People are down. They feel forlorn. (Sad sounding word, isn’t it?) Some feel that in their pursuit for economic efficiencies, clients haven’t noticed or don’t care about the struggle of agency people to maintain some degree of work/life balance. They feel that their companies barely care more than their clients.  It’s been going on so long this way that people are finally exhausted. Losing faith and optimism in their industry. And their leaders. So much so that many no longer want to see anyone else suffer the same fate. They’re actually mentoring younger people to get out while they can. All I can say is that the rank-and-file need some hope.  Leaders, you still owe your team 3 basic things: A vision to march behindInput to the visionThe tools & environment to fulfill the vision And you owe them this whether or not those above you in the org chart aren’t supplying the same to you. No wonder I’m also hearing people say…  * I’m Really Hoping NOT to Get Promoted  It’s not that people aren’t ambitious, it’s just that leadership isn’t always worth aspiring to. Why?  People are looking for safe-havens. A balance between making money and free-time. And they’re afraid to be at such a level where they’ll be exposed when layoffs come. You can actually become the victim of your own success. Seeking security over new challenges. Especially when cuts are being made by accountants at the home office who have never met you. Some of these problems are perceived to come from the same source- holding companies.  I even have C-suite leaders, including CEO’s saying…  * The Holding Companies Won’t Allow Me to Lead  According to them, they have to manage to the numbers. Keep the status quo. Unable to investment spend in tools or people unless a current client requests it. No risk. No gain. Just the same agency offering from before. Incremental improvements over dynamic change. At the same time, these leaders seem a whole lot safer than those they serve. The average stay of an agency CEO stay is pretty stable it seems, just as long as they don’t try too hard to innovate. That may be one reason why people are saying…  * There Are No Advertising Heroes Anymore  Was Alex Bogusky the last advertising hero? Because he’s gone now. Again.David Droga may have held that mantle, but that’s before many dubbed him a sell-out when he sold to Accenture. (The jury is still out on that one.) So who else? Dan Weiden is basically out of the picture. Jeff Goodby? Perhaps. Anyway, on the more personal level, with so many vets opting out voluntarily or forcibly, are we left with many potential heroes?