A successful man's perspective on work!

[جوري]

Linds Redding, Fatally Ill Ad Executive, Blogs About Wasting Life On Work





By Jim Edwards


Linds Redding, a New Zealand-based art director who worked at BBDO and Saatchi & Saatchi, died last month at aged 52 from an inoperable esophageal cancer.

Redding also kept a blog, and after his passing an essay he wrote about the ad business, titled "A Short Lesson In Perspective," has gained a new and sudden life, on the SF Egotist and on Adfreak.

It will not make happy reading for the many people who knew Redding, know of his work, or anyone who works in the creative department of an ad agency.

In sum, Redding, wrote, life as a creative isn't worth it. "It turns out I didn't actually like my old life nearly as much as I thought I did," he wrote, after he was diagnosed.

The screed addresses the existential problem at the center of anyone's career in advertising: Can you marry art and commerce and be fulfilled as a human being?

Redding concludes the answer is no. His story could apply to anyone's job, in any industry. It's sobering stuff. Here's an excerpt of the most brutal bits (you can read the full essay here.)

And here's the thing.

It turns out I didn't actually like my old life nearly as much as I thought I did. I know this now because I occasionally catch up with my old colleagues and work-mates. They fall over each other to enthusiastically show me the latest project they're working on. Ask my opinion. Proudly show off their technical prowess (which is not inconsiderable.) I find myself glazing over but politely listen as they brag about who's had the least sleep and the most takeaway food. "I haven't seen my wife since January, I can't feel my legs any more and I think I have scurvy but another three weeks and we'll be done. It's got to be done by then The client's going on holiday. What do I think?"

What do I think?

I think you're all f***ing mad. Deranged. So disengaged from reality it's not even funny. It's a f***ing TV commercial. Nobody gives a s***.

This has come as quite a shock I can tell you. I think, I've come to the conclusion that the whole thing was a bit of a con. A scam. An elaborate hoax.

Countless late nights and weekends, holidays, birthdays, school recitals and anniversary dinners were willingly sacrificed at the altar of some intangible but infinitely worthy higher cause. It would all be worth it in the long run...

This was the con. Convincing myself that there was nowhere I'd rather be was just a coping mechanism. I can see that now. It wasn't really important. Or of any consequence at all really. How could it be. We were just shifting product. Our product, and the clients. Just meeting the quota. Feeding the beast as I called it on my more cynical days.

So was it worth it?

Well of course not. It turns out it was just advertising. There was no higher calling.

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/11...6pLid%3D234482

[~Zaria~]

Assalamu-alaikum,

Interesting read.

Unfortunately, too many of us have become 'slaves' of this dunya.

The balance between dedicating time to this life.....vs the Hereafter can become heavily skewed - esp. if there is no expectation/ goal of the hereafter (as in the case of the kuffaar).
Or in the case of the believer - who KNOWS that this life is just a bridge to the next, ever-lasting one......yet still, strives so hard in its pursuit - Expecting death to find him at a much later stage.

Fortunately, for the believer - we can make EVERY action in our lives, a means of worship - if we simply change our intentions.
If our intention when beginning anything - including work, is for the sake of Allah and not for expectation of praise, then we are gaining rewards even for this!

And when we internalise, that this life is NOT the goal......but simply the MEANS to insha Allah, attaining the goal - Jannah - then, we automatically will find ourselves allocating our time in pursuit of this goal.

I once heard that a good life balance would be 60-70% spent in ibaadat, and 20-30% spent in fulfilling our needs in this dunya.
(think about your own life, and consider how you are fairing in your time allocation?)

Fortunately, I dont think his sentiments can be applied to all professions....

Those who are involved in education, nurturing, service to mankind (in all its dimensions) - may have a better chance of looking back, and feeling satisfied in the manner that their lives were spent.......despite the long hours and lack of sleep.

Working in a commercial field can certainly feel unrewarding - unless you are able to find the balance, and make it a means of ibaadat as well.

[جوري]

Fortunately, I dont think his sentiments can be applied to all professions....

Those who are involved in education, nurturing, service to mankind (in all its dimensions) - may have a better chance of looking back, and feeling satisfied in the manner that their lives were spent.......despite the long hours and lack of sleep.

There was no higher calling.

Al7mdullilah that Allah swt made it in Islam so that even your hard work is a form of 3ibaddat, and your work should all be for Allah swt whatever it is. So it is indeed important to choose a profession where one is in the service of others or at least able to give generously of what they earn.
What struck me in his statement is his last statement- ''there was no higher calling''
the sad truth is he failed to realize what his higher calling should have been and I don't think being in a recital or in a soccer practice is it either. But in all death there's a maw3itha for the rest of us...
and it is certainly a lesson to me sometimes reflecting on why it is I kept pursuing one degree then a higher degree then a higher degree and it seems so meaningless at this stage.. sob7an Allah.. of course pursuing knowledge is a fard on every Muslim.. just the pursuit itself didn't seem rightfully directed although I am grateful for knowing what I know.. It is indeed better to be 3abd 3alim than one who sits and prays all day without understanding..

[~Zaria~]

it is certainly a lesson to me sometimes reflecting on why it is I kept pursuing one degree then a higher degree then a higher degree and it seems so meaningless at this stage.. sob7an Allah.. of course pursuing knowledge is a fard on every Muslim.. just the pursuit itself didn't seem rightfully directed although I am grateful for knowing what I know.. It is indeed better to be 3abd 3alim than one who sits and prays all day without understanding..

Ive been feeling like this for some time now.

Indeed, knowledge of all that pertains to this dunya is a blessing from Allah (subhanawata'la) - be it in engineering/ medicine/ commerce.....or any field.

But, at what point do we draw the line?
And say, enough already.....

Many people spend large portions of their lives obtaining a qualification......then specialising.....then sub-specialising......then super sub-specialising......then working towards a PhD, or perhaps another degree......
And before you know it, life has been passing you by.

Ive always had the desire to be the best that I can be, in all that is decreed for me.
But sometimes - is it not better to be the 'jack of all trades', and 'master of none'?

So, rather than spending years focusing our efforts on ONE particular aspect of life - in its study and research upon research......is it not more satisfying to 'spread our wings' and learn a little about everything?

Time spent studying for your profession.
And some time spent studying arabic and the quraan.....
And some time spent in understanding fiqh and hadith.....
And some time spent in serving your community.....
And some time spent in engaging in some activity that can be the means of sadaqatul jariyah.....

The possibilities are endless.....

And insha Allah, will make for a much more ful-filling and happy life.

Alhamdulillah, theres so much that we can do.....one lifetime wouldnt be enough : )