When They Call Your Name

Chad Ingram
Jul 10, 2017 · 3 min read

I recently made one of those big decisions—the kind where you’re met with quite the unexpected range of varying reactions from your coworkers — leaving your job. I gave nearly eight years of my professional career to Arc Worldwide, the shopper agency within the Leo Burnett Group. Before that, I gave nearly eight years of my career to TPN out of Dallas and Chicago. I see a trend here.

For the most part, I had a great time and was given ample opportunity to learn and grow, build relationships, create numerous campaigns, and develop my peers. Most asked why I would even consider leaving, which I always thought was odd given the rest of the marketing and advertising industry is fraught with turnover. But at Arc’s core, it really was a good place full of thoughtful people, and I was happy with what we accomplished. It was just time to move on to the next adventure; one of those moments where you just know it’s the right thing to do. Tomorrow, I embark on the next chapter with Geometry Global, the activation arm of Ogilvy & Mather.

If I’ve learned anything really, it’s to always treat people kindly and with respect. This industry is incredibly small and you never know who you’ll run into in the future. Below is a note I sent my team on my last day. To Arc, thank you. To anyone else reading this, be nice. Onward.


At 29, life is still a moving target — with no bullseye. Besides thinking 30 changes everything (spoiler alert: it doesn’t), you’re basically just trying to be stable, not drink on Tuesdays, and find time for first dates. I’m sure my version of 2009 was slightly different than yours. Then life happens — you actually find a job you like, get humble, do some great work, and meet your future life partner. Pretty amazing.

In 8 years, you can be President. Twice. It takes 8 years for a rocket ship to blast through space and reach Saturn, if you’re into that sort of thing. And coincidentally, over the course of 8 years you can meet hundreds of humans that undoubtedly shape your life in abstract, indescribable ways; molding you into the future you. Unbeknownst to said humans, teamwork was making the dream work — setting me up for my next journey.

Time is defined as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. My time here by no other definition, has been made whole.

Things I learned in my time here:

1) Be self-aware and have a point-of-view.
2) Listen first and say more with less.
3) Don’t tell me what or how you did it; just tell me why.
4) Empathy avoids frustration. Not to be confused with apathy.
5) Always put your team first. Always.

For those that worked for me — you never did. We worked together with a shared interest to create thoughtful, insight-driven work. Mostly tactics, but that’s cool, too. I’m almost certain that working with a team 97% women in the beginning made me smarter, maybe softer, and stronger. I surrounded myself with superior, amazing talent. There will always be a special place for the Hair Care team…#futureisfemale y’all.

To put my emotion into its simplest form (sports) — today might have been what it felt like for Lou Brock, Lee Smith, or Mark Grudzielanek to join the Cardinals. They all were Cubs first. And while I’m more like that last guy Grudz-something-something that no one’s ever heard of, I’ll always be a Cub.

If you’ve made it to the end, take a drink. But it’s not the end. It’s just your turn to make it into something better.

Thank you, friends. Take care of each other, and never stop the journey.

PS
What’s a goodbye email without a sad, Ryan Adams track?
https://youtu.be/kM0mjukDGRw

Chad Ingram
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