I am quitting marketing....

The introduction

I was comfortably sitting down on my living room couch, the dim glow of the TV casting shadows across the room. The movie "Leave the World Behind" in Netflix was playing, a film I had chosen on a whim, not knowing how profoundly it would resonate with me. There was this particular exchange between Myhala′s character Ruth and Julia Roberts character Amanda, two characters who, in that moment, seemed to speak directly to my soul:

Myhala asked, "What do you get out of being so angry all the time?"

Julia responded with a weariness that felt all too familiar, "Every day, all day, my job—my whole job is to understand people well enough so that I know how to lie to them, so I can sell them things they don't really want..."

As Julia Robert′s words echoed in the room, a profound realization washed over me. Her sentiments mirrored my own, reflecting my growing disillusionment with my career in marketing. I had spent years honing my skills, changed careers from Hydraulic Engineering believing I was connecting with people to guide them make better sustainable decisions to save our human race, only to find myself lost in a maze of manipulation and superficial desires.

This scene was more than just a moment in a movie; it was a reflection of my internal battle, the struggle between my professional identity and my deep-seated values Curiosity and Compassion. It was a confrontation with the harsh truth of my daily grind – a life increasingly at odds with my desire for authenticity and meaningful connections.

As I sat there, absorbing the weight of Julia's confession and Myhala's poignant agreement, I realized this wasn't just about a marketing job. It was about my life's direction, my mental health, and the legacy I wanted to leave behind.

It was "THE" wake-up call, a siren song urging me to reevaluate not just my career, but my entire approach to life.

My pivotal conflicts and realizations

In the silence that followed the movie's dialogue, my mind raced with thoughts that had been simmering beneath the surface for too long. I couldn't help but think about the true impact of my work in marketing.

• Had I been contributing to the very "agreed upon mass delusion" Julia spoke of in the movie?
• Was I feeding into a system that prioritized profit over people, selling ideals that didn't align with my own?

It was a tough pill to swallow, acknowledging that my professional life might be at odds with my personal values. I had dedicated so much time and energy into building a career in marketing, yet here I was, questioning the very foundation it stood upon.

“Brief is man’s life and small the nook of the Earth where he lives; brief, too, is the longest posthumous fame, buoyed only by a succession of poor human beings who will very soon die and who know little of themselves, much less of someone who died long ago.” —Marcus Aurelius

This introspection led me down a path of deeper self-reflection. I thought about the transient nature of life and our personal pursuits. In a hundred years, as I had often pondered, the material things and vanity status we spend hours working for would be meaningless. Our legacies would be mere whispers in time, forgotten by generations to come. What then should be the focus of our fleeting existence?

These thoughts were not new to me, but they had never hit home as they did in that moment. It was a realization that our time here is limited and what truly matters is not the superficial accolades or possessions, but the genuine connections we make, the lives we touch, and the personal growth we achieve.

I am also facing my own personal demons.

• Dealing with the trauma of sexual abuse (which happened when I was 4, which I just recently discovered and which was buried in my subconscious trying to protect me),
• A misdiagnosis of functional anxiety (living a lie of something that never was or at least was never correct), and
• The reality of being neurodivergent with ADHD.

Each of these revelations had been a battle in itself, reshaping my understanding of who I am and how I navigate the world.

In that introspective space, I made a decision. I would no longer let my career in marketing define me. Instead, I would focus on what genuinely mattered: my family, my mental health, and contributing to the world in a way that aligned with my values Curiosity and Compassion.

I decided to step back from the relentless pursuit of professional success as traditionally defined and embrace a path that promised personal fulfillment and genuine impact.

"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one."—Marcus Aurelius

This meant stepping away from the unending cycle of work that had more to do with others' expectations than my own aspirations.

It is time to look inward, to relearn life through my ADHD lens, and to confront the depression and suicidal thoughts that lurked in the shadows.

What is coming for Andres Cuaran

As the year drew to a close, I found myself at a crossroads, not just in my career but in life itself. The decision to step back from the traditional path of marketing is more than a career change; it was a life choice that echoed my deepest values and aspirations.

My new focus for 2024 is clear: it is time to prioritize my family, my mental health, and projects that truly resonated with me. It is no longer about climbing the corporate ladder, pushing clients to sign with my agency or chasing accolades in a field that no longer aligned with my ethos. It was about finding purpose and joy in the things that mattered most.

So, lets conclude this, I am quitting marketing.... sort of

About The Bushido Agency

I will embrace my role at The Bushido Agency with a different perspective. My offering has shifted to covering parental leaves in marketing teams in Sweden, providing a much-needed service that aligned with my newfound appreciation for work-life balance. This isn′t just a job; it is a way to support others in maintaining their own balance between professional and personal life.

About The Marketing Plumber

The Marketing Plumber, a brand I had nurtured for years, takes on a new role. No longer a pursuit for clients, it has become a platform for education - sharing insights, conducting workshops, and spreading knowledge. It is about giving back, about empowering others with the skills and understanding to navigate the marketing world more ethically and consciously.

About Marketing Wavy

Marketing Wavy, my joint venture with Mariana Ca?avera Herrera , my co-founder, friend, and partner in crime. We are moving for trying to serve a need that didn't have desirability on our market to democratize marketing education, to create a hub that catered to those with short attention spans yet a deep curiosity for the field. It is about making learning accessible, engaging, and meaningful. And the most important thing, connected to our values of Curiosity and Compassion

About me, Andres Cuaran

But the most significant shift is in how I see myself - Andres Cuaran. No longer just a marketer, but a person with a unique story, experiences, and insights. I will double down on projects that addresses my own challenges, aiming to serve a small, like-minded audience. It is about creating a personal brand that is true to who I am and what I stand for. I thank Dan Koe for this one.

Conclusion

This journey of self-discovery and evolution hasn't been easy. There are still moments of doubt, fear, and struggle. But every step has been a move towards a life that felt more authentic, more fulfilling. I am not afraid of death, but I am determined to make my time on earth count, to leave a legacy that is not measured in material success but in the lives I touched and the difference I made.

As I look ahead to 2024, I carry with me the lessons learned from the past. The realization that in the grand scheme of things, what matters is not the fleeting triumphs or possessions but the connections we make, the growth we experience, and the positive impact we leave behind.

This is my focus, my path, and my commitment as I step into the new year and beyond.

Always amazing energy and happiness ?

Yours truly,

Andres

Woop woop - Andres Cuaran