"Ted", the Swizzle Stick of Fate.

Long before the popular series of tech talks known as "Ted", there was a modified cocktail stick of the same name. Shortened, bent at ninety degrees, and carried in a producer's shirt pocket.

This "Ted" also happened to hold amazing powers of insight.

It belonged to a guy I was lucky enough to work with at BBDO. His name was, "Joe", but we called him as "Gentleman Joe", for reasons I don't rightly recall.

He was an executive producer and I really loved working with the man.

Whenever the shit got too thick, Joe would fish him from his pocket for a quick consultation, often in front of colleagues.

Holding "Ted" close to his mouth, he would whisper fervently to his old pal. "We're freakin' screwed, Ted... the director's bid is too high. What do we do now...?" He'd then switch him to his ear and listen intently to "Ted's" worldly wisdom.

Given the current state of the world, we could all use a "Ted".

Somebody who's been to battle perhaps a few more times than the rest us. Someone who's hit bumps and survived. Someone who can talk us off the roof when we take ourselves too seriously.

I was fortunate enough to have my own personal "Ted" throughout most of my career. My dad was my "Ted" until his passing, just over a decade ago. One of the things he taught me was to find mentors in my career, and lean into them in a pinch.

Now, I find I'm a "Ted" to a handful of people who I happily give advice to. Young creatives on their way up the hill. Older creatives who've hit the top and are making their way down. Colleagues who've both risen and fallen through their own careers.

It never ceases to amaze me how helpful we can be to each other, even though we've all likely made bonehead moves along the way.

So whether you're fortunate enough to be working from home, or white-knuckling it through a dry-spell as a freelancer, make sure to confide in your "Ted", whoever, or whatever it happens to be.

And if you happen to know Joe, reach out to him and tell him you read about him and "Ted" on LinkedIn today. As far as I'm concerned, my old friend Joe is as good a "Ted" as any swizzle stick I've ever met.

Cameron Day is the Chief Creative Mentor of Amélie Company in Denver, Colorado, a purpose-driven agency that prides itself on solving some the toughest communications problems on the planet.