What happened in 8/52?

Welcome to the weekly update/review as a 28-year-old marketing professional who took the plunge to quit his secure corporate job and jumped feet-first into the abyss of self-employment in the pursuit of making marketing fun and accessible. In all honesty, I have no idea what this journey has in store for me, but strap in, as it's guaranteed to be a bumpy ride!

I don't want to ramble too much in these articles, but I wanted to set the precedence as this is the first of many to come. These articles are meant to serve as checkpoint reviews of my experiences during this journey to make a difference in an industry that is sometimes misunderstood. Additionally, this is a place where I can reflect personally and share the lessons I have learned in more detail than what I post on LinkedIn.

So, let's begin...

"Sometimes the most productve thing you can do is relax..."

This is a quote from Mark Black, author of Live Life from the Heart, published in 2013. Ironically, it was running through my mind and causing me some significant stress when reviewing my first week of "Freedom". I had told many of my previous colleagues that I would "rest and take it easy" for a couple of weeks during my notice period. However, I found myself stressing more and more about how to ensure I was focusing on my new ventures and what those new ventures would be. This stress was amplified further when people I esteemed dearly shared heartfelt words of encouragement, assuring me that I would be successful no matter where I am! HOLY MOLY! I know - what a great privilege and what pressure to feel!

So, instead of succumbing to the pressure and running myself into the ground, with some amazing advice from my support network, I managed to reel myself back and began to understand the real power of taking my foot off the gas. As the first-born of a first-generation migrant family in the UK, I felt immense internal pressure to always outperform and strive for perfection. The mentality of "All Gas, No Brakes" was still present, but I realised for the first time that I needed to dedicate myself to my health and relax.

However, I still took my work pack with me to the gym, as old habits die hard! The majority of 8/52 was a blend of a couple of hours on my tablet working on some ideas, followed by 3-4 hours in the gym for strength training and stretching, all finished off with a few sessions in the steam room and a couple of minutes in the cold plunge. All finished off with some personal time with my loved ones.

The rest of this graphic explains the rollercoaster of emotions I had gone through during 8/52.

The realisation of FREEDOM cannot be compared to anything. It is a breath of fresh air and a truly revitalizing moment to understand that the reins are now in your hands! The blank canvas is so fresh and new that I was almost too scared to start. Not only because I told myself that I would take it easy, but also because the internal pursuit of perfection told me that my first move had to be perfect, any deviation from it would surely mean eternal failure and the end of the world.

However, through reflection and gratitude, I began to understand that this is my first time being self-employed, and finding my niche requires a certain degree of trial and error, something I should not be scared of but should embrace. I need to welcome rejection, failure, and the lows, as they make room for the highs to come in. (OMG, I am a walking cliché!). But that's how it was for me during 8/52. Once I started to realise that the imposter syndrome was like the tide, I began to realise how much potential I could unlock! For me, it was about reworking the point of view from "what if it all goes wrong?" to "what if it all goes right!?" This internal struggle continues to happen on a daily basis, and I am here for it!

During 8/52, I wanted to better understand what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I know - just a simple question, right?! Well, I spent hours upon hours listening and re-listening to an old book (circa 12 years ago) called Alchemy: The Magic of Original Thinking in a World of Mind-Numbing Conformity by Rory Sutherland [s/o to Rory!]. I would give it a 10/10 recommendation. This audiobook made me realise that any answer to the question of my life's purpose would be a good answer, as long as it brought me internal fulfilment in whatever I wanted to do. In principle, I strongly believe in making marketing accessible and enjoyable, whether as a marketer within the industry or as a part of the audience involved in marketing. That's where my understanding of what I want to do has led me so far! It may develop into something different, or it may not. But for now, I want to make marketing fun again!

To make a start with making marketing fun again, I started looking at different companies on LinkedIn. I stumbled upon a few amazing companies that were brave enough to trust their marketing teams to lead their campaigns. It was very refreshing, so I started reaching out and got some accounts replying. After some conversations, there are some exciting news to be shared. Hopefully, sooner rather than later!

It's an important lesson of trial and error, as some of the accounts I messaged never got back to me while others did. It just goes to show that you miss all of the shots you don't take!

So obviously, I had to share this with my besties and support network, and they provided input and are collaborating on some of these projects! Collaboration is something I have always advocated for because someone with better skills than you may be able to help you execute the project better. Humble yourself! It is an injustice to the project and the people who will see the results of your hard work if you make decisions based on your pride! Gross!

Your support network is always there to amplify the great achievements you are making. I found myself always brushing off the confetti of great achievements and never really basking in the moment. As a Filipino, I think it is a cultural thing to have a humble approach to life. But your support network is honestly your own cheer team and, more importantly, your reality check! If your support network isn't there to help you celebrate the wins and lift you up in losses, it's time to find a better support network!

As I mentioned, the internal imposter syndrome is always looming. By the end of 8/52, I was feeling deflated and had to pull myself out of the depths of despair. I needed to reassess and understand that this journey (another cliché) is a prolonged marathon! Every day may not contain wins, and there will be defeats along the way. But that's all part of the journey!

You just have to believe in yourself!

Thank you for your time! I hope you have enjoyed the journey so far!