Listening to the radio quite a few years ago, I heard someone quote David Lee Roth about leaving Van Halen. Reportedly, DLR said “I never knew how big the mountain was until I was driving away from it.” That’s pretty humble, considering the source.

My favourite song was Panama

So here I am, just heading down the mountain along a road called “Freelance Writing,” looking for the turn-off to the highway called “Self Employment.” After much soul searching, I’ve decided to accept a contract position to produce blog content and videos for a large, Western Canadian retailer.

I’ve been with Currency since 1999, which amazes me. Up until then, I’d been a notorious short-timer for employers—learning all I could, getting bored and moving on. But with Currency, I’ve been a graphic designer, production worker, account executive, account director, then V.P. of Communications. There was never a chance to get bored and always something new to learn, and Tim McAlpine (owner, president and Young & Free genius) was always supportive of that. He made it impossible for me to ever consider being a regular employee again.

This decision, though, was influenced by the opportunity to get back to creative work. Throughout all my years at Currency, I’ve been a writer of some sorts—headlines, proposals, strategies, plans and most recently radio and blog articles. I even had the opportunity to make a couple silly videos—WHICH I LOVED! So when a chance to combine writing and video work came up, I found it too attractive to turn down.

I’ve been doing some very part-time proofreading and writing for this client for the past three years, and had been a designer for them over 12 years ago, just prior to joining Currency (then McAlpine Group.) And while I’ll dig the creative work and home office hours, there are two things I’m truly not going to enjoy: 1) Not getting to work with a great group of people every day and 2) having to share an office with two cats. So many politics with felines, plus they can’t drive for coffee.

I’m going to learn a lot in my new role. I’ll be digging even deeper into social media, working at building a following, but also gaining many consumer insights through conversations with average folk like me. I plan to diarize my experiences on this blog, and keep everyone posted on day-to-day craziness through Twitter—follow me @nalawriting.

It’s only been a handful of hours since I left, and already I miss everyone—Irene, Kate, Sandy, Cheryl, Tim and Kev. I miss the clients I had the pleasure of working with also. It will be very different to watch the brilliance that is the Young & Free program from the outside, but it will be exciting never the less.

I’d go on, but somehow during this story I’ve gotten onto the side street “Eating Doritos for Breakfast.” Sigh.

Please stay in touch everyone!

  • Twitter: @nalawriting
  • Email: nalawriting@gmail.com
  • YouTube: NalaWriting Channel (not much there YET!)
  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/NalaHenkel

Ciao!

Nala

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