I won another award… so what?

As we are wrapping up 2014, my team and I will enjoy some well-deserved time off for the holiday season. Aside from all the sacrifices, blood, and sweat that spilled everywhere on the walls during this year, we can all agree we had an incredible year. And, of course, aside from an exponential growth, taps on the shoulder from our clients, and cool parties, it makes it even more worthwhile when we receive acknowledgement from our peers.

Many will argue that like at the Oscars, just because an actor wins a statuette doesn’t mean that the movie was any better from a popularity standpoint; however, it represents a milestone achieved by an artist in the movie industry, especially towards self-acceptance.

Actors and directors, just like creatives in our industry, always had to battle with many stigmas as we are not a common race. This is why you often hear that writers are weird, crazy, dark, depressive, and so forth. But in that weirdness that characterizes the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes, and the ones who see things differently that was so brilliantly portrayed in the Apple 1997 TV commercial “The Crazy Ones,” some see us as geniuses. The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

Is the physical award that important for us? Does it define who we are? Does it make a campaign any more effective? …. Of course not. However, it is a celebration. A celebration of validation for creative minds to fully embrace who they are and the way they think and giving the finger to all of the bullies and mean teachers that tried to discourage us and tell us we were just dreamers while growing up.

Winning an award from our peers is more than just bringing a statuette home. It is actually about marking an important milestone in our lifelong struggle with social acceptance, and just like your first kiss, you will always remember your first award. I remember mine and look forward for what the next year has in store for us.

Here’s to the crazy ones.

3 – 2014 Telly Awards
4 – 2014 Davey Awards
2 – 2014 Summit Awards
1 – 2014 Addy Award
2 – 2014 W3 Awards