I’m In Love

“Mom, Dad, I have something to tell you,” I said, watching concern etch itself deeply into their faces.

“I’m in love, but it’s not what you think.”

They looked at each other, trying to decode my expression. And then I told them—this wasn’t about a person. It was about a path. A future I had just glimpsed that day, shadowing my aunt at DMB&B. I was fifteen. But I felt lightning strike.

There, in a brainstorming session pulsing with creative energy, I watched how ideas became strategy, how stories turned into movement. I had found it–the beautiful, complicated, intoxicating thing I wanted to give my life to. Marketing. Not the textbook version. The real thing. The heartbeat between creativity and commerce.

My parents’ concern softened into curiosity, and then pride. They saw it. I saw it. I was home.

From that moment on, I was all in. I chased that spark. In college, I interned nonstop. Stayed late. Raised my hand for everything. I read the books, studied the greats, and soaked it all in. I didn’t just want a marketing career. I wanted to help brands speak from the heart.

And for a while, it felt like a love story.

Yup

The First Heartbreak: When the Shine Wears Off

But real love? It tests you. And for me, the testing came early.

A few years into agency life in SoHo, the long hours weren’t thrilling–they were numbing. My manager was more interested in her own climb than my growth. I had no mentors, no advocates, just pressure to deliver and prove I belonged.

And even when I moved to a new shop, hoping for something different, I found myself buried in data, defending value to clients who viewed marketing as a cost center.

Some campaigns failed. Budgets got slashed. The sleepless nights weren’t energizing anymore. They were heavy. I started to wonder: had I been naive? Did I fall in love with the idea of marketing and ignore the reality? For a moment, I almost walked away.

The Reconciliation: Falling in Love Again

But love–real love–has a way of calling you back.

Mine came through a pro-bono project. No client egos. No P&L politics. Just creativity in its purest form. I remembered what it felt like to build something meaningful.

To make people feel. To move them. To matter.

The spark wasn’t gone. It was just buried. And little by little, it came back. The joy. The purpose. The belief. This wasn’t about chasing perfection anymore. It was about honoring the process. Knowing the relationship takes work. And choosing it anyway–with eyes wide open.

The Cycles of Love: Navigating the Ups and Downs

Since then, my relationship with marketing has felt more like marriage than a fling.

There are days when it’s thrilling—when a campaign lands, the team is buzzing, and everything just clicks. On those days, I feel unstoppable. Aligned. Right where I belong.

And then there are the other days. When the terrain feels rough. When doubt creeps in. When you wonder if you’re losing your edge, if your brand is slipping behind.

But I’ve learned not to fear the lows. They are part of the rhythm. A sign not of failure, but of depth. The key is to ride them with honesty, to listen, to adjust–and then to rise again.

You’re Not in Love. You’re a Masochist Stuck In An Abusive Relationship.

At its worst, marketing can feel like an ex you can’t quite quit. One day it’s magic, the next it’s chaos. Passionate, brilliant, wild–and yes, totally unpredictable.

But here’s the truth: I still choose it. Not out of habit. Out of love. Deep, complicated, hard-earned love.

Because marketing, at its best, isn’t just about selling. It’s about seeing people. Creating connection. Giving voice to something that matters.

We hold a rare responsibility–to build with empathy, to serve with imagination, to shape the future.

Yes, we’re the stewards of revenue and retention. But we’re also stewards of culture and creativity. We’re the link between the business and the heartbeat of its customer.

And that is sacred.

You Two Are STILL Together?

People don’t always get us. That’s fine. Most great loves are misunderstood. But that means we have to advocate–for our function and for each other. As marketers, we must turn our talent inward. Market the value of marketing. Show–not just tell–what we do and why it matters.

Marketing needs better marketing.

We assume our cross-functional partners see the brilliance behind the curtain. They don’t. And that’s on us. We need to bring them in. Share the wins. Explain the work. Make them feel what we feel.

Not just to defend our budgets, but to elevate our role. Because when marketing is understood, it’s unstoppable.

Getting Better: The Path to a Stronger Relationship

Like any relationship worth keeping, this one takes effort. We have to get better. Every day.

How? I don’t have all the answers. But I know this: stagnation is not an option.

The world moves too fast. So we move with it.

We stay curious. We build things that last. We craft ideas that aren’t just clever–but that connect.

We lead with clarity, humanity, and heart.

The Ongoing Romance: Why I'll Never Stop Loving Marketing

When I zoom out, it’s obvious: this industry is my great love story. Not because it’s perfect. But because it’s real.

We’ve grown together. We’ve been through it. We’ve changed each other.

Marketing has given me the space to tell stories, to shift culture, to drive growth–and to make people feel something real.

It’s where art meets impact. Where data meets desire. Where brands meet humanity.

In a world that can feel disconnected, we build bridges. We bring people together. We shape what’s next.

So yes, I’m still in love. Messy, passionate, battle-tested love.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.