Everyone’s Complaint Department: Let Go

The ‘Everyone’s Complaint Department’ series of comic strips began as random doodles and reflection pieces of Alvin Teoh, ECD of Naga DDB Tribal.

These little stories featured in MARKETING magazine were originally posted on Facebook and are an ongoing tribute to life in Adland.

The comic depicts Alvin’s early days in the advertising industry and words from the Executive Creative Director (ECD) himself.

The more senior you become, the more you feel accountable for things.

From future-proofing your agency to the never perfect processes that drive people insane, from the quality of work to the reputation of your agency, from the progress and growth of people to that idiot who never refills the ice-tray when it’s empty.

Well, you want to solve everything and feel like crap when you fail.

So you walk around with a stupid face that says – don’t disturb me with your petty concerns, can’t you see I’ve got all these important things to solve?

Very good, Mr ECD feller, well done. I’m sure you’ve inspired everyone into action. Limpeh give you one clap.

Then one day, someone told me that hogging all that shit is not a heroic act. In fact, it’s selfish.

It took me many years to understand what he meant. Yeah, I am a slow learner. You see, problems are actually great teachers.

They compel one to solve stuff and discover hidden talents.

And when you do, you grow in confidence.
So if I hang on to it, which I normally and habitually do, I am actually denying growth to others.

Hmm. If that is so, please, by all means, take my problems. Take it. It’s up for grabs.

For too long, I’ve selfishly clung on to large portions of it with a misguided belief that it was my sole responsibility. I’m such a dumb ass.

And to my discredit, I’ve passed on this bad habit to others, who with goodness, carry too much of their own burdens too.

So while this sounds wrong, I say, let’s share our problems and burdens to all and they will become problem-solvers.

People are more awesome than we give them credit for. Well, maybe not everyone, but yeah, we all need to learn how to trust people a little more and give them the freedom to find their own ways to dig themselves out of any hole.

Nominate Malaysia’s Best Marketers

Do you know a Bold & Brave marketer? Give us their names, because we want to celebrate them.

Held for the first time in Malaysia, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Awards is here to reward the best in the business of marketing.

This award is to identify talent, transparency, tenacity and a take-charge attitude of deserving marketers. An eminent panel of industry leaders will decide on the winners.

There are 30 categories up for grabs at this year’s awards: