Neisha Tweed is a very talented copywriter who I met a few years ago. I was impressed by Neisha’s talent and by her enthusiasm for being creative. I knew that she would make her mark in the world. Recently, she made the big decision to leave a big name agency to work for another smaller agency so that she could expand on her portfolio and experience.

Because it can be very challenging for junior people to navigate decisions like these, I thought it would be interesting to hear about how she made this change.

Me: Could you tell us about your career so far as a copywriter?

Neisha: I knew I wanted to be a CW. I majored in Advertising and English at University of Florida (Go Gators). Did internships, a writing independent study then went to portfolio school at the Creative Circus and more internships.

Then I decided I didn’t want to do it anymore. Ha. Just like that. I wanted to move to Costa Rica and teach. But 3 months later, a series of unfortunate and fortunate events led me to NYC, freelancing at an awesome small shop and then a small branch of a big agency then a big agency and now a smaller, multicultural agency. The adventure has only just begun.

Me: You were working at one of the leading agencies in the industry, was it a difficult decision to leave?

Neisha: Definitely. With all the layoffs going on, I thanked my jujubeans every day I had a job. But some days I felt like I was in a loveless marriage. I wanted more. Something different. More challenges. More “something”.

The new opportunity came at a weird time too. I wasn’t actively looking. I had just been put on a new team a few months before and loved them. I was doing a lot more work, more responsibility and for the first time starting to feel like I fit in.

But that feeling would come back every now and then, that loveless, “pot-roast-again” feeling. It’s so easy to get lost or become complacent at a big agency. I wanted more things for my book. I wanted new experiences. I figure I’m young so I should go explore and learn and grow. You know, fairy tale things like that.

Everything about the new place was different. Multicultural. Small agency. New people. New clients. New partner. TV and radio (I’d been doing mostly interactive for the last 2 years). What if it sucks? What if I suck?

It all terrified me. And that’s why I went there.

I believe that you should feel terrified sometimes. I think that’s what keeps us fighting to be better.

Me: What’s the most important thing for you as you move forward in your career?

Neisha: Being amazing.

Me: How is advertising different (or the same) than what you thought it would be when you were in school?

Neisha: Different – in school everything had to be great. Everything had a crazy timeline and everything felt like the impending end of humanity. At work you realize that’s only really with pitches. And sometimes you’re doing things to pay the bills so you can just tuck your creativity in your pocket this go around.

At school you also didn’t have clients, budgets or briefs. So there was all this magical freedom. At work, you’ve got to be smarter in order to be great. And some clients are allergic to greatness, so you’ve got to be a good salesman.

Same – everybody is a hilarious, borderline brilliant, borderline lazy, slightly socially awkward alcoholic.

Me: What do you wish someone had told you before you started looking for work?

Neisha: Something like “Your only loyalty is to Neisha.com. No one else. You make sure you’re looking out for you and getting what you need.” – Someone awesome named George told me this a few months into my first full-time gig.

Me: What inspires you?

Neisha: The children. They are our future.

Also, seeing great work. Creative, insightful, strategic work. And good writing – especially poetry. And sunrise.

Me: What do you think you’d like to be doing in 10 years?

Neisha: Hmm. Being happy.