A hangover.
Many extra kilos.
Extra dark skin colour.
Bagfull of sweaty clothes.
Updated address book.
Updated gossip.
New perspectives on the business.
An understanding of the new normal.
Appreciation of how good the Indian work is.
Realisation of how far we still have to go.
Confirmation that I’m really very old.
Confirmation that I’m really out of shape.
Happiness that there are people in worse shape. Renewed appreciation of the beauty of the sea.
Renewed appreciation of the heat of the sun.
Surprise at how much advertising people can drink.
Surprise at how many advertising people don’t drink.
Surprise at how many people smoke.
Surprise at the variety of things people smoke.
A feeling of being a survivor.
Wonder if that’s a good thing.
Agony at how many people’s names I have forgotten.
Embarrassment at how many people know my name when I don’t know theirs.
Enjoyment of the good work.
Wonder at the wisdom of people in the industry.
Reaffirmation that advertising is the best profession in the world.
Reaffirmation that advertising is the worst profession in the world.
Zest to go on for another year.
Cheers,
Suman Srivastava
(Suman Srivastava is CEO of Euro RSCG India.)