What is advertising (career) about?

What is it like to have a career at a traditional advertising agency?

• How did you enter the industry?  How did you decide what position was right for you?  Did this decision inform the rest of your career or did your path change?  Any and all anecdotes/insights welcome.

• Answer:

  My career in advertising is based upon the fact that I have 15+ years experience in digital.  My perception is that traditional agencies were initially slow to embrace digital - I'm talking around 1996.  Even today some "traditional agencies" treat digital as a bolt-on-  which is often when I'm brought in to share my expertise. What is like working in advertising as opposed to the other industries I've worked in? 1. The people I work with are very good-looking. 2. I've had more free drinks, liquid lunches and after-work drinks than any other time of my life. 3. I work with people who are extremely driven. 4. I've lost count of the number of free lunches I've had this year. 5. I regularly deal with unreasonable requests from high-profile clients. 6. On the account management side there seems to be a lot of turn-over. 7. The creatives are treated like Gods. 8. I cannot believe how much Planners are paid for the sort of work they do. 9. There is very little diversity -- except in the cafeteria 10. I work long hours.  I often find it difficult to maintain a good work/life balance.  I have gone days without seeing my live-in boyfriend. 11. There are no women in account management with children. 12. I get a generous amount of time off work.  I've had 30 days paid holiday / in lieu since last year.  I still have 5 more days left. 13. I have worked with people who have come up with truly brilliant ideas. 14. I have done more 'Continuing Professional Development' this year then my last 3 years combined. 15. Generally I like it, but as I'm digital I could just as easily work in another industry.