Mad Men and Other Things

I'm a late bloomer to this one -- I just finished watching the whole series of Mad Men.

It was that good that I put on hold watching the last two episodes of the final season because I was 'in denial,' although we all know the show already ended in 2015.  To be honest, I wasn't interested in the whole business and advertising concept of the show. I was just curious with the period drama's fashion. Then, two episodes later, I found myself hooked.

There was more to the drinking, the smoking and the promiscuity in the show. Don't get me started on how the evolution of style was perfectly shown and how the costumes were impeccably spot on (Kudos, Janie Bryant!). The evolution of women in the workforce and in what they so-called 'man's world' were also depicted. Though I cannot fully say that this man-woman equality in workplace is no longer existent but, we surely came a long way from that. Moreover, it was also nice to remember that we (mainly people from my age and above) all once survived and got the job done with typewriters, handwritten notes and good, old landlines. There was more actual human contact when they dealt with their business transactions (sometimes, too much human contact, actually. You know what I mean. Haha!). The slow and chaotic embrace to change in technology was also shown when Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce got this big computer during the last season. I also loved how the show linked American historical events which gave the feeling that the show is real or a biopic of someone real or significant during that time. The show presented various issues during those time. I also enjoyed how each character has their own story. And of course, it's interesting to see the creative world of advertising, especially in those times. Oh yes, let's not forget... Jon Hamm, too.

Here are some of my random thoughts while watching a show that spanned for 8 years, 7 seasons and made Kiernan Shipka and her siblings grew practically right in front of my eyes.

1. I'm glad I wasn't born at that time. I could be dead by now.
One did not need to finish the whole series to realize that it is wrong to drink and smoke, especially at work. I have nothing against with drinking and smoking because obviously, it is one's business, but at work? Really? I know it was the 'trend' back in the days and if I was born at that time, I could be dead by now or I could be dying with all the second-hand smoke I inhaled.

2. Find what truly matters and avoid what doesn't.
The show was filled with broken family stories and issues, failed relationships, life-changing career moves and a fair share of wrong decisions. My take for this was at the end of the day, when things get overwhelming or you have too much on your plate, you just have to choose what to prioritize. Pour your energy on what you believe is essential. 

3. Find your passion and do it. Whatever it is, give your all or nothing at all.
Just what Joan when she started her own business and chose her career over her lovelife. Just what Peggy did when her career jumped from being Don's secretary and climbed her way up to being a creative head the world of advertising. And just what Don did when he followed Roger Sterling around for the job that he wanted. So yes, find what makes you get up every morning, what keeps you going and what makes the insides of your body all fluttery and happy. Once you do, start doing it, give your heart and soul when doing it and never stop doing it.

4. Know when it's time to raise the white flag and move on.
The show featured characters who had fervent and admirable passion for their careers. And in life's true fashion, shitty things happen along the way. So what do you do? You fight or you flight. Lane Pryce chose the flight route by committing suicide. Most, if not all, of us will choose to fight. We fight with the goal of being successful in the end. However, the sad reality is not all fights end up in a way we always wanted. So when you know that you already put up a good fight or you are battling a lost cause, be brave enough to stop and move on. Just like Peggy and Don did, they left the company because it was time to go.

5. "Change isn't necessarily good or bad; it just "is."
As per Don Draper itself. How you respond to changes all depends on you - are you going to embrace it and take on the challenge or are you going to sit and whinge about it? As the popular phrase goes, "learn how to roll with the punches."

6.  Be a woman and embrace it.

It was empowering to watch Peggy and Joan work their way up through hard work, break in the 'men's club' at the agency and fight for what they deserve in their workplace with perseverance. It wasn't easy, especially in those times, when being a woman was underestimated. They had to endure a fair amount of struggle and frustration to get where they were and that makes their victory the sweetest.

7. Be true to yourself. Be authentic.

I can't imagine being anyone else but myself. I can't be anyone else but me. How can you be true to others if you can't even be true to yourself? So I can't imagine how Don was able to put up with the burden of pretending to be someone else all those years. He became so good in lying about his identity that at one point, he probably believed so much on who he says he is yet, we all know his past is just right there somewhere, lurking, waiting to destroy his present life. Moreover, in the creative industry, it is essential to be authentic. Not only will it make you stand out from the rest but it will add more value to your work because it reflects who you are.

8. Love yourself.

One thing that I didn't like in the show was how Joan 'sold' her body for an account. She didn't want to but the whole company's life hangs on that account. Some of her colleagues even made sure she knows it. Was it really necessary? Was it really that worth it? Well, in Joan's case, it was worth it. She did what she had to do and she made sure she claims what she deserves because of what she did. In a way, I understand why she did that. She invested too much for her work already. She didn't made it that far to just give it all up in a snap. Personally, I wouldn't go down that path. And hopefully, I wouldn't need to and no one would even consider giving me that option to do so.

9. Keep moving forward.
Each character in the show has a story to tell. Each has their own achievements to boast and be inspired of, as well as, mistakes to learn from. Life is a never ending series of hits and misses. The show demonstrated that with every mistake or failure and no matter how many mistakes you do or failures you experience, it is important to just keep going. Continue learning and growing and never allow yourself to be stagnant. There will always be new things to do, new experiences to try, new goals to achieve and new horizons to explore.

10. Work hard and look good while you're at it.

Each character in the show was not only passionate about their jobs, they were working hard for what they want and what they deserve. The wit, the creativity and the passion that flows through each and everyone of them was intoxicating.

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