In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. Bill Cosby.

Wild card

Posted: May 26th, 2009 | Author: Bart Claeys | Filed under: Moving to the States | Tags: , , | 12 Comments »

Welcome to the United States

Whether we like it or not, we’re all facing change. Like most of you I was watching from the sidelines, until I suddenly found myself right in the middle of it. My job as an Interactive Art Director ended last April. Openhere – an advertising agency based in Antwerp – hired me in March 2008 as their first Interactive Art Director. Everything was great then. I worked on on line projects for Eastpak, Rabobank, Het Belang Van Limburg, 4FM, Scripta, Me by Metro, DLA Piper, Netmining and Bicky. Then the crisis started. Our clients canceled projects for on line campaigns and budgets quickly dried up.

We expected the financial crisis to boost digital advertising, but it didn’t. Only agencies that specialized in this field during the past few years are doing well. More traditional agencies focus on their core business in order to survive and just like advertising agencies the whole media sector has had to slim down. This resulted in staff cuts at newspaper, television and even web production companies. We’re all wondering when this will come to an end. Some say this September, but others think it will take at least another year.

Fortunately, the news is not all bad. I’ve been lucky enough to pull a wild card last February and I intend to make good use of it. To be more specific: I obtained a Green Card and I am now free to work and reside in the United States. This comes in handy now that I have to look for another job. The timing is a bit unfortunate, because moving to the States in the midst of a recession doesn’t seem all that great, but it’s not like I’ve got anything to lose. I’m sure I’ll benefit from the highly innovative environment, enjoy the much lower tax rates and get to know the Americans a lot better.

12 Comments on “Wild card”

  1. 1 Pinkie_Lemonade said at 11:27 am on May 26th, 2009:

    Congratz with your blog! I’m really curious to read about all your adventures in the States!

  2. 2 Jeroen said at 12:34 pm on May 26th, 2009:

    Go for it, Bart!

  3. 3 Clopin said at 12:23 am on May 27th, 2009:

    Quite the entry you make there :) You think you can still have that drink during lunch?
    Anyway, best of luck!

  4. 4 FreezeM said at 12:45 am on May 27th, 2009:

    Hey Bart, go for it. I’d love to move to the US as well and hope to win the DV Lottery this year. I’d also like to welcome you to a Ducth forum on immigration to share your story and read what others are going true. http://forum.verenigdestaten.info/index.php/board,22.0.html

  5. 5 Imke Dielen said at 1:36 am on May 27th, 2009:

    Eindelijk :-)

    Good luck met de hele stap!

  6. 6 dipfico said at 1:44 am on May 27th, 2009:

    :-)

  7. 7 Pascal Van Hecke said at 1:44 am on May 27th, 2009:

    congrats + 1 , both on writing at a url you actually own and on the migration plans!

  8. 8 vindesign said at 1:47 am on May 27th, 2009:

    Ben ook benieuwd naar de avonturen van Bart :) We zullen je missen!

  9. 9 Hannes said at 1:59 am on May 27th, 2009:

    Die core business is vaak old-school push-oriented single channelled advertising, niet echt waar consumenten op zitten te wachten, denk ik.

    ‘t Allerbeste in de States!

  10. 10 Claudio said at 7:09 am on May 28th, 2009:

    I am sure Bicky Burgers will be double sized burgers over there. Enjoy!! :)

  11. 11 sieghild said at 8:33 am on May 28th, 2009:

    Nice. Geniet!

  12. 12 Bert Hagendoorn said at 4:03 am on June 4th, 2009:

    Hi Bart, good luck in de States – and have fun!

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