Suzan Young

I think really just hanging in there when things were difficult. I learned to accept things for what they are. When I let go of a lot of it, when I became a little indifferent, things got so much better for me. When I realized that maybe I did come up with a great idea or a great spot and I wasn't acknowledged for it, it wasn't that they weren't thinking about me - they had so many other things to think about. It's not just about one person completing the project, because really, it takes a village to complete those projects. So many people touch our promos and presentations before they're finalized. When I realized that it wasn't about me, it was about everyone getting it done, that really served me well.

You really have to try and be yourself, because ultimately, you have to be yourself and let that come through. If it doesn't, no matter how high you climb, it's just not worth it. Some of the best advice I got from my very first boss was to leave your personal life at home. The way she explained it is, it creates a mystique around you that people don't know what to think of you, but honestly, it was some of the best advice, and it really works. You don't need to tell everybody your business - work is work. Another piece of advice I received was if there's an issue, confront it right away. Don't let it stew. If something is bothering you or if somebody did offend you, deal with it right away. Don't let it stay in your system until you deal with it. That's not easy - it's often not easy to sit in that discomfort, but it takes courage to do that and to clear the air, rather than to keep that hidden in you or buried, because it's not doing anyone any good.

It's so hard right now, but I will tell them what I tell my sons: if you really want it, you will make it happen. If you really want it, nothing is going to stop you. I think perseverance is key. I had a great teacher in college who said if you want to be a writer, then find out everything you can about writing. Maybe get a job where they're buying books, get a job at a library. Take anything you can that is related to that field and learn, because you never know when it'll come back and pay off. If you're interested in the field and you could not get a job, go ahead and volunteer your time, because I did that as well. Go ahead and take that lousy paid internship, even though I was much older than most interns at the time. Do whatever you can to get in. Like I said, if you really want it, it will happen, but you have to believe that. I knew I would work at Warner Brothers. I don't know how, but I knew when I was in high school, I just knew it. I didn't know when or how, but I knew my day would come, and it did. I was coming from East Los Angeles, so it wasn't like I had advantages, but I just knew that was going to happen.

I think the personality challenges are really difficult. It really does not sit well with me when you have a VP who forgets what it is to be human, forgets that we're all human. When you cut your finger, everybody bleeds. People forget where they came from, or who they are, or who we all are. That does not sit well with me at all. That's really hard. I try to treat everybody the same. I am a very friendly person. I try to acknowledge people and the things that they do to contribute. But so many times in this industry, and it has gotten a lot better, believe me, and the situation I'm in now is so much better - I really love my job right now. But I think when someone walks in and mistakenly thinks they have power, it's really hard to swallow. That to me is hard to swallow. That is a big thing in our industry. As far as opportunities, my whole career has been nothing but opportunities from the beginning. I feel like I was just led and guided in so many ways. So many people have helped me along the way, and it's just been a wonderful series of serendipity.

I think honesty is so big, and just being truthful. Friendship is a big one in my life, and I do feel like the people I work with have become family. We've worked so long together that we are a family. Now, we might be a little dysfunctional, and we might have a few crazy uncles, but the truth is I couldn't do it, or wouldn't want to do this without them. They are my family. I spend more hours with them than I do with my family. In my personal life, I do value friendship, my family. I value honesty, I value directness. All of those things are important to me.