I always take the viewpoint that all of these projects will be done with or without me. Therefore, the best thing that I can do is be at the table and fight for the best design possible. Every job I left has proven that theory to be true.
Plus, I’ll remind you of something that I’ve seen Yo! post quite a few times: “Your career is a marathon, not a sprint.” (or something like that). Whenever I get frustrated with where I’m at, I just think of that phrase and the progress I’ve made so far. Today, we may not be in a position to run the projects the way they should be, but keep learning and you’ll be ready when you get the chance.
Because of some of the other topics on here recently, I’ve been thinking back on my career so far. If a punk Mr-914 had landed a design director position after 2-3 years experience, I would have been awful. I wasn’t detail oriented enough and that’s where most of the difference lies.
Don’t loose heart!