"...temporary about myself"

If not the greatest, then definitely one of the greatest plays was "Death of a Salesman." Written by Arthur Miller, it depicts the sad decline of Willy Loman amidst drama surrounding his wife and sons. In it, Loman talks about feeling "kind of temporary about myself." This is a powerful self- description of an individual  - once powerful and vibrant - who recognizes his vulnerabilities and weaknesses are beginning to overwhelm him to the point he no longer has the ability to turn them back or, at least, hold them at bay. His anguish goes beyond recognizing his own mortality. Rather, he is becoming increasingly aware that when he passes he will leave worse than when he began.

Loman's cries are those of a professional who is burnt  out; an individual who no longer feels joy in what he does and sees no hope in regaining it. He is spent. I mention this because such feelings, even to the extreme of Loman's emotional state, happen to real people in the real world, too. Those working in communication are not immune from it. In that profession, there are most definitely elements that can and do contribute to one losing their zest for devising strategies to promote something, helping others articulate their thoughts and messages, and even providing information to those in need of help and guidance.

Striving to be a successful communicator can be a frustrating experience. In any communication effort, there are a ton of variables that can and do get in the way of doing well. The result, missing the mark is a regular part of life as a professional communicator. After awhile, this can wear one down, especially if they have supervisors who do not full understand or appreciate the effort that goes into the implementation of a multi-faceted outreach effort. For communicators, then, the joy must come from the thrill of their chase and those who respect what the communicator strives to do. Otherwise, lacking energy to do one's job to the fullest or derive any satisfaction in the process is not a good place to be.