Death by committee feels like that video of the raccoon falling into a chimp enclosure.

You walk into the proverbial boardroom with an idea you’ve fallen in love with, only to watch it get tossed around like a ragdoll.

For young creatives just starting out, this experience can be quite jarring. Unless you learn to separate yourself from your work, you won’t last long.

It’s not for everyone. Most creatives quit their gigs in advertising after two maybe three years. They find other mediums to be creative in. Mediums where they get the final cut, the final word, the final stay.

Unfortunately, if you want to work on large creative projects with big budgets, you can’t circumvent the committee. In advertising—and really any form of creation at the enterprise level—the committee is part of the process.

Be patient. Be resilient. Be thoughtful. Be mindful about what hills you should die on. Don’t be too proud to admit when you’ve got a bad idea. Don’t be too scared to fight for a good one. Most of all, learn to communicate your ideas effectively. Learn to sell them. Creatives who think they’re above selling have no business in business.

Love it or hate, the committee is part of the creative process.