Although pretty much at the top of the ad game for quite sometime, prospects were not always so bright for Jamie Barrett. "Four years at Yale on my folks' money only to become a towel boy," says the celebrated creative director at Goodby Silverstein & Partners, recounting one of his first jobs post-graduation. "My parents weren't too thrilled," he continues, describing how he earned a living cleaning up around a gym. Luckily, neither was he.

In the mid-'80s, wielding a Bachelor's in English Lit and a bizarre assortment of life experiences (Marine, nude windsurfing instructor, squash pro), Barrett bumped into a buddy who had a job at Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample and bragged about the Wendy's "Where's the beef?" campaign that was irritatingly penetrating the mainstream consciousness.

"I thought it was cool. He said he was part of it, but now I'm not sure; maybe he was just in the building when it was done," says Barrett. It didn't even register to Barrett that there were people behind ads until he ended up at Fallon in 1985 - as an account guy. In fact, he was apparently "the world's worst account guy in the history of the company" according to Pat Fallon who told Barrett to burn his crappy suits and start writing.

Calling this a 'good career move' just might be the primo understatement in the history of advertising.

"Each generation has its own creative heroes, he's one of ours," gushes Noam Murro, director extraordinaire and frequent Barrett collaborator. "Let me put it simply, he's the most talented, versatile, intelligent, brave creative I've ever met in my life."

Murro says the reason he - and many other directors - like to work with Barrett is because of the flexibility: the creative process exists right up until someone says 'that's a wrap'. Murro calls this freedom both frightening and liberating for a director. "He listens to clients but he doesn't let them rule. He maneuvers through all the constraints that the biz puts up. He allows you to create to the end and lets great things happen."

It's a formula that has worked. The list of celebrated commercials Barrett has had a hand in is enormous. Think Saturn; think HBO's "Watercooler"; think eBay; Nike and FedEx. But the body of work isn't completely consistent.

Case in point: "The worst commercial I ever did was for Angel Soft toilet paper. Great director - Malcolm Venville - it wasn't his fault. We were desperately trying to be delicate but it was a misfire. One of the biggest turds I've ever done," puns Barrett, who, to this day is still haunted by the spot. "I've done hundreds of commercials but if you look me up on ecreativesearch.com, it comes up first."

If not completely forgotten, that was some time ago and Barrett is nevertheless still enjoying the "making stuff" aspect of his job. "The most rewarding part is the shoot. You get the goods or you don't - the adrenalin is higher. It's that game-day feeling," he says, adding that "turning the corner in the editing suite knowing it's going to work" is also a rush - especially when you've experienced turning the other corner.

The big question on Barrett's mind is his mojo. "What I'm interested in finding out about myself is how much longer I will continue to care about advertising as I do now." Noting that there aren't that many creatives who remain passionate beyond a certain age, Barrett wonders if he'll still have the magic 20 years from now. "I'm surprised I'm still enjoying it at 43."

But his boss Jeff Goodby provides what could be an answer to Barrett's burning question du jour: "Jamie reminds you why you're not a lawyer and that the biz is fun." Goodby says he hired him because he was "pushing the edge" and knows how to work with creative people. "He has a childlike sense of behavior and thinking - like Einstein. It's important to maintain that view of the world," he says.

So what comes next? Barrett speculates that it'll either be writing or the senior's squash tour. "My dream job is to be Rick Riley, the writer for Sports Illustrated. Specifically, it's to have a page column in SI where I could BS about sports. Maybe I'll send my resume in with some old high school articles."

Fun facts

How would You spend the prostitution budget? "Full body massages - my back, shoulder and neck are killing me. All legal though - forget the 'full release'."

What's under your bed? Ninja Turtles Rafael and Donatello, and possibly the Three Princesses. Maybe a remote control the kids have hidden.

In production: A series of eBay spots, again with Noam Murro.

On political ads: "Horrifyingly bad. You can just feel the writer hoping to coin some meaningless catch phrase. Embarrassing for the politician and for the ad-making profession. I'm a big enough ad whore though - I'd do it for someone who I thought was worth it. Plus, I know a few clichés."

Friendly banter: Noam Murro says despite a severely limited wardrobe, Barrett is "attractive on a sexual level". Barrett says he "gets that a lot from men" though Noam is hardly one to talk about clothes. "He's only got one of everything."

Goodby, Silverstein & Partners> www.gspsf.com