My late Grandmother grew up in the Great Depression. She always told me about how she would keep twisty ties, glass bottles, and save everything, including bacon grease, to prevent being wasteful. Will habits like this become the new normal when the world restarts again?

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing everyone, which is why I am pondering how the world will change as it is going through its rebirth. What will the new “normal” be? Am I the only one who is suffering from a slight delusional paranoia? I don’t know the answers to any of these questions. Hence why I need to talk or write it all out.

We are in a crisis of humanity versus capitalism, trying to prevent mass human annihilation and the most significant global recession. Which one would you rather have? I choose life every time.

I am trying to stay positive and healthy by writing every day, exercising, and taking care of things that I’d never had time for, such as fixing my laptop charger. Yesterday, I wrote about staying positive because the “greater is coming.” Sheesh, it’s so damn hard to keep that keen sense of optimism at times. Then later that night, a phantom started creeping into my head, terrifying me about the future of our human existence.

When my fiance and I are walking our dog around the lake, hordes of people are passing by, further terrifying me that the virus is spreading. This caused me to call the COVID-19 Minnesota hotline (651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903) to ask if it is safe to walk outside with my dog. The verdict: Stay six feet away from people. Yes, that is nearly impossible when Lake of the Isles is a sardine-packed night club.

People are utilizing their resources because if fitness centers aren’t open, then it causes a chain reaction to go for runs around the lake and doing at-home workouts.

Being resourceful is a major skill of mine, and I am taking it to the next level for probably no apparent reason other than the fear we may be living in at the moment. I’m rewashing zip lock bags for reuse when I run out, measuring my laundry detergent, washing bigger dishware by hand using one or two drops of dish soap, and I am finding every way to be resourceful. The extreme hit me when my vegetables were going to expire in a day; therefore, I resorted to pickling them.

To me, pickling vegetables is a sign of fear of oppression. Is anyone acting this way out of a slight fear lurking in the back of their minds?

Take your index finger and move it as close to your thumb as possible without touching. Maybe I’m going a little crazy? But, aren’t we all having our moments of going “cuckoo” right now? I may be overthinking this, but I’m not the only one.

I’m glued to my TV, whether it is binging HULU, doing barre classes, or watching the news. I am even pursuing my faith more seriously by reading a book called “Jesus Calling.” Of those, exercising is the best way to pass the time.

COVID-19 could change my normal social behavior. For instance, when walking on the sidewalk, I’m turning my head to the right when someone passes by. Believe me; I’m not the only one who is doing this. Can you believe that I haven’t been smiling and saying hello to that person? How un-Minnesotan like is that?

Hoarding, home workouts, working from home, cooking for ourselves, and talking to others on the phone or FaceTime are becoming trending human habits. COVID-19 is resetting the world.

Quarantine, social distance, wash your hands and cover your mouth. Be vigilant and get your groceries through delivery apps. Only leave the house if you have to, and stay away from older people. These are the little changes we have to make, but even those can’t cure the darkness of isolation or COVID-19. But, it can get us through it, and it can be just enough to slow things down.

Hopefully, our government will stop making this a political issue and realize we need to make this a health issue and let health officials have full control of their actions.

All we can do is to pray and to make those little changes.

There has got to be some good that will come out of this. I don’t know what the reset button will be like when it activates for our world, but I hope it will be one for the greater.

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing to create more content, you can make a donation to my Venmo. 

Being frustrated, asking questions of “why is this happening to me,” and screaming at the top of our lungs when no one is listening is so damn easy. Emotional content is a vital sign of a healthy mind, and if we stomp our feet, it just detriments our minds if we continue to ask “why,” we will continue to be frustrated.

We should not waste our time right now being frustrated because it just adds fuel to our frustration during this COVID-19 fiasco. We need to channel it into positive energy, keep doing our part to stay and keep others safe. Most importantly, figure out new ways to keep our morale high in such low times.

If we are proactive, the reactive will be positive. The secret to getting through this is to find some way to release a positive force to find new ways to create a good attitude.

Adding stress by pouting about our circumstances of quarantine will lower our immune systems. Stay positive because when the glass is half full, you can put lemonade powder and ice in it, making a better-tasting full glass of refreshingness.

My fiance and I have put our energy into cooking, finding faith, DIY projects, and trying to find fun things to do. The number one thing we are doing is working out in front of our TV, doing barre classes, and yoga. We plan to do even more things like jigsaw puzzles and to get to other things that we have been putting off.

We love to make dry rub wings, watch the Vikings, and take football naps. It isn’t even football season. It may sound crazy, but we love doing those things, and we watched Randy Moss’ famous Thanksgiving Day game from 1998, which I vaguely remember as a kindergartener. But, recreating NFL Sunday’s was a blast, keeping our spirits high.

My fiance and I are going to create a dinner and movie night, where we get dressed up nice and order take out. We will light candles and drink beer from pint glasses, overall creating a fancy date night all from the comfort of our own home.

This is a time to use our imagination, making the best of what we have.

If we can go through life with a positive attitude, perseverance, and fairly good problem solving towards our salvation, then the greater good will come.

In times like this, we need to believe the greater good will come. But, it only comes with a positive attitude, as a paralyzed athlete once said, “The greatest disability in life is a bad attitude.”

Remember, when you point your finger at the moon, don’t focus on the finger. You will miss the beauty of what is the “great beyond.” Yes, I just totally ripped off Bruce Lee. This is why emotional content is the key to our survival right now.

The best is yet to come. We have to ride out this wave of terror, and if we’re going to do this, let’s do it smiling.

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing to create more content, you can make a donation to my Venmo. 

A young child asked his father, “Why is Uncle Billy so fat?” The father paused for a moment. He could have said because he loved to sit on the couch and eat Cheetos all day, considering it was the truth, but he found this as an excellent opportunity to impart a life lesson.

“Son, Billy used to be skinny. But, he loved people so much, and so every time he met a new person, his heart grew a little more. The more people he met, he grew bigger and bigger.”

This father was not my dad. This anecdote was Russell Crowe in a movie called, “Mystery Alaska.” Albeit, the exact monologue isn’t correct, but the point is that Billy or Bailey ( I can’t remember the character’s name) loved people.

I love people. I love socializing, laughing, and being around people. Being a bartender is a job that I hate. Seriously, it is the worst. The only part I like about it is to talk to people.

My friends and family, I miss them. Being quarantined is difficult because there is a lack of social interaction via social distancing. I am so thankful that I have my fiance, Kaley, and our two pets to spend this challenging time with each other. But, being less than three feet away from one person 24/7 brings challenges. I know couples who are trying to find ways to stay sane with each other, and me and my beautiful other half are doing a great job thus far.

Reminding myself that people excite me has boosted my morale today. So, what is one thing that truly and profoundly excites you?

Being a macro thinker, I believe the COVID-19 social distancing sensation will change world culture, social interactions, and how we operate. With delivery apps, Facetime, and abilities to be present without being present, we can function differently. If this craziness continues, we will find realizations that staying in and cooking for ourselves, playing board games, doing yoga in front of our TV’s, and getting online degrees could make more sense.

The fear of this crisis could create human habits that could change us forever.

Putting my crazy thoughts aside, I miss being around people, and this quarantine is taking that away from me.

I realized this when I talk to my parents or my fiance’s parents on the phone. I miss going to see them, and it kills me that I can’t because I don’t want to infect them with a possible virus without knowing it.

Billy or Bailey’s heart grew every time he saw a person, and I resonate with that. My heart is so big for people that it hurts that I can’t be around them, and the only thing keeping me going is my fiance because I get to be with her.

Let’s be hopeful this ends soon because I don’t want my heart to shrink. Facetime your friends, call your loved ones, and text people that you haven’t talked to for a long time. Trust me, knowing that people are stocked up with supplies, and safe will bring comfort to you in times of discomfort.

To my friends and family, I hope you are all safe and that I can see you soon before my heart starts to shrink.

 

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing to create more content, you can make a donation to my Venmo. 

The definition of “Spero” is to want something to happen, with the expectation that it might, otherwise known as the Latin translation for “hope.”The magic number is 284, representing the number of times where I have failed in the last three years in a specific category of pursuit in my life. Despite being kicked while I got knocked down so many times, one thing kept me going: hope.

COVID-19 is bringing everyone down. This is a reminder to persevere and to find hope. Right now, we are all prisoners to our own devices, and we are all in a crisis. Therefore we need to find a way to keep moving forward.

So, what is hope for me?

It’s a white bird that flies across the sky when all you see is the clouds.

My uncanny sense of optimism and passion for it has always provided me hope. I cannot lose that in such times of realism.

It’s the penny that you pick up from the sidewalk and putting it in your pocket that makes you smile, thinking you’re one cent richer.

Whenever I take out the recycling and flatten the boxes for the bin, I have a sense of hope that I’m doing something right for the environment.

It’s the bad cat sitting next to you when you least expect it, and the fear of him/her attacking you. But, when it sits in your lap and starts purring, just knowing it is your friend will raise both of your eyebrows.

The narrative of professional sports gets me going.

Opening the shutters after a storm, raising the masts, and seeing the sunshine gives a sense of relief that we survived the storm.

The lyrics of Frank Turner gives me light. “We’re not just saving lives; we’re saving souls, we’re having fun!”

A robot vacuum that I own that does the work for me while I write this excerpt about my life gives me hope. Along with the dishwasher, laundry machine, and my dog, who licks up the scraps on my floor so I can try to write something super insightful. Keyword: try. Or is this just being thankful for creatures of comfort?

Having food, shelter, and the excellent company keeps me optimistic as well.

The perpetual pursuit of faith keeps me going. I’ve always believed that someday I’d go to church or study religion seriously. In this time of COVID-19, I have enough time to explore these avenues.

Knowing my friends are okay.

Discovering the definition of what balance of physical and mental health is and what it means to me.

The priority of keeping my mindset, ambitions, and relationships healthy will give me the hopefulness to be happy.

I love having eggs, bacon, and toast in the morning. Every time I start my day with some variation of a good breakfast, I know I’ll have the strength to start the day.

Everything I may have written would have meant what it is to be thankful. I’m venting on what is on my mind at this very moment.

There doesn’t need to be any deep thought to this for me to say, “hope is finding brightness in the darkest days.”

What I say at the moment doesn’t have to be insightful or philosophical.

I keep it light by saying that hope for me is to see the Minnesota Vikings play in the fall, only to let me down in January, all again to do it the next year. The worst part of this is that this is just what excites me when I think about it. What is even worse is that this sensation may not happen this fall due to this hysteria happening.

I’m a scatterbrain writer, and it helps me organize my life. I write to survive; therefore, the power of pen and paper gives me hope. I believe that it gives me the power to manifest my future.

Hope is something to look forward to like when the sunrises every morning. There was a time in my life where I’d occasionally wake up to watch it rise.

During this quarantine, please remember to recollect what you think hope is. Don’t think too hard; spit things out.

It has helped me a lot just by expressing what it means to me.

 

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing to create more content, you can make a donation to my Venmo. 

Happiness is the small tiny piece of tart strawberry rhubarb pie. It’s the best piece in the big delectable pie of enlightenment. In times of bedlam, we get hysterical, paranoid, and just get disinformed. We can control the things that we can, and we forget about how to take care of ourselves.

To note, we forget what makes us happy.

Happiness is hot Cheetos at the lake on a hot summer day.

Pancakes make me happy. But, making pancakes for Kaley makes me happier.

Whenever my dog Cooper finds me in the kitchen, only to discover that I’m just putting the dishes away. That makes me happy.

I like going for long walks along the lakes with her and Cooper, talking about cat strollers and wanting to eat Halloween candy.

Being in rhythm with you makes me happy.

Having a rhythm with life makes me happy.

We can all find some sort of “happy” right now.

It’s the only thing we can do other than pray.

Pistachios and a piping hot bowl of pho. Not together, but for separate reasons of indulgence.

What makes me happy? Little miracles. Smiles from strangers. Yeah, its what we do in Minnesota. Smile during the darkest winters, and say “sorry” to each other for unnecessary reasons.

Being from the North makes me happy. There is a sense of community here that is beyond any other in the US.

These are just somethings that make me grin.

Driving Kaley’s car is really fun too. Damn.

Going to Target for no reason. That is cool too.

Toasting crispy Banh mi’s for you and me. Never get’s old.

Watching hockey or any sports and then hearing the door open as you come home. It gets me so excited that I forget what I’m watching.

I’m also a big fan of cue tips—white ones and not pink ones. The white ones are the best.

Flossing makes me happy for some reason.

Talking to my parents on the phone frequently is something that I appreciate. It may be stressful for me at times, but I have a relationship with them, and they love me. This is something that I remind myself that I’m happy about whenever I hang up with them.

Al Michaels’ voice. Mark Rosen on the radio. Lebron James, for some reason.

Creating something and finishing it. One time, Kaley and I ripped out the lighting in our ceiling and installed a new lighting fixture. Handy DIY work is the best sense of accomplishment.

Tearing ice while playing hockey from doing a spinorama, then throwing a backhand top cheese bar down top tits. Celly celly celly. Even if its at the park against people who’ve never played hockey before.

My sister makes me happy. She is just the best. She made me tamales for this quarantine, and I gave her toilet paper. It’s been a good trade.

The way you get excited for Tennessee hot chicken.

I think Kaley just makes me happy. Yup. Good thing that I’m marrying her.

Doughnuts from Bogart’s. I always like buying them and then handing them out to random people. It’s so much fun.

There is this video on my phone where Marty McFly, my kitty cat, is playing with my pizza trying to eat it. Hilarious, right? My cat loves pizza, and so do I.

Kitty cat makes me happy. I didn’t know that adopting a pet was considered “rescuing.” That makes my heart warm.

This was a good thing to do. Think for 20 minutes of what makes you happy. We are so focused on this COVID-19, going bananas over something we can’t control. If we go crazy, then humanity will lose.

Try to think of what makes you happy.

I hope this will help someone get out of their funk.

Remember, hitting a home run off of a breaking curveball always leads to a massive upper deck home run.

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing to create more content, you can make a donation to my Venmo. 

Recently, a future employer wanted me to send them 300 words or less on how I would rebrand the company. Omnetics is a cable cord connection company that creates cables for Military and Aeronautical uses. I wrote two renditions because I wanted to show my range as a writer and as a creative. One of them is crazy creative and the other is more traditional.

Creative

      Be Controversial, and Dare To Be Different. 

Let’s go crazy. Why? The objective of advertising is to drive PR to your company. So, let’s envision a drastic rebrand. Omnetics is hiding behind their strongest brand truths of controversy, and how badass the products are.  Embrace those truths. It’s time to diversify the traditional way of content creation and to integrate it into new channels. Let’s implement Virtual and Augmented Reality advertising to create brand interaction at trade shows, which is the most effective trend in advertising. Stark Industries is a more well-known company than Omnetics, and it is a fictional company that does the same thing in comic books. So, let’s do something crazy and partner with Marvel to make a comic book with their superheroes to promote your products. Or, partner with an off the wall company to create significant PR, establishing conversations that are compelling to today’s current culture. If Hotels.com is partnering with Poo Pouri, a poop company, then why can’t Omnetics partner with Coke? Have you ever thought about an activation stunt before? Picture fighter planes flying over Times Square, dropping connector chords over the tourists, landing safely with tiny parachutes. That will get people talking, and that is what you want. No more hiding behind closed doors. How about you produce a mini soap opera web series of connector cords who transform into robots that battle to find out what is the best product. It’s time to tell the story of your company that’s unique. Your biggest weapons are the controversy of morals of what you’re selling, and the fact that your products are badass. So, stop hiding it. If everyone knows who Omnetics is, then people in your target market will think of you guys as the easiest decision to make when purchasing connector cords through the psychological beauty of cognitive consonance. 

Traditional

Building A Vision With Omnetics.

In the strategic process of rebranding, we need to focus on industry insights. It is essential to inspire a vision for what’s next in cord connection. 

When it comes to Omnetics’ voice, I foresee the company owning an inclusive tone that sets them apart from competitors. By positioning Omnetics as the industry leader, it will create personality, which many adversary’s lack. 

Think BMW: “The Ultimate Driving Machine.”

Omnetics: “Superior Connection.”

With competitors, there seems to be a classic case of insider jargon, where engineers are writing for other engineers that is hard to decode. Let’s shape a relatable, evocative voice & tone that focuses on inspiring colloquial language versus complex technical terminology. 

It is time to decode, simplify, and add sex appeal to the brand.

We need to build a vision that is more future-focused than anything and one else in the industry.  Let’s take inspiration from our customer case studies to illustrate just how our products improve military and aeronautical functions towards the future development of humanity. This is the beginning of how we can tell an amazing brand essence story to prospective B2B clients. 

Now is time to change the visual identity. Omnetic’s website, marketing materials, and design of the layouts portray a sterile personality. Competitors are no different. Something as simple as adding chic colors to a palette and layering in patterns and illustrations, infographics, and taking inspiration from beautiful design layouts could dramatically differentiate Omnetics. We can do this with a set of patterns involving color flecks and playful dials that adds a human touch to the technical industry.

Let’s create a spokesperson to create character. 

Let’s create a new logo and get away from wordmarks to tell a story.

Let’s implement playful photography to get away from industry-standard stock photos.

It is time to create a splash for the launch of a new brand.

What do you think is the better direction to go for a minutiae brand?

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing to create more content, you can make a donation to my Venmo. 

 

 

Frank Turner has been my favorite musician for my entire adult life. His lyrics have lived within me. I don’t search for music, I discover it. When I went to Dropkick Murphy’s during my freshmen year of college at First Ave, I became sold to Frank Turner. When he sang Photosynthesis and The Road it changed my life.  Those two songs song lyrics have been a major part of my identity. Man, that club is still the best music venue that I’ve ever been to. Props to Minneapolis.

Poem: Being Frank. Being Me.

“I discovered him. I talk very highly of him to people. I play his songs on guitar. I sing them to friends. His music is a small gift to my life. I found him, and he found me.”

No Man’s land is his eighth studio album and his first concept album. It’s about forgotten women in history that made a difference, or with some revolutionary courage. Every song highlights women, and some of them are even an ode to music. Nica is one of his best songs, ever. That says a lot from me about Frank Turner.

I was listening to this album, and every song was sort of a love song, an ode. I teared up a little bit because I miss my girlfriend. No Man’s Land was Frank singing to his fiance, Jess. He was singing to her. This is exactly how I felt.

This album is singing to Kaley and Chloe.

Frank is always looking out for me.

I want this job. Seriously, I can see myself doing major damage in the industry if I were to be here.

Alex Bogusky and David Zosel. I wanted to write those words in existence.

I want to learn from him, and I want to impress him. Who, wouldn’t? Most notably, I want to impress, Kelly and Tony.

The spirit of Frank Turner that I have would take me on the adventure of Boulder, and I’d take Kaley with me. Cooper and Marty too.

Frank Turner’s spirit is astral projected in me, it’s part of my soul. I wish everyone had that or can figure out which musician has the same relationship with.

I face the horizon everywhere I go. I face the horizon. The horizon is my home.

My dog is being put down right now. I feel helpless. She was the best dog. She was the best.

My dog is dying. I feel so bad that my girlfriend is going through this without me. I love my Chloe Bear, and I don’t know what to do. Kaley asked me if I would be mad if she had to be put down without me.

There are 12 days before I get back, and I don’t know if I’m going to have to fly back soon. I want to be there for Kaley.

I don’t know how this will affect my performance in the final stretch for Crash Course.

Before you continue reading, I want to give a shout out to my sponsor Regain.US. I wrote this journal as a replacement for my therapist/counselor while I was away from her for two months in Boulder, Colorado. A very important step towards achieving better mental health is by finding the right therapist/counselor. For more information, please check out this link here: https://www.regain.us/advice/counseling/

This is one big thing that I’m learning, and that is long-distance stuff is not for me. I told her a few weeks ago that if I go somewhere, or if she goes somewhere, we go together. I’m learning that anything can happen outside of work. But, my number one rule is when you’re at work, keep your personal stuff out of the workplace no matter what.

Prospective creatives, please learn this. Being an artist, it is very hard to do that because we can be emotional people.

It’s crazy how audacious my last entry was. That is just the confidence that I have in myself, and now I am sunken to rock bottom with five days till the last presentation.

I don’t want to win, but I have too. I feel like Rocky in the first Rocky movie. He doesn’t want to win, but he wants to go the distance.

My hockey coach always said, “If you’re here, you might as well win.”

But, my girlfriend is losing right now. I need to be there for her, and I’m having panic attacks right now as I’m writing this.

Good thing I took my work home this weekend and made a 75-page slide deck to show my CD. I can do that anyway of the week, the reason why I did this now was that I got great direction last Friday from my CD, and I just ran with it.

As an intern, this is what you need to do. If you can’t handle the high stakes pressure of this industry, then get out because it’s not for you.

This is what I bring to the table. I’m a machine.

But, I need to slow down at this point because of what is going on.

ABC, David. Always be concepting, always be cool.

I can’t have the best of both worlds. I want to do incredible work for CPB over a 3-5 year span, and I have the drive and determination to do so.

For most people who have read my books, blog, and have viewed any of my work there has always been a shift between being happy and sad.

I’m bipolar, and it’s my greatest power because I have harnessed the good in it, and I can destroy the bad parts. Journaling about this at my desk right now has destroyed this panic attack.

I need to stay strong for the love of my life and keep moving forward on this project.

Hearing your girlfriend with bad news in the morning isn’t a great way to start the day. I wish I could be there for her.

I’m scared. I don’t know what to do, but I’m doing the best I can.

I don’t know. I don’t know. I love them so much, and I’m out here doing what I love.

Gotta stay strong. No matter what life puts you through.

Writing this journal helps replace my therapist. It’s almost as good, and it does what I need it to do to balance my bipolar disorder.

So, if you need guidance, one of the best ways is through self-reflection through journaling.

When I’m at work, I feel free and happy. But, when I’m home, sad and tortured. I really love Boulder and being at CPB. The people here are great. But, I have goals and my support system back in Minneapolis. It is totally selfish of me to be out here doing this.

My dog is dying, my grandma is dying, and my girlfriend needs me. I just miss my Kaley Pie.

This is boot camp in advertising. A strategist said that this program is way better than internships because we have a client to work on, present to, and to win an account.

This week’s client presentation went very well. BrainCO groomed me well for this moment. I know for a fact that my other two graduating classmates do not have this valuable experience at their agencies for the summer. I got denied by five agencies back in Minneapolis, and yet I get the most powerful experience.

I’ve got to put my hands in the Dominoes, Hotels.com, TRUTH, Jose Cuervo, 1800, and American Airlines creative melting pots along with trying to save the world with Good Spread.

I’ve created the most ideas, headlines, scripts, taglines, and conceptualizations in my program. But, that doesn’t mean anything. Although, it shows the type of pride I have in doing that. Lock me in a room and I’ll come out with more work than you.

I have a lot of projects to do in my life that are all currently a work in progress, but I need to focus on this one project. Time is running out for Crash Course, and I need to put every ounce of effort into the final stretch. For me, and for Kaley.

Ask yourself, what do I want to put all of my energy into? What motivates you the most? And focus all of your chi into it. Channel it. Take it.

Alex Bogusky is creating a new creative scientific method. My heart tells me that whatever it is, that of all people in the agency, I would benefit the most from it, and it would propel me to become the best creative… ever.

I have quite a few things in common with that guy. I’m just a little clueless at this point.

But, I know that I am a machine and nothing can stop me now.

Pardon my language, but fuck playing the political game. Kiss people’s asses and everything. But, be honest and be yourself. If you’re reading this then you’re probably a creative like me. You have an ego. You have a little bit of Picasso in you.

Your ego is your best your greatest weapon as an artist.

I was asked who should win this competition, and I said, my writing partner. I meant that with my head, but my heart says that it is me. I said it should be her because her creative energy balances the creative energy in the agency. But, it should be me.

At the end of the day though, I don’t care about winning this. I want to create the Subservient Chicken. If I can achieve that, a successful campaign, then I am winning.

Everything we have is good enough. And I think what we have sucks. I wish the client didn’t like what we have. I wish the client meeting didn’t go well. Maybe Tony and Kelly’s guidance helped propel us to that type of success.

This is why you must listen to your creative directors.

But, still. I have not unlocked the secret to Subservient Chicken. This is why whatever the method Bogusky has in store could make me one of the best creatives of all time. If I don’t get to be molded into that, then I’ll make my own way.

If that hefty foreseen vision and ambition doesn’t ever pan out for me, and until the day I die, then at least I can say I fucking tried.

That’s the only eulogy I need.

Alex Bogusky, you need me. I see so many second and third-generation advertising kids at this agency. This creates complacency. There isn’t enough diversity there, especially in the creative department, and overall it would be a mistake to not hire me or my partner.

I’ve been making my own way in this industry. I’m sure a lot of people at CPB have as well. But, I won’t lose that drive or hunger. I see Alex Bogusky, and I don’t see an advertising wunderkind, I see him as the fastest player on the hockey team that leads the drills, making the team keep up with him.

I’d like to see more of that from him. When we lost a big client account, I wish he gathered the troops and tried to boost morale.

That is not who he is. But, that is me.

My opinions don’t matter. The only thing that matters is the creative audacity that I can bring.

I only want to work here if I have a full-time job that is offered on a 3-5 year contract.

Just work hard, be honest, and be yourself. If you make a mistake, then fuck it. Be yourself.

My mom says, “Being yourself never works.” Well, being a political tactician never has worked for me either.

The honest truth is that my mom knows who she is, and that is what she is. But, I’m not her. It’s like Tom Brady. Everyone knows what he is doing, but that is him. If everyone tried to be like him, then the world would go mad. My mom is Tom Brady at Medtronic.

Seriously.

I’ll never forget Napa Valley.

You were so surreal.

It was the perfect day, and we made it ours.

It was a long day. But, it is a day that I’ll never forget.

Why?

Well, I got to spend it with you.

 

Listen. I’m passionate from miles away. But, I’m still with it. Present. You can call me hype. But, the hype isn’t real. I’m all real. I’m too real. This is too real.

Trill.

Let’s begin.

It has been a while since my last journal entry because I have been finding more things to do in Boulder.

A copywriter for Fallon, who is a pretty renown rapper as well, told me that you need to have breaks and hobbies outside of advertising. Well, that I do. But, when you’re in a foreign place, just trying to get your feet wet, it is pretty hard.

I went out with my teammates this week for National Margarita night, and they took me around Boulder to different restaurants. Overall, the night was a success, and we got to come closer to each other as a team. Going out for a happy hour is highly advised if you’re in the business of persuasion. For example, the person who leads the project management aspect of our team is entirely different outside of work and same with the strategy people. Since I’m a creative, there really isn’t much of a difference for me. It’s a time to get to know one another and to share an experience, which is also a tremendous fundamental basis for advertising.

As a creative agency, your goal is to share an experience, create emotional content that will resonate with people, and to change society’s culture positively. Oh, and yes to persuade people into purchasing your parity product.

You can’t forget that.

So yes, creating synergy or symbiosis with your teammates is very essential to creating work that is up to your agency’s standards, because energy is contagious.

Me and the other writer have been working really well together, becoming a creative force on our team. We are like mules; carrying the creative load.

One of our other CD’s said for us to stop strategizing and start making the big ideas come to life. Hopefully, this get’s other people on the same page as us, to encourage the other four to let loose, have fun, and ideate.

This job is supposed to be fun, you know.

My engine is roaring.

I take work home with me every night to set myself up to come back stronger for the next morning. Or, I actually do more work.

I love every second of this.

The bottom line is that you want to have that hunger to contribute to the goal at your highest potential to make the best campaign that wins changes a culture and make people remember.

I live for this.

One of the founding people of the agency invited us to join the company’s podcast, The Woodshed, for this week’s episode.

We had to ask this advertising wunderkind one or two questions, and it was easy for me.

Everyone in Minneapolis says his understanding of a client’s brand is on a whole other level from anyone else. So, I asked him, “For someone early in their creative career, how do you develop a prowess for understanding a brand to make a powerful campaign.”

He said it is like method acting. You need to try the product and love the product to understand it, and it is that simple.

Well, I have that in common with him.

During my segment, the other person asked what you should do if you’re stuck with coming up with ideas.

He said that doesn’t happen to him ever because he isn’t scared to put down something stupid until a great idea comes out.

I have this in common with him.

He also said that inspiration is everywhere, so you don’t have to search for it.

I have this in common with him too.

Three things to show commonality between a rookie and a veteran shows me that we are all human in this industry. Anyone can create. It’s just about being fearless.

Audacity, tenacity, and swagger are what you need.

Moving on, I’ve learned a couple more things along the way. When coming up with executions, and you’re using metaphors, they absolutely need to line up with the strategy, insight, and campaign. No questions asked.

Another one is to show people and not to tell. People don’t want to be told what to do. They need to be displayed in a creatively compelling way.

This made me understand the guidelines of the “see say” philosophy in advertising. If you can see it, don’t say what you can see.

Another big lesson is the concept of moral. You need to find a way to rally your consumers in a way that will tug their heartstrings for the consumer to buy your product.

Now, remember that even learning these lessons it is still up to me on how to effectively learn them well enough to add to my repertoire.

With this… ABC.  My new advertising philosophy to all the homies out there trying to make a name for themselves in the industry.

Always Be Concepting. ABC!

Don’t be afraid that your ideas get killed by your CD. They are the ones having your back on the project. Feed ideas like you’re making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for an army of seven-year-olds.

Don’t take it personally. I had a ton of ideas for a client campaign extension to follow a huge commercial. A ton of ideas. Only one of them made it to the final round before the client pitch, and it was one of my worst ideas that made no one excited. The cool part of this was creatives took this idea and innovated it to a different incarnation.

What is the lesson? Participate.

I miss my girlfriend, dogs, cat, and family. It’s hard waking up without her, doing things without her, and coming home when she isn’t there.  Luckily, I have a really cool roommate who has bonded well with me this week.

I’m going to use this time to enjoy solitude to bring perspective, give me strength, and to improve my never-ending quest of having a powerful prowess of creative control.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and this absence makes me love my girlfriend and support group back home even more. My aunt has sent me care packages, and I talk on the phone with everyone whenever I can to combat this loneliness that I’m dealing with.

Loneliness can mean a lot of things. I’ve made friends here, and I have friends in Boulder and Denver that I’ve seen, but I just miss people back in the land of 10,000 lakes.

I miss my girlfriend’s hangover hugs and calm down kisses. But for now, loneliness is a friend of mine.

Changing lanes here, I need to remind myself of the fire that’s in my stomach.

1. My Uncle, who disrespected me after my Grandfather died. He is a failure as a copywriter. He started his own agency, works in his attic at home, and has almost no client base. His disrespect towards me, kicking me out of my Grandparent’s house when I was 22 will never be forgotten. My disconnect with him gives me some sort of visceral vendetta (don’t take that too literally, the alliteration just sounds cool), in which I will channel into positive energy for myself. This is what motivates me.
2. This girl who told me to work at Mono Agency, and to pursue a career as a copywriter. This came from me telling her I wanted to go into advertising as a writer. She set that goal for me, which I never saw. She told me that it was one of the best agencies in Minneapolis. She said to me that advertising is tough to break into and to not be scared to do it. Then she left me after three and a half weeks. Regardless, her break up or whatever you want to call it, lead to brunch with an old friend. He said to talk to an agency owner who he connected me with, who told me to go to ad school.
3. My freshmen roommate from college, who started LYM, a big purpose-driven social justice brand. I’m working on a purpose-driven brand right now. The disrespect, racism, and narcissism he had towards me make me want to take my main project a massive success.
4. My girlfriend. I want to give her everything.
5. My Mom. I basically live my life to make her proud of me. Which, seems impossible at times. She didn’t know what a copywriter was until I graduated ad school. I don’t blame her, coming from an immigrant Asian Mother whose goals for you to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, I wouldn’t expect her to know what a copywriting role is. But, nevertheless, she was very supportive during my time in ad school when I needed her support the most. I talked to her on the phone last night, and I told her all about agency life, and she was amazed. I could tell in her voice that she was proud. I mean like a tiny bit, which is amazing for me.
6. There was this guy who was CEO of three agency within the past 40 years in Minneapolis. A well-connected guy in the ad world at a global level, he told me that I wasn’t good enough, yet that is. He says I make stupid mistakes, and I just don’t get it at this point. Just remember not everyone is going to love you on. Look at a bell-shaped curve on a scale because there will be outliers. It’s just this one really motivates me.
7. Myself. I’m doing this for me. I love it, and I always remind myself to enjoy it. To be honest with you, I’m just having fun with it.

I need to channel this to create an unstoppable force. The most important one is the last one.

Tom Brady definitely channels the fact that he was picked 199th overall to motivate him towards success. He said ” I think I’m going to buy a house,” during his rookie year as a fourth-string starter.

Well, I think I’m going to buy a house in Boulder, Colorado. That would be cool.

Here are my goals for the week.

1. Come up with better ideas everyday.
2. Work harder when I get home from work.
3. Get to know more employees and to build stronger relationships.
4. Try to get more work from CDs.
5. Take care of my mental and physical health.
6. ABC. Always be Concepting.
7. Take direction even better from the CDs.
8. Be a great teammate.
9. Listen and learn.
10. Enjoy.

With all of this, here is a freestyle rap to end this journal entry.

Remind me where I know you from? These ideas got me frontin. Hustling. Lovin. Living long love and large. Take this concept and take charge. Channel the fire come back hard. Feed ideas, don’t ever starve. Keep eating, keep reaching. Keep shooting that star. Most important, know who you are.

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

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