Creative Wannabe?

I’m a wannabe. Bet you’ve never heard that in anywhere close to a positive connotation, but I look on that self-descriptor fondly. I love the advertising business and participating in this dynamic digital world – I’d like to think I have some fresh thoughts about the business, but the day I look in the mirror and see an expert that’s perfectly content and ready to start the marketing and ad world text book, I’m done. That’s why I’ll always be a wannabe.

I wannabe a creative. I’ve never made a secret of this. I’ve known this about myself since I was 10 years old, but here’s the thing: just because my mind works that way doesn’t mean that’s where I can be most effective in the business. I work with the folks who concept, design and execute every day. They’re good. They’re very good. In fact, had I studied design in school as I often wished I had, I would not want to have to compete with them. Rather, let me work with that talent every day and manage the client relationships and experiences about which I’ve become so passionate. Let me stay focused on leadership, trends and become a student of the ad world. Yeah I’m jealous I can’t do what they can do, but I’m thankful I get to work with them and help sustain a business in marketing and advertising that allows them to do it every day.

I wannabe in Colorado. I’m in Houston, Texas, where the weather is literally damaging to the psyche. Want to go get the newspaper in the morning or check your mail? Better be prepared for a giant sweat stain on the small of your back. I love cold and overcast weather. I love coffee shops. I love the mountains. I love fireplaces. I love cold weather clothes. I even love snow dogs. But here I am in Houston, where the weather is a sacrifice, but the culture is strong. We’re not on Madison Avenue, but the artistic culture continues to grow and local clients are coming away from projects inspired. That’s fun.

I wannabe a professional musician. A perfect song (or one I perceive to be perfect) brings me to tears. Music expands my creative capacity far more than silence. When I listen to it, my thoughts and emotions are at the mercy of the next song. When I write it, I’m ultimately vulnerable but thankful for the ability to communicate in that way. When I play it, my mind is cleared of distraction, and that is a beautiful thing. And bringing it back to my business – my passion knows no bounds when it comes to the combination of music (sound design) and visuals to create an aesthetic and even emotional experience. Tell me this familiar spot has power without the perfect musical support. I want to create the music that manipulates our emotions all the time, but instead I zoom out and allow music to be a component of my focus. I’ve never been able to live zoomed in far enough to do this for a living.

I wannabe better. I love learning. Not necessarily in the academic sense (believe me, I’m glad that’s in the rearview mirror), but I would feel irresponsible for not using the free gift of knowledge and content that this new generation of our business provides. I now have free access to the brightest minds in our industry. While this fact describes a new reality to which we have to adapt for the sake of our clients, it also leaves us with zero excuse to not learn something new every day.

Welcome to my blog, Creative Wannabe. I’m thrilled to join the discussion.