I'll start by saying that this is a judgment-free zone. Some of the stuff below is illegal, and if you're looking to sue me, then let's plug-in that legal text that says that any resemblance to actual events or actual persons, living or dead (or me) is purely coincidental. Ok?

Then let's continue:

When I was six years old, I stole some of my dad’s branded swag from his job, and sold that in my neighborhood for 25¢ a piece.

That’s how I made my first $5.

He was mad and explained how he could get in trouble, but instead of grounding me, he gave me an Oriental Trading magazine and told me I had a $200 budget.

That’s the first time I had a budget to work with.

I could choose from a world of plastic Made in China wonders, but I ended up some glow in the dark ants, plastic samurai swords and fart-noise-making putty. I sold the shit outta those to my friends.

When I was 8, my sisters discovered my salesman skills, so they took advantage of it. They gave me their fundraising cakes from school to sell for them. I always secretly added an extra $1 markup for profit.

When I was 11, I started delivering newspapers, two years before I legally could. I did it under my next-door neighbor’s name (Thanks Rob!). He didn’t even earn commission for that. That's when I learned that you sometimes have to fake it to make it.

At 14 I started downloading songs from Napster, created playlists, burned CD’s, designed and printed my own album covers, and distributed them in my high school.

That's when I learned that good design goes a long way.

At 16 I got my first legal job. My criminal days were over, and the aisles at K.B. Toys were neatly kept. Bratz dolls were huge, and I knew every detail about them. That’s where the money was at. That's when I learned to take advantage of what's hyped.

At 17, all businesses were getting connected to the world wide web. I learned how to certify LAN cables, and installed them at a Pharmaceutical company.

That's when I learned the importance of staying on top of technology and innovation.

After that, I went to college to study Architecture. Materials were expensive, so I did everything I could for the extra cash – waited tables, installed light bulbs in parking garages, assisted truck drivers delivering industrial machinery, distributed promotional pamphlets and anything I got asked for.

That's when I learned I need to fill my life with challenges.

Of course, I never ended up being an architect (even though I worked for one for a bit).

But now I get to work in many industries at the same time. Auto, consumer packaged goods, fast foods, beer and spirits, tourism, sports drinks, household, banking, government and lottery.

You could say that’s how at 18, I had already worked at nine different industries, and that’s been the inspiration of my work. Learning from all of them, twisting and bending, and sometimes merging them, to give my own approach. And when I get bored of that, I'm crashing through Discord, learning everything needed to be learned about the latest technology (Web3 here I come!), directing an anime series or designing sneakers for my own small brand.