BOLD Truth #10

God is in the details of our lives — even in our professional lives — if we allow Him. Let me explain.

I retired this year after a 44-year career in advertising. It’s a profession I have thoroughly enjoyed (95% of the time). I’m immensely grateful for it. But I didn’t find this career easily. While attending BYU, I plodded through three different majors before finding my way to advertising. In the process I agonized over what I could do well for a living, and what would suit my talents (such as I had). I prayed like crazy, as well. And then agonized some more.

One day, while contemplating that topic as I strolled through BYU’s campus, a very clear voice in my mind suddenly told me to visit the administration building to my left and I would find answers. The instruction was jolting in its clarity. And it was like Heaven was thumping me on the noggin. In reality, it turned out to be an answer to prayer.

I walked in the admin building, immediately noticed the sign pointing to the vocational counseling center, and headed in for assistance and testing. A week or so later, the results of my tests were available. The counselor, after reviewing the test results with me, summarized them by saying something to the effect of: “You would be best suited to be a funeral director, or to go into advertising.” There was no funeral direction major at BYU, so that made the decision easy. I thoroughly enjoyed my first advertising class — it was the perfect combination of design, writing, creativity and communication strategy, all of which I enjoyed.

Since then I have been blessed to professionally interact with countless good people — agency associates, vendors and clients. I have many fond memories of this very satisfying profession. And, thankfully, I was blessed with enough success to sufficiently support a wife and five kids. Bottom line, I’m particularly grateful for God being in the details of my life. #GiveThanks

BOLD Truth #9

I’ve always believed that one ad, creatively constructed, can do the work of many ads. It will stand out. It will be remembered better. It will encourage engagement at a greater level. It will sell more effectively. Therefore, it will require the expenditure of fewer media dollars. In short, it will be a marketing superhero.

BOLD Truth #8

“Pessimism never won any battle.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower

BOLD Truth #7

God is first and foremost a Creator. Worlds, people, plants, animals, dinosaurs. He is the ultimate Creative Director, and I assume He takes great joy in creating — as we should. I can only dream of would it be like to be assigned to His creative department. Can you imagine the Creative Brief you’d get. “Today we need 14 new varieties of flowers, a six-legged mixture of a dog and cat, and green sky. Oh, and there are no budget parameters. Your deadline is eternity. Ready, go.” Now that would truly be Heaven.

BOLD Truth #6

In my youth, my dad would frequently remind me, "David, it is better to be trusted than loved.  I will always love you, but trust must be earned.  And once earned, nothing is more valued."

Longstanding relationships, whether between clients and agencies, fathers and sons or between other individuals are the result of trust, assisted by a side-helping of communication and understanding.  But trust is critical above all.