I’ve always been curious about people and places, and that curiosity has taken me to some pretty interesting ones.

After college, I landed an internship at DDB in Chicago, where I worked on yogurt coupon ads and credit card direct mail. And I loved it. I couldn’t believe that something I made was actually showing up in people’s mailboxes and grocery stores, convincing them to buy yogurt or apply for a credit card, whether they needed one or not.

Eventually, I wanted to work on bigger things. I became an art director and started creating TV and print campaigns for brands like Tyson, Rubbermaid, and Discover Card. I won my first award. Then a few more. My partner and I started getting pulled into pitches for Amazon, McDonald’s, and Volkswagen. When the agency won Budweiser and Bud Light, we got the chance to pitch ideas for those brands, too. Some became commercials. Some ran during the Super Bowl. More awards followed.

It was a pretty great ride.

But after 13 years in Chicago, I started wondering what else was out there.

That question has led to a lot of unexpected places. I’ve been a college professor. I’ve run creative departments. I’ve helped build and rethink brands. I’ve worked with some incredibly talented people and met plenty of fascinating characters along the way.

Outside of work, curiosity has gotten me into some other things, too. I’ve run two marathons, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and cycled through the Scottish Highlands.

These days, I’m also the dad of a freshman college son who has more questions than I have answers for. I like that about him. And I hope he never stops asking them.

I suppose I’m still doing the same thing I was doing when I first walked into DDB. Looking around, asking questions, meeting interesting people, making things, and wondering where all of it might lead next.

So far, it’s been a pretty interesting trip.