Somewhere behind the warm glow of a Microsoft computer monitor sat an antsy eight-year-old who knew no authority. 

It was 2010.

Bed time was two hours ago. 

“Funniest ads of 2006” lingered in the search bar as his foot tapped anxiously. 

Advertising wasn’t just entertainment to him. 

It was entertainment that he’d risk being grounded for. 

That authority-defiant kid is the reason I write. 

Because I want to write ads that are worth staying up past bedtime for. 

Because I want to write ads that end up in YouTube search histories 

Because I want to write ads that connect with humans rather than just consumers. 

Because that authority-defiant kid is me.