As a senior in high school, I helped lead my team to the school's only state baseball championship.

I dreamed the next stop would be with the St. Louis Cardinals.

I was wrong.

Fortunately, I found another career where I could make a living pitching.

More on that later.

I grew up on the mean streets of Burlington, Iowa.

As the youngest of seven kids, I watched my dad build his electrical contracting business from the ground up. After discovering I wasn't exactly gifted at changing light bulbs, I figured following in his footsteps probably wasn't in the cards.

Besides, I grew up on Madison Avenue.

Sure, it was the Madison Avenue in Burlington, Iowa—but it still felt like a sign that advertising was my destiny.

Growing up, people always asked me, "Where on earth is watching all that TV going to get you?"

As it turns out... pretty damn far.

That childhood obsession eventually led me to create campaigns for some of the world's most recognizable brands—work that has appeared during the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the Grammys, the Oscars, and, yes... even the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Just to be clear—that was my ad, not my abs.

For a kid from a small town in Iowa, it's been an incredible ride.

These days, I'm still chasing the next big idea. In advertising, yesterday's home run only gets you another at-bat.

When I'm not staring at a blank screen waiting for inspiration to show up, you'll find me at home with my wife, Shelli; our daughter, Lexie; our cats, Friday and Eloise; and our rescue pack: Babs, Clementine, Greer, Kippy, and Quentin.

What's next?

The next chapter hasn't been written yet.

Fortunately, that's my favorite part.