“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
-Arthur Ashe
Although I'm not the biggest tennis fan, this quote by tennis legend Arthur Ashe sums up my creative philosophy well. As a recovering perfectionist, this quote grounds me in my creative process. It keeps me from being overwhelmed by tasks and paralyzed by the fear of failing. There are certainly bad ideas, but the worst idea is the one that was never written down.
You don’t have to be perfect to start, but you must start somewhere.
What I have.
Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, I graduated from UNC Charlotte in the midst of the pandemic with a degree in philosophy and legal studies. I followed the pre-law-to-copywriter pipeline straight to Miami Ad School and Florida International University in order to pursue a career in advertising. Something about writing ad copy seemed much more exciting than writing legal briefs.
A steady reading habit, an unmanageable book-buying problem, piles of yarn and crochet needles in the corner, a bucket full of do-it-yourself beauty supplies, various animal facts, an college thesis, a list of recipes to try, supplements and powders filling up my cabinet, and a slightly damaged sense of humor (thanks, Tumblr).
Where I started.
What I can do.
I can easily spend hours getting lost in online communities relevant to my target audience, getting inside their heads, and discovering new corners of the world that I didn’t know existed. Knowing the “why” behind an idea is everything.
Although I prefer writing long-form content, I also love the challenge of making a campaign message short and sweet through catchy copy and carefully chosen wording. I believe that every word counts and should be selected with intention.
Collaboration is also a key part of my process, whether it is running several ideas by a friend, or working directly with other creatives. The process of growing a creative concept from scratch into a campaign with a team is one of my favorite feelings.