About

"Everyone's life is just as exciting as a hollywood movie - just without the boring parts taken out." - Me

I always get annoyed when I hear people say, "oh that's just the movies, that doesn't happen in real life." I honestly believe that everyone's life would make a great movie and be just as exciting as anything that Hollywood could put out. The thing is that movies just appear to be fake or unrealistic because they compress time and take you through a character's life in a short two hour period.

I live my life with the anticipation that the next moment, such as that random meeting with someone at a cafe on a Tuesday afternoon, could be that pivotal scene in my life's movie. The scene where I meet the love of my life or meet someone that forever changes the course of where I'm headed. You often don't know at the time just how significant certain chance meetings or events are in your life until later. I've learned to try to embrace every moment and never take for granted its possible significance in my life's story.

Photo Credit: jonnyphoto

This is a picture of me playing football in college on October 3, 2006 vs. Bowdoin College. I Went to Colby College in Maine (USA).

I played football, hockey and lacrosse while growing up but just stuck with football in college. I show this picture because it not only represents football, which is my favorite sport, it also represents athletics which has always been an integral part of my life. The competition, dedication and sacrifice are just some of the many lessons that have helped shape the person I am today.

Simplicity is one of the guiding principles in my life. I try to live simply in every facet of my life. I think we as humans have the most clarity and peace of mind when our lives are clear of all the material baggage that society throws at us as well as the mental distractions that our "always on" culture provides us. I make a conscious effort everyday to de-accumulate what's not needed in both the physical and mental realm.

Simplicity also affects my outlook on business, marketing and design in a huge way. I can't stand complexity. The best things in this world are always those that are the most simple.

My father, a three-time cancer survivor, had a list of 326 reasons why he wanted to live beside his hospital bed as he fought cancer. Everyday I make it a point to not take anything for granted and appreciate the world around me, especially the little things.

I'm extremely passionate about social media and the way it's affecting business and culture. However, I believe that the phrase "social media" will eventually go away. In the end, I believe that social media technology is merely the evolution of human communication and interaction. Eventually, it won't warrant a special phrase.

Coffee is my one major vice - I consume my fair share on a daily basis. I know that it's bad for you and it completely contradicts my otherwise strict diet and workout routine. However, you just can't beat a great cup of coffee in the morning...and in the late morning...and in the afternoon...and at night. :)

I'm probably a little dependent but I fully accept and enjoy my dependency. However, if I really wanted to kick it I'm sure I could - I'm definitely a mind over matter person. However, I'm sticking with it for now as it's definitely one of those things in life I cherish everyday.

I believe in always making the card.

I don't mean to offend, but I personally don't find walking into a Hallmark store and paying $3.99 for someone else's words and someone else's design to be that heartfelt or personal. Anytime there is an occasion such as a birthday or holiday I always make the effort to design the card myself. I usually do it in InDesign but I sometimes go old school and whip out the crayons and construction paper. :)

I'm very much a 'to each his own' type person and believe everyone should do what makes them most happy in life. For me, I'm very much wired as a goal oriented person. I have lofty goals and expectations for what I want to accomplish in my life and am very much in the early stages of getting to where I want to be. I make a conscious effort to try to sometimes "go with the flow" and live life in a less structured way but I find it difficult to do. It's definitely caused some strain in past relationships as well as in other areas of my life and I'm always working on finding a balance.

Photo Credit: Me, I took this photo in October of 2009 in Arches National Park, Utah.

Music is an extremely important part of my life. My life's memories are closely intertwined with the music that was in my life at the time. Hearing a song that is associated with a particular moment in your life truly has a powerful way of reawakening vivid memories of that moment.

One of my strongest beliefs regarding music is the idea of always purchasing the entire album. I never buy singles. I think the trend of "hit singles" has in many ways reduced the quality of music as a whole. I enjoy the process of listening to an album and appreciating it in its entirety. A lot of my favorite artists are those that I would have never discovered if I only paid attention to the charts.

Photo Credit: Me, I took this photo on February 11, 2005 at an Alter Bridge concert in Boston, MA.

I love film. I especially love those films that inspire you and give you goosebumps. I make it a point everyday to find things that inspire and move me. I often turn to film, such as Vanilla Sky pictured above, for that inspiration.

One of my most defining characteristics is my desire to reach perfection in every facet of my life. I recognize that it's an impossible goal but the point is the pursuit, not the end goal. I do realize that it often inhibits me both personally and professionally but it also has an equal upside. I don't make apologies for it and I wouldn't know how to live any other way.

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday and time of year. Growing up in New Hampshire, I have many fond memories of snow covered Christmas holidays spent with my family and relatives. One the strange things about me is that I love listening to Christmas music year round. I'm a huge fan of the classic Christmas music by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Johnny Mathis.

Photo Credit: Me, I took this photo of our family Christmas tree on December 24, 2006.