Thanks, C.B, for tagging me on this one.
Here’s the deal, four topics times four things. Simple enough!
4 Jobs I’ve held
1. Shoes salesman â?? Sold shoes at the local mall from grade 9 until I graduated from university. As a part-timer, there were weeks when I made more than some of the guys who were there all week. They’d be stuck in the back stocking shelves and we’d go in during the busy hours to ring up the sales. Nice work if you can tolerate bare feet!
2. Summer camp counsellor â?? Worked at summer camp for quite a few years, mostly with 10 and 11 year old guys. Interesting age! Overall, I went to or worked at summer camp for 13 years â?? and to this day, my closest friends are the ones I went to camp with.
3. Copywriter â?? You know this already (likely). Ten years at traditional agencies in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. I’m here because I was there.
4. New Marketing Coach â?? On my own for about 1.5 years nows, and it’s only getting better as I go along. By far, this has been the most exciting work adventure of my career.
Four Music Artists I’m Listening To Now
1. Dave Matthews Band. Always listening to these guys, especially when spring rolls around.
2. Bruce Springsteen. On a huge Boss kick right now. Magic (his latest album) is an unbelievable piece of work that reminds a lot of his early work.
3. U2. Particularly their last two albums. All time classics to me.
4. Phil Collins from the early 80s. Don’t laugh, just rediscovered Hello I Must Be Going, No Jacket Required and Invisible Touch (Genesis). I call my playlist of these three albums “When Phil was good.” Real Miami Vice soundtrack stuff. I suggest you revisit too.
Four Places I’ve Been To That I Absolutley Loved
I added the “absolutely loved” part:
1. Montevideo, Uruguay: The place I never in a million years thought I’d ever be was heaven on earth. I was there for a shoot a few years back and my off day on the country’s east coast was simply one of the best days I’ve ever experienced. (You know, chidren and wedding day aside.)
2. San Fransisco: My wife and I visited just after we got engaged and I still consider it to be our best trip ever. Didn’t hurt that we caught the Dave Matthews Band live at Pac Bell Park either.
3. Chicago. Spent five days there over Thanksgiving weekend a few years back. Stayed just up from Michigan Ave., starting the same day they put the Christmas lights up. Beautiful.
4. New York, New York. This is still my favourite city to visit. Feel lucky to be going back in a few short weeks for Blogger Social.
Four DVR’s Shows I’d Watch
Confession time. I like to keep real dumb movies on my PVR. Watch ‘em when I’m trying to fall asleep, long after my wife has collapsed.
Right now, I’ve been watching the following a little too much:
1. Talledega Nights
2. The 40 Year Old Virgin
3. Blades of Glory
4. (No fourth, but this spot is reserved for any Judd Apatow or Will Ferrel movie)
Alright, that’s all I’ve got. Who am I going to tag? How about some of the people I’ll be meeting in NYC in a few short weeks. Don’t feel obliged, but I’d love to get to know a little bit more about you: Marshall Sponder Chris Kieff Tara Anderson Joe Kutchera Paul Dunay.
For a little context, read up on these other responses: Ann Handley, Becky Carroll, Peter Kim’s, Tish Grier’s, Maria Palma, Phil Gerbyshak, Toby Bloomberg.
And feel free to pick and choose the questions you answer. Have fun!
March 17th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Mark, beautifully done! I worked in a shoe dept. right out of college. Definitely interesting lessons learned. We can compare notes at the Blogger Social! Thanks for taking part.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Mark,
Thanks for tagging me. I’ll be sure to do the 4×4 this week.
Tanks,
Chris
March 17th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Nice to know a little more about you, Mark. I confess that I am a Will Ferrell fan, too. Laughed like a hyena all the way through “Elf.” My kids tell me that I was the only one in the theater cracking up with quite the same gusto.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:14 am
C.B.: I’m sure there are quite a few stories we can swap about working in the shoe biz. Some very strange things can happen in that department!
Chris: Looking forward to reading your post and meeting you in person.
Ann: Was a little disappointed with Semi-Pro, but his movies have a way of growing on you when you watch ‘em over and over. Have you seen Stranger Than Fiction? Kinda liked that one too.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Mark, thanks for keeping this going; it sure is fun to read! I agree that San Francisco is a great city (although colder than most people expect, being in California…). I was up there a few weeks ago to speak at a conference, and the sun was shining, boats were on the Bay, it was great!
Rock on, Mark!
March 17th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Becky: San Francisco, without a doubt, is the most beautiful city I’ve ever visited. We were there in May, a perfect time of year, and had the pleasure of driving up to wine country as well. It was a day we’ll never forget!
March 17th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Great taste in movies! While I learned a lot about you in this post, I can’t get over the fact that Ann Handley laughs “like a hyena!” I can’t wait to hear that laugh at Blogger Social! :)
March 17th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Think there’s a snort somewhere in Ann’s laugh, Todd? I don’t want to speculate, but it could be true!
March 19th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I can honestly say that this is the first time I’ve been tagged with such a task, Mark! Working on my responses now and should have them posted later today. Thanks for thinking of me and I look forward to meeting you in NYC..
March 19th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Thanks, Tara! Look forward to reading your responses and to meeting you too.