Funny how the Universe works; how it to strives to point us in surprising and unexpected directions toward our greater good.
In 2004, I was stranded, in a way, in Tulsa. I had taken a leap of faith in 2001. Yes, sir, I was going to start an independent newspaper! And then, 9/11 happened. The newspaper struggled, and I was doing a lot of writing for it myself. It was becoming a grind. I told the Universe I wanted out. And the Universe was listening.
At the same time, Roy H. Williams, New York Times best-selling author of the Wizard of Ads trilogy of books about marketing, needed a new writer for his shop on the outskirts of Austin. He had put a classified ad deep, deep, deep inside his weekly Monday Morning Memo. Part of the test for applying was to see if you could even find it.
I found it.
So did thousands of other applicants, all snapping at the opportunity to work as Message Developer for the Wizard. What those other applicants didn’t understand was that the Universe was conspiring for me to get the coveted job.
Part of my portfolio was some writing I had written for the Tulsa Independent, and because Roy and his wife Pennie were from nearby Broken Arrow, my work stood out. I like to imagine there was this golden glow about it with angelic choirs singing. (I can dream, can’t I?) In any case, I got the gig.
My introduction to the job, however, was not what I had expected. Here I was, inside the freakin’ Wizard’s castle surrounded by an astounding collection of antiques, countless paintings and photographs, columns of books on every imaginable topic perched on leather chairs, and cases of wine sent from exotic places. Anxious to sit at the feet of the master and drink in all he knew, instead, I barely met with Roy for five minutes. (Roy hates small talk almost as much as he dislikes people fawning over him.) He handed me three books …the Wizard of Ads Trilogy by Roy H. Williams.
“It’s all in here,” he said, loading my arms with them and turning me back around toward the other side of his office door. “Questions about writing, talk to Tom Walters. Questions about how the office runs, ask Corinne Taylor.”
And that, my friends, was that. He handed me the equivalent of a life preserver and shoved me off the diving board into the deep end of the swimming pool. I could choose to float or sink. I floated, then swam, then three amazing years later, at Roy’s invitation, “ad-ventured” out on my own as a Wizard of Ads Partner with my own clients, a separate office, and soon my own staff.
Perhaps someday in the not-too-distant future, some wide-eyed, eager new hire will be in my office. I’ll load him up with Roy’s trilogy, of course, but add the book you’re reading now.
“It’s all in here,” I’ll tell him or her, adding, “If you have any questions, my door is always open.”
(Hey, I’m a wizard, not a hermit!)