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CHAPTER 13
Vlad – Strategic Vision
While standing in line waiting at a business event, I struck up a conversation with Vlad about Alan Watts and spirituality. From here, things have taken on a life of their own. Again, I knew instinctively that his story would be a truly worthwhile addition to this book.
I went to Toronto Metropolitan University — it used to be called Ryerson. I took a course called Global Management. I have expertise in one thing, but I also have interests in everything else. Having that generalist kind of perspec- tive has always been a desire of mine. I want to learn and have a curiosity for a whole bunch of different things as well. While at the school, I studied several other fields. This included management consulting, marketing, accounting, finance and legal. Some of these don’t fit in with my brain. When you’re 19 or 20 years old, you’re not making decisions that are 100% based on being super- rational. You’re moving by the seat of your pants.
There was a kid in one of my classes, and he brought in this book by David Ogilvy. Ogilvy was one of the original old-school advertising Mad Men. The book cover featured him with a glass of whiskey, a cigar, and his feet on the table. I thought to myself, “Damn, that looks exactly the kind of work I want to do.” So, I looked into advertising.
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