Dave Ford Does Earth

Posted by Dave Ford

I am currently sitting in the back of the Bolt Bus listening to “In Rainbows” by Radiohead for the 19,000th time–Bolting my way back to Baltimore to attend my friend Justin Curtis’ wedding tomorrow. Justin and I have known each other since the 1st grade. The wedding is at the Tremont Hotel in downtown Baltimore and will be a swanky good time without a doubt. Since Justin is close friends with my Dad (they probably play 50 rounds of golf a year together), I’ll also get to hang with my parents at the wedding as well which is very cool. My Mom and Dad will own the dance floor–this much I can guarantee.

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Update on my crazy neighbors

I wanted to give a quick update about my crazy hell spawned neighbors. After my face to face encounter two days ago in which I came face to face with misery,  things have become eerily silent next door. It may be as simple as them not being home–but I for one am not ruling out the possibility of foul play. The situation over there is ripe for the potential of domestic violence. Although, I sincerely hope they just moved their 7 hours of daily screaming to the Jersey shore for the weekend.

Burning Man, Money Frogs, and Mad Men

I have decided that with this post I am going to outline three important phenomenon (besides my family and friends) that have contributed to my success in life so far–Burning Man, Money Frogs, and Mad Men. The first thing you might be asking yourself is, “What is your definition of Success”?

Success can be measured in a million different ways but my definition is rather simple. Success for me is following my heart, pursing my dreams, and controlling my own destiny. For the last 3 years since I first started traveling this is exactly what I have been doing– and I have found myself happy, alive, and with more motivation than ever before. There have been many leaps of faith along the way. Building a start up business has been life changing in itself. My business partners and I have all learned how fulfilling and thrilling it can be to take a chance and follow your heart.

Burning Man

Last year, walking through the playa (the desert in Northern Nevada where Burning Man is held every year), Mike Cerrone and I decided to take the leap of faith and start our own business in the online video world. Now, less than 30 days away is the one year anniversary of B.E. I plan to write in detail about the Burn this year. The feeling of aliveness and freedom that we took away from our experience last year has carried us through year one of our business. It was a true awakening for Mike (my business partner and roommate), Dave (my best friend in Los Angeles), and I. This year it is our intention to expand on what we learned, in preparation for B.E rocketing to the next level. We are taking a few more compadres with us this time around, renting an RV, and have joined a camp.

Money Frogs

For the last 5 years or so I have gotten into the ancient Chinese art of Feng Sui. Through this interest I have discovered Money Frogs. These little guys are said to bring good fortune and activate wealth in the household. It all started when I worked in the Radio Biz in DC. I bought a money frog–and soon thereafter started making some serious money. I bought a bunch of frogs for people I worked with back then–and they started feeling the rewards as well. Therefore, it only seemed logical to take this to the next level when we started B.E. In BE headquarters we have 9 of these little guys– and they have been doing a damn good job so far if I say so myself. But its certainly not just about the frogs–its about being open to the possibility of prosperity. It is not about longing or wanting material weath–but a state of being content and open to amazing possibilities. If you think I am crazy–click on this link, buy yourself a frog, and watch what happens.

Mad Men

————————- I love this show and have seen all of seasons 1 and 2 (excited for season three to begin on August 18th). But aside from the sheer excellence of the program. I am so completely inspired by my very good friend Robin Veith who is a writer on the show. Last week she was nominated for her second emmy award for episode 8 of season two (the show got 16 total nominations).

Robin and I met last year and she too hails from the North East side of Baltimore county  (in Episode 1 of season three Don Draper actually travels to Baltimore) and we met through our mutual close friends Jess and Dom. In many ways Robin and I are on very similar paths. We have both taken a series of calculated risks and have put all of our efforts into living the lives of our dreams. Her efforts have taken her to LA in the center of the hottest show of Television–while mine have taken me to New York in the center of an emerging industry–in the middle of a massive shift in the advertising world. Ironically, both of our work centers around the advertising world in NYC–only her world is centered 45 years ago. Her dedication is simply awesome. When they are in production she works harder than anyone I have ever met. And through all of this, her ego is in check. She drives a Honda CRX from the late 1980’s (which to me is simply amazing in itself) and lives in the present as much as anyone I know. On a sidenote, she can also drink me under the table.  It is inspiring to know someone that is a part of something so cool, yet still so down to earth. Robin’s energy and efforts inspire me to keep on keeping on.

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