The Brainco Chapter
By Ryan Theissen: Art Director - Job upon graduation - West & Vaughan, Brainco Graduate

Brainco was the chapter of life I never meant to write. It was Plan B. I had succumbed to the understanding that this business was tough and I needed help getting in. Great. More school.

But something changed as I sat there on orientation night with my paper plate dripping pizza on my new pants. The Director, Ed, had just read a list of 30 or so names and he told us to look around the room. Then with the energy of a high school coach who's just been told his team sucks, he spat words of encouragement that seared our body like Mahi Mahi, "You guys are it. You are Brainco. I want you guys to succeed more than anything." He does his Ed “grrr" thing as he clenches his fists, scrunches his face, and displays what looks to be a constipated Lou Ferrigno. You laugh.

“But you guys have to want it even more. You're going to have to work harder than telemarketer without lips. The staying up till 3 AM working on boring products like dog food trying to find that one unique thing that hasn't been said. Joining up with a partner who wants to work on stuff outside of class with the 2 free hours left in your week. Showing up for class after you just got the crap kicked out of you at work. The tension on your relationship. It's gonna be hard as hell. Accept it, take it on, and do the best work of your life."

Ed goes back to the "grr - Lou Ferrigno" thing with his muscles. Realizing that even Hulk has his emotions limited, he throws up his arms and yells, "Big Sky.”

As he stepped off the chair that he had momentarily transformed into his pulpit, I realized I'd just walked face first into the smartest decision of my life. From then on I wasn't going to school. I was on a mission. There was no way I was going fail with a guy like that pushing me along.

Brainco will always be about those pep talks. The love you find in being the underdog. The undiscovered. The new thing nobody knows they should be afraid of. You leave there knowing you've got the secret to it all - You want it more than anyone else.

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