I talk to strangers. I’ve always had a deep desire to connect with people, even in brief moments. Some of my best anecdotes start with “So, I was talking to this stranger at the Joann’s fabric counter…”. I have heard the craziest stories and found the most poignant of inspiration from these encounters.

I believe everyone is waiting to tell a story, any story. We are all just three-year-olds yearning for the opportunity to connect through storytelling. That opportunity is usually a simple question.

I was in medical school before I discovered advertising. I found that, while other students focused on the complexities of the treatments for diseases, I was fascinated by the patient’s perspective of medicine. I conducted research regarding Emergency Room recidivism rates, focusing on patient needs to better tailor treatment plans to the individual.

Now, as a Strategist, I always start with human stories, individual stories. And they usually start with a simple question, the kind of question I might ask a stranger while I’m waiting to get my fabric cut.