2020-2024 Dynasty

I was on kind of a heater. It coincided with the rise of Patrick Mahomes. Not unrelated entirely.

This started in 2020. Mark coined that Year of the Fym. It wasn't the first time I had an exceptional year. But it was the start of an incredible run. So I'm going to trying to condense the run I've been on into just the brass tacks. 

2020

Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV

I won first Gold Addy

Leaned into Medium at reached #1

Got a basketball hoop and started playing every day

Starting losing weight

My office moved to Overland Park, cutting my commute in half

We elected a normal President

2021

Got vaccinated

Got promoted to ACD

Lost a ton of weight

Made a healthy cookbook

Got back into my favorite bands + disc golf

Got a new hairstyle

Family trips to Chicago, NYC at Christmas

Luxury cruise to Greek Isles (best solo vacation ever), another work trip to Cancun

2022

The Avs won the Stanley Cup

The Chiefs beat the Bills in 13 seconds

Work trip to NYC where I saw Chris Rock as a surprise guest

I started Letterboxd and got really into movies

Family trip to Portland/Seattle

Vegas Sportsbook Getaway #1 plus a Family trip to Las Vegas

2023

Chiefs Win Super Bowl LVII

Family trip to Hawaii (best family vacation ever)

Another family trip to Boston/Cape Cod

Vegas Sportsbook Getaway #2 (my best sportsbook day)

Work trips to Asheville, Shreveport, and Cleveland

Got a ps5

2024

Chiefs Win Super Bowl LVIII

Got promoted to Creative Director

Felt at peace, having reached all my lifelong goals

Won my first Best In Show Addy

Made two albums of music with AI tools

Vegas Sportsbook Getaway #3

Niraj and I took a trip to San Diego

Family trips to Chicago + LA/Universal

Work trip to Salt Lake City

Family University of Illinois fall football trip

2025 was kind of a rough year overall. Started with some issues at work that it seemed like I overcame, then some personal issues, then ended with a job layoff and the Chiefs having a dud year plus Mahomes ACL injury. It wasn't all bad. We had a nice family vacation to DC/Baltimore for Brit's graduation. I turned into a golf guy, I made more music, I had a great Sportsbook getaway with Niraj. But the year was clearly not a part of the 2020-2024 run. Seems like more than one great year. Seems like a dynasty.

A job layoff is basically the torn ACL of the ad industry. But just like Mahomes, even if it takes a rebuilding year, I'm coming back.