OBSESSION

Humpty Dumpty.

Jack and the Beanstalk.

Greek Mythology.

Alien vs. Predator.

Aston Villa.

Muhammad Ali.

Graphic Design.

My life has been a series of obsessions.

I have grown up being obsessed with something.

It’s a very visible condition of my autism.

From a niche fairytale.

To a whole subject.

My obsessions have evolved, matured.

Until eventually I fell upon my career.

After sealing my first job at AMVBBDO, I just couldn’t switch-off.

My obsession for creative advertising wouldn’t allow it.

I would just become frustrated and miserable.

Instead I decided to practice.

Everyday, in my spare time I would write a book a day.

Before, and after work my train journeys became idea journeys.

Writing strategy, after strategy.

Selecting random brands, setting myself briefs.

I had good books, and bad books.

But that didn’t stop me from challenging myself in my craft.

It kept me sane, and that made people scratch their heads.

“Why would you take up your spare time doing advertising?”

“You could be watching a documentary, reading a book, visiting a gallery.”

The simple answer is love.

I just loved advertising too much.

There was no real point to the ideas I wrote down.

It’s just that I enjoyed writing them.

That concise line, 6-7 words long, housing a benefit/insight.

Cracking briefs with ideas was euphoria to me.

And when it happened, it simply made my day.

It was the tipping point from being happy, to being grumpy.

You could say my obsession was a comfort blanket.

To know about it, to be good at it made me feel good.

It made me vocal, and gave me confidence.

It’s what all these obsessions were, places to get me out of my shell.

Until eventually, I found the one where I could make a living.

Having an obsession is a blessing for people with autism.

I did finish writing a book a day.

After 50 straight days, I wrote down 901 ideas.

CONFESSIONS

Confessions of an Advertising Man.

I always liked that title.

David Ogilvy giving away all his secrets.

Secrets on how to make it big in advertising.

David Ogilvy had no regrets when he published that book.

All he cared about was helping his fellow ad man and woman.

His confessions helped those who wanted to get better at advertising.

And that was more important than keeping hold of his secrets.

His confessions helped students break into the industry.

And it became essential reading in all ad schools.

The book also inspired me.

It’s why I want to open up.

And offer a different perspective of confessions 58 years later.

At a very young age I was diagnosed with autism. 

And due to my uncontrollable outbursts I was judged by the doctors. 

Judged that I won’t be able to get a normal job.

Judged that I won’t be able to live a normal life.

They were right.

I don’t have a normal job.

I don’t live a normal life.

Instead, I use my imagination for a living.

I surround myself with creative individuals.

Everyday, I absorb books, films, art, techniques and people’s behaviour!

A trip to the gallery is a day at work.

And from all that cultural absorption I come up with new exciting ideas.

That’s not bad for someone with autism.

But I want to get rid of that stigma.

And help people better understand autism.

My confessions will be to help those with autism.

Help them to be better understood by the creative industry.

Whether that be advertising or any other creative role.

Giving them a platform to showcase their talents.

Like I was given my opportunity.

Now I embrace my autism.

The good, the bad and the weird.

And I’ll tell you it all with my confessions.

Confessions of an Autistic Man.