“Look out your window. That grass ain’t green. It’s kinda yellow. See what I mean?” Inside Out, The Traveling Wilburys
Have you lived in the same place most of your life? That’s the case for me and for plenty other people. There are those who are perfectly content with small-town life, whereas others can’t shake a sense of curiosity and a deep desire to see and live in other parts of the country or the world. Brad Smith belongs to the latter category of people. Originally from Atlanta, Brad has lived and worked in a variety of locations including London, Hong Kong and currently Los Angeles. Effective communication definitely comes into play when living and working abroad.
With each new location he called home, Brad had to comfortably acclimate to the surrounding area. Feeling inspired by stories of his travel and the differing cultures associated with the locations, I sat down to chat with him about his experiences and that tricky “the grass is always greener” syndrome.
I met Brad in 2013 when he rolled his office chair next to mine on my first day as a copywriter at a digital marketing agency. Within days of starting my new job, Brad was challenging me to launch grapes at his mouth and play games as we sat in traffic during our afternoon commute.
When I applied for the position, a part of me had imagined a setting akin to the television show Mad Men. I’d be Peggy Olson among a sea of dudes in sharp suits balancing their time between swigging whiskey and thinking up classic taglines when they weren’t knee-deep in misogyny. Thank God that wasn’t the case. Instead I quickly made a friend in Brad and two other talented ladies who rounded out our copywriting team.
Our team worked well together, incorporating each person’s strengths. I could rely on Brad to give me honest feedback and help me keep things succinct. I tried my best to return the favor. We’d take mental breaks by walking around the block or spending time exploring a comic book shop. My lunch hour often consisted of grabbing food at nearby restaurants and enjoying good conversation with Brad. I had never met anyone who could find entertainment in the most random things. Just for fun, you should look up hiyoooo.com. It’ll change your life.
Inward reflection, self-awareness, an extensive indie music palate, wit and a tinge of angst all combined to create memorable moments with Brad. He made me think deep on topics I had never even considered before. Brad is an eloquent speaker. He’d probably be the last one to identify himself as eloquent, but he’d be the first to give you praise and words of encouragement. Smart, creative, funny and supportive: I’d say Brad is friend goals.