That was the name of my grandma's bar on the west side of San Antonio. There, between crushing cans and counting change, I learned that nothing is as important as hard work. Except maybe the Mambo No. 5.

 

I was six years old when I started bartending. First collecting empty cans and bottles from the tables, then practicing suggestive selling techniques to increase revenue and fill the register. Soon I was “The Little Bartender” and before long I realized that every tip in my pocket was a reward for working harder than a first grader is expected to.

 

That hard work went a long way. It wasn’t enough to overcome my scrawny 145 pound frame and take me to the NBA, but it did make me the historian of a 550 person graduation class and get me a full ride to the University of Texas at Austin. Then that same hard work and determination got me into the Texas Creative Portfolio Sequence.

 

Well, that and a shitty barber. It’s a long story.

 

In the Texas Creative Sequence, I learned to stress the details and never be satisfied. I’ve realized that to do anything worthwhile, I have to be willing to push myself further. Not just in advertising, but in every facet of my life. Whether that be basketball, songwriting, or searching for hand me downs in thrift stores.

 

Speaking of thrift stores, here are my two cents:

 

I believe no matter what deadlines may be looming, life is lived in moments. And when these moments come, you’ve got to embrace them fully. Even if that means making a fool of yourself. That’s why I never miss the chance to scream out "A little bit of Monica in my life! A little bit of Erica by my side!"