A Speech to remember...

           March 13, 2015 was a memorable day for me that widened my horizon and directed me in a whole new direction. It was the spring semester at USF and I was just attending another one of my classes, basic marketing. However, as soon as I stepped into the big lecture hall, I noticed more students had attended than usual and I see cameramen in the back and others gathered near the stage wearing formal suits.

            Glad I brushed my hair that morning, I took a seat in the auditorium and I pulled a notebook and a pen, just as one of the men took the stage and introduced us to Jordan Zimmerman.

The Name sound familiar?

The Zimmerman school of Advertising! Zimmerman Advertising.

            Jordan Zimmerman graduated from USF in 1980 and went to build an advertising empire. He took us on his exciting and humble journey of growing up in an average home and attending USF, to founding a $4 billion company. Through the success of his agency, Zimmerman Advertising is one of the largest in the world. They make the best commercials we see on TV! A sense of relevation lifted me when he spoke about his achievements. Furthermore, Mr. JZ, as he wishes to be called, donates back to his community and offers USF the leading advertising curriculum in the nation. He thinks the same way I do and I could feel his sincerity when he speaks. His time is extremely valuable and people in his position sleep about 4 hours a day and have huge responsibility so he is funny in a serious way.  

            He is muscular and loud, his energy is boot camp like, and he is so passionate about his company. He walked the stage in a fairly fast paced as he indulged us through their departments and their different approaches to motivation, in offices planted across the country, filled with the most advanced technology and creative opportunities. The best part was when his team played us an incredible presentation that resonates and enriches my imagination. Top notch quality: the coolest videos, and funniest commercials, perfect imagery combined with exciting background music. My world lit up and I was in disbelief: I want to work there!

            Mr. Zimmerman strongly believes in the power of dreams and his insisting tone instills hope and encouragement. I was able to relate to him because deep down I have never been afraid of dreaming as big as he did and I know I would never give up on it. Some will tell you your dreams are too big, JZ wants me to dream even bigger. However, he challenged my view on time and its value. I am an active person but I don’t think I could live under that much pressure with only 4 hours of sleep. Yet I am sure if I am doing what I love, I can sleep when I die.