Swirling, Wildness, and Wine
If I had a podcast, it would be called “Swirling, Wildness, and Wine.” But, well, I already have one — with a whopping 234 fans — and now I’m way too emotionally invested to let it go. So, this new podcast idea? Yeah, it’s going on the “maybe someday, probably never” list.
And no, I didn’t come up with this name just to be a cheeky rip-off of Prof. Tombrakos’s podcast. It’s actually the perfect snapshot of my 24-year-old soul — super wobbly and kinda wild. Before NYU, my life was a constant tug-of-war between meditative zen and absolute chaos. During the chaotic bits, I’d light up some Tibetan incense — (or a discounted “white flowers” candle from Natural Home — pour myself a glass of week-old, borderline-off red wine, and start writing. Of course, post-meditation writing sessions are possible too… but those usually result in a solid word count of zero.
(This podcast is currently primarily in Chinese, but I hope in the future we can invite friends from different regions to join in and record together.)
Swirling could also describe my present state, where life still manages to surprise, excite, and disappoint me in the most unexpected ways. It’s like scrolling through Instagram or opening a newsletter, stumbling upon a gorgeous clothing brand, and eagerly subscribing with my email, only to realize the brand is made in China. Suddenly, I feel this strange sense of connection — “Oh, we come from the same place!” — followed by a letdown because, well, shipping times are forever. That’s the kind of subtle disappointment I mean.
Or take this for example: you’ve just landed in New York, ready to embrace NYU life. At a career center event, a well-meaning alum enthusiastically recommends NYU Shanghai’s exchange program (FYI, Shanghai is in China). You nod along, but inside you’re thinking, “Did I really pay this much tuition just to end up back where I spent 20 years of my life?” The absurdity hits hard.
And then, there’s the emotional rollercoaster: It’s my first day at NYU, and right after my very first class, who do I bump into? My ex, the one who shattered my heart into tiny glass shards six years ago. Now that’s the kind of juicy gossip that’ll make you want to stick around for more, right? Just kidding. Or am I? Anyway, this might just be the perfect way to explain what “Wavering” really means.
Wildness — my friends love to call me “Li Zhang Fei.” Zhang Fei, for those unfamiliar, is a legendary character from the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He’s bold, fearless, and, well, there’s this tiny detail I’d rather not mention… let’s just say he could be a bit, um, careless at times. But to me, “wildness” means something more pure and straightforward — kind of like saying what’s on your mind without overthinking it.
I’ve always liked writing, as long as it’s not under some crushing external pressure (like, say, drowning in assignments). Maybe it’s because I used to work in film, where I dabbled in both narrative storytelling and documentary filmmaking for clients. So yeah, I guess stories are kinda my thing.
Before diving into this blog, I reread Prof. Tombrakos’s blog just to make sure my writing doesn’t completely go off the rails. There was one line that really stuck with me: “The truth is — joy fuels your soul. It energizes. Doom and gloom deplete it.” I completely agree! (Well, mostly. I’m not 100% sold on the whole idea.) But yeah, writing brings me joy, and when I’m happy, I write more. It’s a nice cycle.
And honestly, I see writing, especially blogs, as a form of what people call ‘Dopamine Dressing’. You know, like when people use clothes to lift their mood? I feel the same way about writing. Crafting a good blog and expressing our viewpoints is like picking out the perfect outfit — it’s all about using it as a tool to make ourselves feel better, to shake off some negative vibes, and improve our well-being.
In my blog, I plan to draw from my most straightforward personal experiences to feel, describe, and analyze various fields and truly grasp how marketing works in all its weird and wonderful forms. I mean, let’s be honest — if we, as marketers, can’t tap into what consumers are feeling, how on earth can we expect them to hand over their hard-earned cash for our stories and products? We’re all human, after all, and our experiences span pretty much every industry out there.
So, in the next 11 blog posts, I’m diving into a range of industries — from retail to tech, entertainment to healthcare — to break down the marketing tactics that have left the biggest marks on me. My hope is that you (yes, you, dear reader) will come along for the ride, and maybe even discover a few insights of your own along the way.
I’m aiming for that sweet spot where marketing theory meets real-life experience — where every case study feels less like homework and more like something you can relate to. So, get ready! Let’s see what we can uncover about the way marketing works (or doesn’t!) in the world around us.
