David V. Wenzel
"Don't say it's been done a hundred-thousand times, cause this one is mine."
- Josh Ritter
Biography- RobinHood Ink.
- Operation #55 Zebra
- Contact
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Biography
- David V. WenzelI live in Grand Rapids, Michigan with my wife Amy Wenzel and our two black cats, Pegasus and Other Kitty. I had to start using the 'V' in my name more often because of this guy.The first creative moment I remember is choreographing sword fights while watching 1953's Knights of the Round Table. In hindsight, I'm starting to realize moments like this probably had a long term effect on my personality.I am an Eagle Scout but remember next to nothing about the entire experience. I was a lifeguard for three summers at a ritzy-roo country club and never, not once, got a chance to save someone. In 2009 I was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. After co-founding and enjoying 4 years of working with great friends at Dot&Cross, I started a new company focused on creative ideation and content development called RobinHood Ink.I write a personal blog called Jump David Jump and occasionally speak at universities, churches and conferences regarding my experiences as an idea architect, a cancer fighter and a retired sword fight choreographer.Nearly two years ago I switched from coffee to tea and the only times I regret that decision is at Cracker Barrel and my mother-in-law's house.
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RobinHood Ink.
- An Ideation Manifesto
I am an idea architect. I bring ideas into reality and, while I'm alive, the work of my hands will produce good things.
I do this by developing creative ideas and organizing the action steps, or blueprints, needed to bring these ideas into reality. This process of content development, or ideation, is guided by a constantly inspired vision, access to trusted resources and a proven track record for success.
The ideation process is similar to being a museum curator, but, instead of filtering through canvas or marble, I browse through history, old stories, films, music, technology, fashion, design, statistics, memories, smells and music to carefully select the appropriate ‘pieces of art’ to create an entirely new experience. Many say there are no new ideas under the sun. But, by carefully arranging these pieces of art together in fresh, imaginative ways, we can discover together new ways to share your message with your audience. Ideation develops the 1% of breakthrough inspirational ideas that separate your creative project from other similar stories.
You shouldn’t have to 'make do' with your creative ideas. You deserve to fall in love with them. They should become your alarm clock each morning and your excuse to stay an hour later at the office. Creative ideas should breathe into you the energy for one more sales call and they should bubble out of your mouth to the stranger in the aisle seat on your next flight.
The ideas you support are a reflection of who you are, what you believe in and what is worthy of your time. Choose wisely. Let's build a piece of idea architecture worthy of telling your unique story in an entirely new way.
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Operation #55 Zebra
- Then this happened...In June 2009, I attended an 'Expert Conference' in San Francisco to learn how to better promote our Dot&Cross expert partners. On the final evening, June 6th, after explaining to a friend that my time at the conference resulted in me becoming a 'Kung Fu Expert' (long story), we engaged in faux martial arts maneuvers that ended with me bumping my head on a concrete pillar. Immediately after, I experienced aphasia, an inability to complete the sentences being formed in my head. Feeling embarrassed and strange after randomly uttering words such as 'concrete' and 'pillow', I went to bed.The next morning I suffered a tonic-clonic seizure in a room of 400 experts. Luckily, a few of them were expert-doctors who assisted me. My cohort in the previous evening's martial arts activities informed the paramedics that I had hit my head the night before as they rushed me off to Stanford Hospital. After undergoing several CT scans searching for signs of internal bleeding they discovered, not that I had internal bleeding, but a large brain tumor. Apparently the slight blow to the head caused enough swelling to disrupt the tumor which caused the seizure.On June 7th, 2009 I learned that I have cancer. Sitting alone in my bed, I looked down at my patient name-tag to discover the paramedics had given me a 'John Doe' patient tag as I laid unconscious on the ground during my seizure. After learning my name they gave me a new patient tag that included my previous call-sign: FIFTYFIVE ZEBRA.
The tumor is a Grade II Oligoastrocytoma in the fronto-temporal lobe of my left hemisphere. It is 7 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm and takes up around 20-25% of my brain. It encapsulates my Wernicke's Area and Broca's Area which are responsible for the comprehension and creation of speech. Due to the size of the tumor, it was determined inoperable. The Operation 55 Zebra Story begins here and, besides my ultimate faith in a God who has, does and can heal, I don't know where or how it ends.
Jump David Jump is a blog I created several years before I was diagnosed with cancer. It is not a 'cancer blog' but a blog about my life; on getting where I'm going. Or as Josh Ritter says, "Don't say it's been done a hundred-thousand times, cause this one's mine". Yes, this is just another story. It just happens to include me.
To read through the Operation #55Zebra Story chronologically, begin with this blog and click next. This might take a while.
