The 411 on Me
My name is Juan Israel Ortiz. I was born on August 24th on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. I’m starting to get a receding hairline, and my hair has gotten extremely wavy, so I’m considering shaving my head. I’m cruising through my forties, but we’ll let that be our little secret.
I’m a son, a sibling, a friend, a continuous learner, a poverty alleviation advocate, a minimalist, a mindfulness enthusiast, a yogi, and an entrepreneur. I’ve also known what it is like to be at the bottom – being homeless – and work your way up using my knowledge, experience, and passions.
Professionally, I’m a copywriter for direct response companies. The American Writers and Artists Institute – the Harvard of copywriting schools – has verified my copywriting skills, which means I have grasped the concepts behind writing sales-generating copy.
I also have received formal education in Digital Marketing from the University of Illinois, International Marketing from Yonsei University, and Social Marketing from Northwestern University.
My mission is to help you boost your response rates and build long-lasting customer relationships. Please let me know if I can assist you in either of those areas.
On a Personal Note…
I love to write. In fact, I’ve always loved to write.
Writing has always been a form of escape since my high school days. A way to let go of reality and enter a world of peace and tranquility.
I also love to spend time with my family and friends, drinking Starbucks lattes, being alone with my thoughts and meditating in the morning, watching the sun rise and set, workout after work, meeting new people, cooking on a grill, traveling the world, outdoor activities, play chess, and beautiful/natural sights.
I enjoy watching sports on TV. My favorite teams are the LA Dodgers, the Kansas City Chiefs, the LA Lakers, and USC Football. I also like watching TV Shows like Suits, CNBC’s Fast Money, Shark Tank, The Biggest Loser, and Million Dollar Listings.
When it comes to music, I love listening to a distinguished list of artists: Michelle Branch, Charles Bradley, Jewel, the Menahan Street Band, Amaia Montero, The Heavy, Cold War Kids, Izumi Sakai, and The Pretenders. And finally, my favorite movies include Remember the Titans, Silence of the Lambs, Shrek, The Dark Knight, Gladiator, The Wizard of Oz, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Catch Me If You Can, 300, and Toy Story.
One Final Note
I’ve always thrived on the fact that I consider myself (somewhat of) an intellectual and found myself at an early age enjoying the literary works of Henry David Thoreau.
In case you didn’t know, he’s the one who authored an incredible book called Walden, where he uttered words that resonate with so many of us:
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
That’s what this website’s about – me living deliberately. Life is more colorful in black and white, which is why some images are without color. It leaves more to the imagination, which is what I want this website to become.
A place for people to read, write and imagine.