Once upon a time, I made a seemingly irresponsible decision.  While I was in college I realized I enjoyed having fun . . . so I decided to earn my living by having fun.  This idea does not cross a lot of people’s minds, but I’m glad I gave it a chance.  As a result, some days I go to work, and I’m the Pillsbury Doughboy.   Other days, I’ve gone to work as various of the Raid Bugs, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran’s Talking Raisin, and as the silent guy in the Cheer commercials.  I get to be somebody different every day, and I get the opportunity to do outrageous things.  No two days are alike, and all sorts of people pay attention to me and give me awards.  I’ve actually figured out a way to meet movie stars with some regularity as I work with them on films, television shows and plays.  Generally speaking, doing these things is a great deal of fun.

I’ve always enjoyed writing and studied creative writing in college. While I was in school, I stopped watching television because it wasn’t fun.  Instead I decided to try writing to amuse myself and have fun.  After college, I was in The Second City National Touring Company, and I met a whole group of people who like to write comedy material that was funnier than the stuff they saw on television.  We had a lot of fun and spent a lot of time laughing, and again, I got to meet a lot of people who became movie stars.  I learned that it was possible to have a good time going to “work”.

It seems like a miracle, but I learned to make a living by making people laugh and having fun.  That led to the creation of my company, Cerny/American Creative.  Initially I was the only person associated with the company so as a joke I made myself president.   Now, I have a choice if I want to go to work as “The President” or The Pillsbury Doughboy or anyone else for that matter.  It’s fun being whatever you want to be each day.  Once I became a company president, I got to meet other company presidents and hang out with them.  I’m invited into their offices and board rooms, and they hire me to make their speeches or advertising more fun, more creative and more interesting.  I have to say, I’ve gotten into some places and met some people I never thought I would meet.

I guess my life’s work is “make-believe”.  I make things up.  I pretend to be other people.  I write stories.  I know many interesting people, and those who are actors enjoy coming to my studios and pretending to be other people, just like I do.  I have other friends who record or film our antics so we can watch ourselves and laugh and have fun.

In the end, I’m glad I stuck with my irresponsible decision to have fun.  It allows me to live happily ever after . . . every day.