Jonathan Davis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jonathan, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think it’s possible that many of us contend quietly with the concept of existence with anonymity. Particularly in the U.S., we occupy a culture that celebrates and rewards recognition. We emphasize beauty, fitness, fortune, fame, excellence (if not perfection), influence, physical prowess, career achievement and so on.
We have Halls of Fame for almost every field of human achievement. We give high-paid and fawned-over film artists their own regal red-carpet ceremony (Oscars). To be attractive, influential, successful, wealthy, recognized and elevated on a professional track is to have approved meaning in this life – right?
Approximately 1 of every 100,000 people will become rich and famous. That leaves most of us living our existence in relative obscurity. Some of us might experience unemployment or financial hardship. We might not ever be promoted beyond a certain level. Others might not have a well-identified passion, interest or hobby. Some might be divorced or involuntarily single. Some might struggle to even roll out of bed.
Which all begs the question: Does my presence here matter, and am I contributing anything? What is my real purpose and worth?
The answer that upholds the question is that life is beautiful, and we all add something to the world and mean something to somebody. We might not have any control of the present and may be uncertain of the future, but we are still here, and we can effect change, no matter how small the increment, simply by being a candlelight in whichever space we find ourselves.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jon Davis, and I am a marketing writer and content strategist. My business/pseudonym is The Eloquent Arrow. As The Eloquent Arrow, I help businesses shoot pointed messages that capture target markets.
I have been operating independently since June 2003. Before then, I was a marketing writer and director for different organizations in Chicago. Along the way, I have seen first-hand the near-total transition from print to digital marketing.
During the first 10 years as The Eloquent Arrow, the bulk of my work was in print, especially direct mail. The last 10 years have increasingly shifted to digital marketing to the point of being exclusive.
Since becoming independent, I have also enjoyed the privilege of working with marketing professionals and agencies across the country. These relationships and opportunities have kept me connected to contemporary marketing as it continues evolving while exposing me to diverse marketing styles and talents.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I believe I may have been who many of us start out to be before expectations arrive: an increasingly self-aware presence that is both struck with awe by the world and trying to make sense of it.
I wanted to create, imagine and play and love and be kind. I was not yet aware of the hardship, pain, disappointment and frustration that can shape people’s lives and how they interact with others. As an adult, I still do my best to maintain and nurture that initial self, which is the true self before it is modified by experience.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Through periods of hardship, failure or loss, I learned that the human spirit when tested by degrees can become increasingly indomitable. The world beyond us may not always support us, but our will and our hope can drive the engine even on low fuel.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Beyond being a marketing writer and strategist by day, I am also a writer/author and a musician. Sitting down before blank paper to write a book or a song with little to no promise of success or return is a notable form of self-commitment. I create because I am, and I have the free will to use and shape it on my own if only to experience the deeper growth and joy of pursuing and completing a goal with patience for the outcome as an end in itself.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace normally in one of two places: in my backyard, which backs up to quiet and unincorporated territory, or near the river close to my house.
In either case, I am often by myself. My mind clears while I watch and listen to life move in continuity in spite of what human beings are striving for within it.
I listen to the soft rustle of tree leaves, or the faint chirps of a bird, or the hazy sounds of distant traffic, or the plop of a fish mouth snapping at the surface of water for food. It reminds me that I am both transient and gifted as a person passing through this planet. I am here to work, survive and fulfill responsibilities, indeed; but I am also here to observe the world and appreciate being alive to see its majesty even in the small things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eloquentarrow.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-davis-3438922/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jonathan-P.-Davis/author/B0CW79WTKM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1762982323&sr=8-2&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=f26ab833-afb6-401b-a69d-3a148879ed6e
https://www.themidnightsunmusic.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/15eIUwKHhblpC23QjLRGrN
Image Credits
Paul Faris (illustrator Stephen King’s America)
Marek Hosek (illustrator Time Found Rising)
Marek Hosek (photography AIM, CONNECT)
Marek Hosek (logo illustrator The Eloquent Arrow, The Midnight Sun)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
