About Me — Douglas Pilarski

Know my stuff and know me

Writing

I have done many projects — everything from luxury yachts to septic tanks, from documentaries to blues lyrics. I’ve done interviews with people from all walks of life.

I write features for luxury brands, exotic cars, horology, millionaire travel, lifestyle, tech, food, and workplace issues. Recently, I have been writing high-profile pieces. My client list includes more than 200 of the world’s best-known brands. I do quite a bit of work with PR firms. My publication, Journal Blue, on Medium has over 200 articles, and 100 articles on Newsbreak.com serve as a portfolio. These two outlets could not be more different. Both are working well, so I have no complaints.

I am a former Fortune 500 HR executive and consultant. I worked on assignments in more than 40 countries.

I transitioned from HR Consulting to writing fourteen years ago. I had done so much writing as a consultant that it was an easy shift. After many speeches, reports, training materials, and executive presentations, I became a ghostwriter and never looked back. Today, I am an award-winning writer and journalist.

I read Medium.com for quite some time. I decided to start publishing here in 2020.

Journal Blue

I started a publication. When you get a moment, visit Journal Blue.

RADIO

I wrote, produced, and hosted the “Talent Manager’s Journal” radio show on KLAV1230AM in Las Vegas. Some friends helped me get on the air. They told me not to worry — I would find my radio voice.

It took several shows and rehearsing, but my radio voice suddenly appeared. Sheer terror was replaced with a cool, calm, and collected demeanor. Doing a radio show is one of the best things I have done in my career.

Favorite Books

I have a stack of books I love. My go-to reading is Don Quixote. It's hard to believe people were so funny 500 years ago. I read business and cookbooks, and I love Machiavelli’s The Prince. I identify with his notion that the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. Which, by the way, is an accurate description of what I am typing. I also keep my trusty The Chicago Manual of Style open on a nearby desk. I have a Kindle and usually have five to ten books at a time. I also read a lot of Medium articles.

Travel

I have traveled to 45 US States and lived in seven states. I love road trips and have driven cross-country nine times. I lived in Japan for eight years. I love road trips and driving. This is a picture of my road trip monster.

Project 300

I read an article by Dr. Yildiz of Illumination about ways to increase and sustain readership. I decided to take him up on his suggestion of writing 300-word pieces and posting them whenever I could. I’ve decided to publish 300 articles of 300 words or more. My contact details are at the end of this page, so please share your ideas and feedback.

Where I live

This is my second time living in Las Vegas. Viva! I just moved from Oregon, west of Portland, in October 2022. I found that the native cuisine in Portland consists of donuts, pizza, and coffee. The spectacular Oregon coast is close, and Vancouver is just up the road. Seattle is a three-hour train ride. It rains a lot in Oregon, making life cold and damp. True Oregonians wear t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops regardless of the weather. Ok, it's time for some donuts, a slice of pizza, and a cup of coffee.

There is so much to do in Nevada. You can go horseback riding in the morning and watch a hockey game the same night. Life isn’t only about casinos. There is plenty to see and do, and it is just a matter of getting out there and doing it. Las Vegas is transient, so you meet people from everywhere. That’s not a bad thing. It's just something you notice once you have been here a while. One thing: you have to drive to California to buy a lottery ticket.

Dogs

3 Golden Retrievers: Ranger, Cooper, and Rainbow. Goldens need to trust you and feel safe. Once you establish that — their personality shines. I could not imagine not having them around. They add so much to daily life.

Bread

I bake bread.

I bake a loaf a week at least. Usually, get it started on Saturday and pop it in the oven early Sunday. I started doing this in 2015. I have snapped a photo of every loaf I have baked. If that doesn’t scream INSTAGRAM, I don’t know what does now if I could only think of a name for it! Whaddya think?

Baking is more science than art. I didn’t follow the rules starting, and my results were consistently variable. I measure more now but am still cavalier with the yeast and throw the salt around effortlessly. I currently maintain three levain. You are supposed to name your starters. I have three. Last, last, last chance, Godzilla meets Elvis and Nine Iron.

The Covid-19 panademic was particularly difficult on me. I could not find the bread making supplies I took for granted. Before this mess, it was nothing to grab flour and yeast off the shelf and hit the kitchen. I made special trips all over the place to see if there was one jar left at the back of the shelf. I looked for three months to find a jar of yeast. That sums up my 2021- March to June- no yeast. Dark days, my friend. Dark days, indeed.

I Like To Read Magazines

I always have a magazine tucked away. There is an issue of The New Yorker, Robb Report, Car and Driver, Dupont Registry, Harper’s, HBR, Wired, and Mad Magazine ready to pull out and read. I like seeing other writers do things, so I am on the lookout. I pay particular attention to the words used in the ad copy.

Guitars

I am a classical guitarist by training. I started with the violin and piano when I was a kid. I love to play jazz and blues. I buy and sell guitars and mandolins. So many by now that I have lost count. I have owned all the great ones: Martin, Gibson, Fender, and D’Angelico. I have seller’s remorse when one goes. My advice? Buy and play. Never sell.

I have a lot more to share with you. I am always up to something. Check back here for my latest caper.

If you’d like to connect & tell me your story, make a new friend, or book my services, contact me here: [email protected]. By the way, here is the link to Journal Blue.

Cheers!

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Douglas Pilarski is a writer/journalist living on the West Coast. He covers luxury goods, lifestyle, millionaire travel, exotic cars, CJ-CX, workplace issues, cuisine, horology, and tech. He is a regular contributor to medium.com

Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. www.linkedin.com/in/douglaspilarski

Copyright © 2023 Sawyer TMS AstonBell. All rights reserved.

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