“I don’t know about you but I’m in it for the glamour.” So quipped my former tv boss when we labeled beta tapes on the front, the top, the spine. I was struck by this on Tuesday when HBO came to film And Just Like That And in my neighborhood. The thing is, it’s never “and just like that.” Anyone who works in a creative field knows that there are countless, invisible, unglamorous steps before delivering the finished product. You need a team of specialists, whether you are filming a tv show or launching a website or planning an event. There’s a rough cut before the final cut. A soft launch before a hard launch. A run-through before the main event. To get it just right, you could be looking at 30 takes. And sometimes you have to do it in 3” heels. Kudos to Kristin Davis and Nicole Ari Parker who walked up and down the block, again and again, "just like that!"
I fell down a rabbit hole…at the New York Botanical Garden! Does this happen to you at work? In life?Sometimes this can be beneficial and lead to serendipity. Other times, it can be a colossal waste of time. My colleague Marty Katz introduced me to the BANK methodology, which can improve your communication and connection with your audience. Your predominant personality is either a B for blueprint, an A for action, an N for nurturer, or a K for knowledge. (It’s quite fascinating if you want to check it out here: bit.ly/bankmeth) Spoiler alert: I am primarily a B, with a secondary N. My approach is methodical, some might even say exhaustive, yet I know when it ceases to be productive, and I stop. What about you? Have you fallen down any rabbit holes recently? Was it a good thing or a bad thing? P.S. The Bronx Botanical Garden made it to the top 10 list of Bronx real estate agents The Aaron & Geoff Team at Compass. So if you're looking for tips about the borough that "isn't burning but is on fire," look no further!
His name is Marty. Not to be confused with my colleague, brand messaging guru Marty Katz. I am told that Marty — the robot that is — has a girlfriend down the block.The jury is still out about whether he is more help than hindrance. On the plus side, he’s very good at calling out spills. “Spill on aisle 5!” I believe he can do this in multiple languages. Pretty sure he can also read labels and therefore assist with inventory. On the negative side, he isn’t very good at noticing if toilet paper has been mistakenly placed on the peanut butter shelves. Plus, he gets in people’s way. (P.S. He’s TALL!) Have you encountered robots during your grocery shopping? And widening the lens, how is AI impacting your business for better or worse? #LaborDay #Robot #AI Stop & Shop
Why it's not a good idea to use jargon or acronyms.
My latest #MirskyMinute
Thank you Julie Alcee for the capture!
#Content #Communications
What do YOU know that the general public does not know? My latest #MirskyMinute P.S. Join me by Zoom Wednesday, July 17th from 7-9am. I'll be part of a panel discussion: Creative Communication to Market Your Business. RSVP: bit.ly/bni1reg
A force of nature has died.
I first met the inimitable Dr. Ruth when I worked at iVillage.com. We were speaking with her about a potential partnership.
Years later, her hairstylist Richard Stein asked me to take her portrait, which I did. She obliged.
Fast forward to a Skyfactor concert, during which she told the band and assembled audience that anyone who could make or listen to music like this would not need a sex therapist. I captured this priceless clip. At her then age of 94, she was the band’s oldest and best groupie. (The connection is that bass player Cliff Rubin served as her assistant many moons ago).
I also attended Becoming Dr. Ruth, Tovah Feldshuh’s incredible one-woman show at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Those are my personal touchpoints.
From a child fleeing the Holocaust to serving as a sniper in the Israeli army (without firing a shot) to becoming America’s sex therapist and then later New York’s Chief Loneliness Officer, she left her mark.
May her memory be a blessing.
You're in business.
But are you "in business" as the expression goes?
My latest #MirskyMinute is about the importance of assets.
Social media gets a bad rap but it certainly came in handy for my college reunion!
People I hadn’t spoken with in years were familiar with my life and I with theirs.
On the downside, it was like having stalkers.
On the upside, it made catching up a lot faster!
Highlights, in order of appearance:
- Glorious weather (not the norm for New Haven)
- Debbie Epstein Henry’s panel on reinvention
- Perspectives on Education panel, including how to teach in a world of AI
- Yale President Peter Salovey’s remarks in magnificent Woolsey Hall (He shared his favorite stat: Eighty-five percent of the graduates of Yale College finish with zero debt)
- Touring Jonathan Edwards College — spruced up beautifully since we attended
- Handsome Dan XIX (incredibly well behaved, patient mascot)
- Singing, waving our white handkerchiefs, and cheering during the alma mater, Bright College Years (“Tradition prescribes that, when singing the last line of ‘Bright College Years,’ Yalies wave white handkerchiefs. Since 1984, each member of the graduating class has received a personal handkerchief from the Yale Alumni Association.”— https://yale2023.yale.edu/class-day/traditions The piece was written by H. S. Durand, Class of 1881 and composed by Carl Wilhelm.
A banner day!
Keep your colleagues close and your competitors closer! My latest #MirskyMinute
Who are your best referral sources? My latest #MirskyMinute #referrals #targeting #targetaudience Christina Shaw: Allstate Insurance Rex Aguirre Premiere Systems Design
How do you help your clients envision the end result of working with you...before you even begin? You can use words to describe it. Sketch a design, show photographs. Share a testimonial. Or you can use VR! Thank you to professional organizer Beth Broyels for spotting Stanford Medicine’s fascinating use case of VR for hoarding disorder! “90 Seconds with Lisa Kim" bit.ly/vrhoarders And thank you to Cliff Rubin for recording today's #MirskyMinute #ContentStrategy #ContentCreation #VR #VirtualReality
Do you know the magic number of minutes to brush your teeth? (Guess in the comments). Thank you to Dr. Nadia Rodriguez of No Limits Dental for conducting an oral hygiene workshop for my client Lutheran Social Services of New York. The children in the Early Life program could not have been any cuter or more engaged. We are so appreciative that you took time out of your busy day to be a role model and educator. Bright smiles all around! #OralHygiene #dentist #nycdentist
