Laura’s Secret Process
During a delightful conversation with Dennis Cali and Rebecca Lamar Cali a few weeks ago, Dennis, chair of the Communication Department at UT-Tyler, introduced me to the meta discipline known as “media ecology.“ In a nutshell, media ecology is the sum of all the media forms and content (books, conversations, internet, television, movies, music, presentations, etc) you consume and are exposed to. Media ecology frames your worldview, the way you process information, think and feel about things and decide what holds value.
[Note: Dennis Cali is about to publish the first college textbook on the topic of media ecology.]
Consider the difference between the way you would tell someone a story about something that happened to you at work compared to the way you write that same experience. Or the difference between hearing someone tell a story versus reading those same words on a page. Or how hyperlinks in articles everywhere is changing how we expect to learn and how we process information. It’s quite far-reaching if you think about it.
The fact that my mom removed the television from our house when I was 12 strongly impacted my media ecology and is certainly partially to blame for my quirky points of view. (Thanks, Mom!) This may seem pretty obvious but it’s worthwhile to step back on occasion to assess your media ecology and determine what fine-tuning may be helpful.
To this end, I am sharing my current list of absolute favorites in terms of media from apps to Netflix movies to books and ezines. I consume a lot of written media and these are not timid recommendations, these are the curations that have slapped me in the face and caused me to rave and rant to friends, family and random strangers in my path.
You have the option of returning to these recommendations, seeing new ones, on the new website page, “Laura’s recommendations.”
apps
Duolingo for reviewing and learning foreign languages, that I learned about from my Middle Child. I don’t know if it would work if you had no previous exposure to a language but it’s a fun and fast way to review another language and expand your vocabulary.
Headspace gives you 10-minute guided meditations throughout the day. Great for changing the conversation inside your head, aka a “gym membership for your mind.”
books (from a confirmed bookworm)
I found this book by Adam Morgan and Mark Barden through a Seth Godin recommendation and it exceeded my expectations. I have read it twice and taken notes both times. This book inspired my program, Conversation Imagination. It’s all about expanding in a real sense, what solutions and opportunities are available to you. It comes from the eatbigfish firm in London that specializes in Challenger Brands.
Antifragile: Things that gain from disorder
I learned about the author of the next book from my son, when he introduced me to The Black Swan, which is all about the economic meltdown of 2008-2009 and has nothing to do with the movie of the same name. This author is the polymath Nassim Nicholas Taleb and he has created a category of things that gain from chaos, and possibly even need uncertainty to survive and flourish. What is antifragile gets better and better is reaction to shocks. Fascinating but not a quick read!
Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work
Disruption is quite the rage now and for good reason. Author Whitney L. Johnson’s remarkable career trajectory includes majoring in piano, time as a secretary to becoming top-ranked securities analyst, then leaving that plum position to become entrepreneurial consultant. She shares multitudes of examples of disrupting your career. If you have a checkered professional past as I do, you’ll see the wonderful advantages of your non-mainstream job experiences.
ezines
eatbigfish has a monthly publication featuring their challenger brand client stories. Two of their principals wrote the aforementioned book, A Beautiful Constraint. Learn about how these cool companies from all over the planet are growing through imaginative communication with their audiences.
@frenchisbeautiful features French audios, thoughts, creativity, places & inspiration plus made in Paris movies with an outstanding visual aesthetic. Its creator, Carrie Anne James, teaches French online as well so you see how clever is her marketing communication.
podcasts
If you want to be more financially savvy with your savings and investments, I recommend Linda P Jones’ Be Wealthy and Smart. She interviews leading wealth advisors and creators and covers all kinds of wealth-building strategies from building a side business, stocks/bond and, real estate.
For interesting interviews with top performers in every field, author of The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss, nails it with The Tim Ferriss Show.
movies
Here are 2 fabulous Netflix recommendations and one from Amazon. Smart and sophisticated: no car chases or extended violence.
The Scapegoat (2012) is based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier. The story is set in England just before the coronation of Elizabeth II and highlights a mistaken identity and a failing family business. Matthew Rhys has the starring role. (Its a remake of a 1959 version. I hear this one is better but I haven’t seen the early one.)
The Best Offer (2013) is an English version of an Italian film (La Migliore Offerta) and takes place in the world of fine art and antiques. The older art specialist, Virgil Oldman is a hired by a solitary young heiress, Claire Ibbetson, to auction off the large collection of art and antiques left to her by her parents. Very strange things happen.
Secondhand Lions (2003) starring Haley Joel Osment, Michael Caine and Robert Duvall is a charming coming-of-age story about a shy, young boy sent by his irresponsible mother to spend the summer with his wealthy, eccentric uncles in Texas. Available at Amazon.
I’d love to know YOUR media recommendations!
