I don’t EVER recall experiencing a more unrelenting year. But in the midst of all this chaos, Joe Rogan has thrown me a lifeline. I’m not ashamed to admit it, I’m spending 6-8 hours a day watching his podcasts! He’s become my North Star, my beacon of hope, and inspiration.

So even as the weeks grind on by, I still challenge myself to find an upside.

In my case, I’m on this journey of curiosity with Joe Rogan and I’m LEARNING – tons!

But everyone I’ve spoken to is on their own journey, going through different experiences.

“While we may all be in the same storm, we most certainly are not in the same boat. Everyone’s experience is unique.”

Damian Barr, columnist and author of You Will Be Safe Here

Scan down for this week’s top 7, including what’s booming in the Post-Pandemic Economy.

1. “Listening and Learning” With Joe Rogan

I got to Rogan late but I’m making up for lost time.

• I’ve learned more, while being thoroughly entertained, over the last two weeks from his podcasts than I learned in the last two years.
• His podcasts are brimming with information, guests are at the top of their game and communicate new, exciting information in a completely entertaining way.
• He features many stand-up comedians – and before you roll your eyes and dismiss them as having nothing to teach you – I must interject and say that the best-of-the-best from the stand-up world are the keenest social observers you’ll ever run into, e.g., Dave Chappelle.
• Rogan pioneered the long-form interview format. I normally steer clear of anything lengthy but Rogan has turned me into a convert.
• Most of his podcasts run between 2-4 hours. But the time flies by. It’s like hanging out with the most interesting new friends and your mind is being blown with learning. It’s a totally freewheeling experience. Rogan is one of the best conversationalists I’ve ever encountered – and it’s because he such a great listener. He never interrupts (I have so much to learn from him).
• The podcasts are available in both audio and video format. I prefer video and I am not alone. “Viewers” of his podcasts have grown from 10% of his audience to 50%.
• Standout interviews for me, so far, include Elon Musk (#1470 and 1169), Killer Mike, Kevin Hart (#1480), Mike Tyson (#1227), Michael Osterholm, Andrew Schulz (#1488), and Bill Burr. He’s also interviewed many women but they haven’t been my favorites (yet). I had high hopes for Dr. Rhonda Patrick but it was meh.
• Now that I’ve become a Rogan connoisseur, I realize he has some duds, e.g, I was not a fan of the Edward Snowden interview (long-winded and boring) nor did I finish watching the Tim Pool/Jack Dorsey/ Vijaya Gadde interview – way too belligerent on Tim Pool’s part. It made me cringe.

If you haven’t watched/listened to Rogan before, I’d recommend you start with one of these three: Musk (#1470 – he’s so smart and quirky and his take on COVID data is mindblowing), Andrew Schulz (very keen political observations) or Kevin Hart (inspiring, post-accident). Links below.

2. Download: Citizen App

I first wrote about Citizen app back in 2018. Initially, it was entertaining with humorous stories about aggressive cats or nude people wearing top hats in the subway, but it soon turned into one of our top sources for breaking crime news in NYC.

• Now, during the pandemic, the protests, and the looting, it has become essential for staying safe, e.g., last week there was a major crime spree in my neighborhood with dozens of break-ins at apartments on my block. Citizen’s coverage was way more timely and accurate than anything provided by local TV news.
• Link to the Forbes article here.

3. Read: “Because Internet” by Gretchen McCulloch

• Fascinating to read about the ins-and-outs of our new, more casual written language. I was lured in wanting to find out why I shouldn’t end my texts with a period (it’s a highly aggressive move apparently).
• The book covers the full range of internet linguistics including the origins and role of emojis.
• Understanding these nuances is becoming ever more important as we use our phones more for texting than talking.
• I read it on Blinkist (13 min read!).

4. Drink: Cocktails-To-Go (Big shoutout to Freeman’s NYC)

Cocktails-To-Go has turned into a phenomenal business in NYC.

And I have indulged enthusiastically in this new on/off-premise trend.

• It’s not inexpensive – 4 cocktails-to-go at Freeman’s with a good tip was $80.
• Lots of people have asked if these drinks are good. THEY ARE BETTER THAN GOOD, THEY ARE EXCELLENT!!
• Freeman’s makes an especially killer mezcal margarita, smoky and spicy just as I like it. I cannot wait to get another order this weekend (they are only open Saturday and Sunday).
• I’ve also had excellent negronis from Il Buco Alimentari, Sofia’s on Mulberry, and Dante’s (the latter also makes the best espresso martini in town).
• The difference between pre-made and cocktails-to-go is like night and day. How this will evolve as a business opportunity once bars and restaurants re-open remains to be seen.

5. Get Your Medical Pedicure

• Got my second medical pedicure this week.
• My feet have never been healthier or looked better (even without nail polish). A few months rest from polish does your toenails good.
• And again, a reminder: medical pedicures are only available from a podiatrist and they do not include salon niceties like soaking tubs and foot massages.
• But for those of you, who like me, have arthritis which makes it difficult to take care of your toes, a medical pedicure is a godsend.

I’ve also got a great recommendation if your feet are chapped and rough (as mine were).

• I bought Kerasal on Amazon (it’s around $10) and it worked like a charm. I DID see the results after the first day.

6. Donate: Goodwill Re-opens

But be mindful of what they’ll accept. Don’t use them as your dumping ground for useless stuff you want to purge but can’t bring yourself to toss into the garbage.

In 2019, Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette sent more than 49 million pounds of donations “not fit to sell or recycle” to the landfill, costing the company $3.4 million.

Dale Emanuel, spokesperson for Goodwill Industries

Here are the five categories Goodwill shoppers buy most often:

• Clothing
• Housewares
• Books/media
• Electronics
• Shoes

7. The Post-Pandemic Economy

i) Disaster Recovery: The Boarding Up Boom (Source: Forbes)

• Plywood markets are booming with prices surging by 22%.
• Disaster recovery companies are part of an employment rebound that saw construction, repair, and maintenance jobs jump 10% in May.
• Companies doing repairs are seeing business up by 20% since the riots began.
• Look for glass and window manufacturers to see a boom within the next few months as retail/restaurants re-open.

ii) home improvement has seen a huge spike

Locally in NYC, as well as from what friends have relayed to me from around the country, home improvement projects are booming. Contractors are desperate to hire additional workers.

“If I could work eight days a week, I would. It’s been nonstop since the virus started; it hasn’t stopped a bit. I never slowed down, and I never stopped working. Work keeps coming in, and I keep taking it.”

Brian Nelson, owner of Handyman Brian, Chandler AZ.

iii) Gun and Ammo Sales are Skyrocketing (Source: KUNC Community Radio)

Guns sales began to skyrocket in March, driven by fears of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Americans bought more than 1.7 million firearms in May. That is down from 1.8 million firearms in April, but an 80% year-over-year increase.
• Most of the May sales were handguns, which are generally used for self-defense. The ratio of handguns to long guns was the highest it has ever been, at nearly two to one.
• The FBI says it performed more than 3 million background checks in May, 700,000 more checks than it performed in May 2019.

I even got this email (below). And I must say in response to the break-ins and looting in my neighborhood I seriously considered getting some firearms training at the Westside Range in NYC but they are closed because of the shutdowns.

iv) More people are freelancing

If you’re in freelance mode, this Forge article by Julio Vincent Gambuto is a must-read. I wish I had this info years ago when I started my business. The language you use to describe yourself and what you do sets the tone for how successful you will be.

For example:

• Get used to calling your clients “clients.”
• Call it your “freelance business” – that tells your clients and potential clients that you are a modern executive.
• Learn how to say “no” but at the same time learn how to rework “I can’t.”
• Always recap and be “clear” on all aspects of a project and expected deliverables.
• Get comfortable talking about money. Don’t be afraid to ask about budgets and “payment structures.”

v) Learn to become your own publicist (Source: Forbes)

I anticipate we will see more makers and creators (artists, designers, chefs, performers) going entrepreneurial, selling their own work/services as galleries, retailers, restaurants, and performance spaces fail to re-open.

I will be exploring this shift away from “representation” in more detail over the next few months. In the meantime, check out this article on how to be your own publicist. It’s timely and relevant.

The “Rule of the Three C’s” is a must-read (shoutout to Jillian Straus, the founder of Straus Strategic Communications):

1. Be Concise: Someone should understand what you do in two to three sentences or three main bullet points. Practice it enough that you know it by heart, but that you don’t have to deliver the pitch the same exact way each time. 
2. Captivate: Grab the person’s or audience’s attention by asking a relevant question or sharing a tidbit of a story. You have to assume 100 other people are talking to them. You must get their attention and be memorable. 
3. Connect: Make sure that you are giving them something tangible and connecting the dots to make it relevant to their lives.

And That’s A Wrap

I’m looking forward to the weekend. You’ll catch me biking around town, meeting friends for those delicious mezcal margaritas – and maybe ice cream!

And, finally, a big shout out to Jamie Dwyer and Chris Fairbanks without whose help I would not have been able to so quickly and smoothly make the transition from the Opinionator to ZandlSlant. Muah!

Have a good weekend everyone! Watch some Joe Rogan – it will cheer you up!