I fear the nickname dates me—and it’s not even mine.
Even so, I recently shared this anecdote with three different clients to illustrate the importance of Focus (this month’s theme; meditation HERE).
Let me take you back to a simpler time, before The Basketball Diaries, and definitely before Boogie Nights (1997), when Mark Wahlberg wasn’t focused on acting.
Instead, he was busy being the frontman for Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, and, of course, a Calvin Klein underwear model.
Technically, I was on a leave of absence from my MFA program in film.
Before that, I had been the assistant to an acclaimed documentary filmmaker.
Even so, neither of those experiences truly qualified me for the gig a producer friend offered: the down-and-dirty job of production managing some of their music videos.
They were confident, however, that with their discreet whispering in my ear, I could pull it off.
Thus, I found myself suddenly bluffing my way through several intense, two-week gigs, each culminating in 3-minute MTV moments.
While that kind of immersive experience certainly required intense focus, that’s not the point of this story.
Instead, I’m zeroing in on one aspect of choosing your focus: the power of spin.
The concept of “spin” is inherently poetic because it embodies motion, transformation, and perspective in both literal and metaphorical ways.
It can speak of cyclical motion and continuity, evoking the rhythms of life, from the turning of the earth to the changing of the seasons.
Spin can also symbolize stored energy and potential—a metaphor for the inner drive that propels individuals forward in life or the unseen forces shaping the cosmos.
I even ventured down a deeply confusing rabbit hole exploring how the term ‘spin’ is used in quantum mechanics.
Apparently, spin applies to particles, but without any classical or real-world analog.
Whether it’s the scientific concept of particle spin, political “spin,” or the spinning of a ballerina, spin illustrates how truth and meaning shift based on perspective.
In other words, it all comes down to focus.
Speaking of focus…
I really miss my old Virtual Assistant, Rajil.
(And just as a side note, I thank God every day that our Operations Manager, Nellie is still leading the Brooklyn team, running things seamlessly.)
Anyway, although Rajil’s only 21 and still in university in Bangladesh, he’s quickly becoming a TikTok affiliate mogul.
Soon, with the launch of the journal I’m working on, I’ll be hiring him again—not as an assistant, but as a marketing ‘spin doctor.’
What I miss right now, however, is that Rajil and I used to have weekly planning meetings, where we would go through each project, occasionally solving a soupçon of my personal chaos.
While I might ask for his opinion or insights—he was great, for example, at helping me quickly choose two selects from a hundred publicity shots—it was actually talking through everything that proved most helpful.
Spending an hour together gave us time to take stock of where we were and brainstorm where we needed to go.
It allowed us to reconnect with any project’s vision, then define and prioritize our next steps.
That’s why, later in this post, I’d love to offer you a chance to do the same with me.
But first, let’s return to that music video.
The production manager on a music video shoot plays a crucial role in ensuring the project runs smoothly, stays on budget, and sticks to the planned schedule.
Essentially, the job serves as the bridge between the creative and operational sides of production.
Although things had gone swimmingly on our last gig together, my producer friend was appalled after overhearing one of my conversations with a vendor.
Although Marky Mark was still at the zenith of his fame, this video was a collab between himself and a much lesser-known Jamaican rapper he admired named Prince Ital Joe.
What was quickly made clear to me is that in order to get the best deals sometimes it was my duty to sell the project as an obscure little video for an unknown rapper.
Other times, the best deal would come from flaunting Marky Mark’s name and touting the exposure it would bring.
Same video—and same budget—but depending on the audience, I was either marketing it as a major production or as a low-end creative experiment, worthy of deep discounts.
In other words, my job was to decide where to direct the attention.
It was entirely a matter of spin.
When it comes to the power of choosing your focus, you can always count on Bukowski for some hardcore and heartfelt advice.
This poem in particular resonates with me.
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
I appreciate the poem’s defiance, urging us to live authentically and take joy in our own existence.
Most importantly, I’m convinced that there are indeed “ways out” and “a light somewhere.”
I’d love to help you find them.
Yesterday, I decided to create a new offering—a “Black Sunday” special, if you will.
Inspired by what I’m missing with Rajil, I’ve decided to offer a handful of single coaching sessions, accompanied by a briefer follow-up conversation.
Not an ongoing commitment or a pricey package deal.
More of a magical one-night-stand experience than a long-term relationship.
Essentially, it’s a chance to have an empowering conversation to wrap up your 2024 and plan for your best 2025.
(Plus, if you’re feeling woo-woo, we can also draw angel, tarot, and animal spirit cards.)
Since this is a spontaneous experiment, I’ve also decided to offer the sessions on a ‘pay what you will’ basis.”
(There’s a minimum, of course, because, as whimsical as I may be, I still can’t entirely ignore Vlad’s college fund.)
I have a few other memories from production managing that Marky Mark video.
He was incredibly sweet and very specific about his lunch order, requesting broiled chicken and steamed broccoli.
I also recall that, at one point, Prince Ital Joe stormed off set, and I had to retrieve him somewhere in Tribeca—but that’s a whole other story.
In addition, I must add that the wardrobe person let me keep Mark’s unused outfits—all workout gear—which I ended up wearing until they were in tatters.
Most importantly, what I took away from the experience was an understanding of how powerful spin can be.
In fact, it turned out to be not only fundamental to my job description but also an invaluable skill.
Finally, it’s worth noting that spin can be used for good, bad, or neutral purposes.
In the healthiest sense,we can use spin to shape our focus, form our most empowering definitions, turn chaos into creation, and achieve the transformations we want.
Reach out HERE if you’re inspired to work with me to explore a moment of focus before the year ends.
Most importantly, remember that “your life is your life” and that you are indeed quite “marvelous.”
Namaste for Now,
