Emily Taffel-Cohen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Emily, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I try really hard to have a relaxed start to my days. I wake up, kiss my husband, feed the dog, wake the kids when needed, and start the coffee maker. I enjoy a cup of coffee, then a nice long walk with the dog (I know a lot of people enjoy working out in the morning but I prefer the afternoons, so this is my main morning cardio), and then I begin checking my email and messages. I try to avoid screens for the first hour I am awake as a personal boundary I set for myself a few years ago.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My company is Mugsy PR, which opened in December of 2012. We are a public relations and marketing company that specializes in the industries of yachting, film and luxury lifestyle. We mainly do consulting with a strong focus on experiential activations for brands. I am also a public speaker and a children’s book author with one published illustrated book and another on the way.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Truly the people who taught me EVERYTHING about work were Geri Haber & John Quinn, the owners of the first PR firm I ever worked for, Haber & Quinn. I was fresh out of college when I began working there, and they showed me how to run an agency that valued people over profits, while maintaining success. They were my mentors in all things, PR and life.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been so many times when I have almost given up. When clients leave and we have to hustle to bring in new clients so we can meet payroll. I almost gave up this week when about 4-5 different things that were out of our control all went wrong at once. I think almost giving up is part of the process, as long as you realize that once you push past the challenges, you level up, so you just have to keep going. Years later we look back on all of those moments and realize that now we could handle them with ease. On the hard days we all have the thought of walking away from it all, but it’s part of entrepreneurship to strategize, re-organize and keep going.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
I strongly believe that you do not have to wake up at 5am in order to be successful. I work better at night, and so for me, a later morning equals the ability to be awake when I am at my best. I also believe you can actually have a work life balance (though it is more of a work-life flow), and that you don’t have to work 60+ hour weeks every week. I know many entrepreneurs disagree, but I truly believe it and live it.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
My family, my friends, my colleagues, my relationships across the board. I firmly stand behind the belief of people above all else, and if I lost everything else in life, I know they all feel the very same and would be there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mugsypr.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyontheave
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mugsy-pr/
