We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Robert Mannino a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Robert, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience is clearly from my mother; with a last name that translates from Italian to English, where it means “Warrior,” her family name fits like a fine Italian leather glove! Mother took no prisoners and suffered no fools. She spoke her mind, and her face echoed her feelings on the matter at hand.
While she was certainly a taskmaster, she also impressed me with her ability to engage in anything she involved herself with. She instilled in me, from an early age, what she felt was important and what to let go of. She would tell me she wouldn’t waste one gray brain cell on something she couldn’t control or do anything about, thus saving her mind and energy for situations where she could figure out a new inventive way to look at the issue. She had a great, precise mind, I respected that.
From her early days coming to the USA and being made fun of for not understanding a word of English, but nonetheless being placed in a classroom with all American students her age, she was laughed at and ridiculed by her classmates. She took from that humiliation and converted it to the ability to make people laugh with her not at her! She acted out clowning for her audience, making friends out of her former bullies! In fact, she had friendships that lasted over 70 years! She surely knew how to make and keep friends.
Mother taught me to give back what you get, to watch more what people do, than what they say. She was always ready to meet anyone. As a child, watching her get ready for her day, she’d tell me, “Always look your best…you never know who you will meet during the day!” I’ve always remembered that. Her strength of character and her focus on weeding out those who were in your corner from those who only seemed to be, has worked well for me. Go with your gut! There’s a reason for it; we might not know now, though in the future it might reveal itself to us.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Since a small boy, I’ve been creating, and to this day, I feel most alive when crafting something. My father was in window display, so I had a fantasy-filled childhood surrounded by display props and mechanical Christmas figures that came alive as you walked on a rubber mat nearby—a magical experience that left an awe-inspiring impact on a child. One I’d never trade for any other!
With my mother’s expertise in various handcrafts and my Aunt running a factory making clothes for Oscar de la Renta, it wasn’t a big leap to find success in the fashion industry. I had the privilege of working with top models like Naomi, Linda, Claudia, Christine, Niki, and more.. as my work was featured in renowned magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Cosmo, Sports Illustrated, and The New York Times, among others.
As my social life in NYC crumbled due to the devastating impact of AIDS, losing 35 friends to its deadly grip, I found solace in the quiet natural serenity of Bucks County, where I had a country place. The trauma left me emotionally crushed, causing my departure from the Fashion scene and preventing a return to the beloved hometown of NYC for another eight years!
After emerging from a deep depression, at the suggestion of a friend, I transitioned into a NY Realtor selling high-end houses, luckily some of them with architectural or historical merit were matched with caring new owners. Then venturing into interior design, I was fortunate to earn two interior design awards. This path led me to a Christmas Charity design event, where I decorated the exterior of an old Victorian building and had the chance to meet the famous interior designer Mario Buatta who decorated the Christmas tree. Through my mother’s introduction I was seated near him. She then informed me that he was my cousin! Pleased with the possible connection I never questioned how, I merely felt blessed enough to have the association!
Throughout my teenage to adult life, I collected cars, owning around 115 collector cars (from the age of 13 until now) My Dad was a big car lover and taught me about quality, style, colors, and gadgetry of the latest offerings from Detroit —a way to hold onto the love and teachings of my Dad, who passed away during Christmas when I was very young. The old cars keep his memory alive in my heart as it was our father son bond in life.
Currently, I’m selectively engaged in house redesign/interiors, balancing it with my writing of the honest revealing movie “Display”. This project has gratefully garnered a favorable buzz from those who’ve read it. This creative opportunity fills much of my time with my recollections, rewrites, visualizing, and editing.
I’ve always believed I had compelling stories and characters that are worthy of sharing with the public. Yes, it’s a memoir.. but is it a movie, an episodic TV film, or a play? Whatever it needs to be, I felt compelled to tell it. Surviving all life’s bumps, I believe, is for this very purpose—to touch hearts, open minds, and share relatable true-to-life character-driven stories of my past with everyone.
As an Italian, who’s extremely tired of the stereotypical portrayal of Italians as mostly crime-involved, uneducated, tasteless, unsophisticated mob members, I wanted to present a different narrative. My story is not all sweetness and light.. don’t get me wrong; it contains some rather shocking, raw, and disturbing elements, making it basically unsuitable for young children. It’s a riveting, real, relatable tale—an honest view of Italian mid-century family life behind the scenes. My hope is that it inspires and resonates with viewers on a few levels. You haven’t heard the last of me! That is my thinking..maybe now, behind the pleasingly decorative images of “Display,” you’ll discover a much deeper, the unfolding unexpected story that surely will resonate to a boarder audience.
Next question If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I remember seeing the movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” I enjoyed the creativity of it at the time, but one musical line stuck in my head—it echoes in my mind to this day. “Don’t dream it, be it!” It’s a very worthy mantra! WORK for it! Focus your intent, all steps must lead towards your goals. That’s an important one to follow for sure. Another that comes to mind is: Do not let anyone diminish you, or your goals! Believe in yourself and your value. Sure, you may still need some work and fine-tuning on your project, but your feelings are yours and they can’t be taken away.. or allowed to be lessened by detractors. Authenticity is a fine trait few really have or choose to reveal, be yourself.. so own it. Go with what it tells you! You show people how to treat you, and moreover what you think of yourself! Keep your eyes up and your mind busy and focused on that core goal!
Being able to see talent and skills will always benefit you. Do you really want advice from those who you don’t feel have” it”? True, there will be times you’ll meet someone in a totally unrelated field who can see what you’re too close to see by yourself. Be open to it the new ideas or visions, for that’s a worthy talent too. Knowing talent, is a key talent!
Next segment One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
In the realms of fashion or interiors, having a highly creative and talented crew to collaborate with is absolutely essential. Brainstorming is vital! What may seem roadblocks to you, others can find their way around with ease. A remark or another point of view can ignite the collective creative flow, and it’s pure magic! No egos, no judgments; let the thinking flow freely. The results will surpass your sole core idea, simply by being visited with other creative eyes, minds, and concepts, thus vastly improving your overall original protect.
That being said, I would love someone with a very skilled true storyline editing vision. Someone that can cherry-pick scenes for the highest level of storytelling impact! Certainly, I need a great director who can bring feelings and emotions to life on the screen, someone with the vision to see this movie in its entirety as I do! Some scenes would indicate a skilled visionary. Surely, producers, investors, actors and related talents—especially those from the Italian and/or LGBTQ community who can identify first hand with this subject matter and struggles—that might indeed be an added plus!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Robert_from_NY, ManninoDesigns
- Facebook: Robert Mannino
- Other: Google reviews Robert_from_NY
