Meet Joshua Lurie

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joshua Lurie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Joshua, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Professional and social anxiety are different, but often overlap. In both cases, exposure can help to increase self-esteem. Professionally, the more I worked on my writing, released stories into the wild, and got feedback, the more I managed to refine my approach, improve the quality, and boost my confidence. I started sharing my writing (and photos) online and on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. People responded positively, for the most part. Pretty soon, I didn’t just have to pitch ideas into the void. Editors and companies started seeking me out for assignments and projects, which obviously feels good. I could also read what other people were writing and posting, and could see I had unique perspectives to add to the discourse.

Socially, I was pretty shy going back to elementary school. With class presentations, I would volunteer to go first just to get it out of the way. I had to gird myself for spelling bees, to solve problems on the blackboard, or to read reports for classmates. College was a bit better. Professors forced students to participate in group projects. By senior year, I felt more comfortable. When I moved to L.A., I became a page, leading group tours at Paramount Studios. That really helped to improve my comfort level. For the next seven years, I worked in television, which is such a collaborative medium. After that, my social anxiety started to melt.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve run into people I know recently and they’ll ask, “How’s the writing going?” For almost 20 years, writing has been my primary focus. I’ve produced large culinary events, led culinary tours, and taken photos for major companies, but writing is my home base. I’ve written for publications like The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Hollywood Reporter plus websites like Thrillist and Eater. I also wrote “History is Delicious,” a kid-friendly, illustrated book that celebrates the world’s culinary cultures. Since 2023, I’ve avoided piecemeal writing assignments. Instead, I’ve become a more holistic content strategist. I now help companies develop a communication plan and work with them to rewrite their website, launch newsletters and blogs, and amplify their messages on social media. One part of my approach is to keep messaging in founders’ voices, since they’re the brand.

I’ve primarily worked with businesses in the culinary ecosystem, but also helped a hospital with their social media messaging. I can help businesses communicate effectively, no matter their focus.

Since I’ve built relationships with so many different restaurant operators over the past 20 years, I’ve also agreed to introduce companies to restaurants that could benefit from their services. I deeply appreciate the people who run restaurants, bakeries, coffee bars and related businesses. I also know the margins are razor-thin, so I only work as a liaison for companies that truly add value to restaurants with their services. Never companies that take advantage of restaurants.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three skills and realizations have proven particularly valuable on my career journey:

Communication:
Developing my writing and communication skills has been the biggest key. Being able to deliver a message in a clear, concise, and convincing way is the most important part of my work. That’s true whether I’m writing a story or pitching a business on a client’s services that can help their cause.

Research:
When I was working as a writers’ assistant on the TV shows “JAG” and “NCIS,” I’d get questions on every aspect of the U.S. military, legal system, law enforcement, and medical examination. I’d regularly speak with technical advisors, often retired Naval or Marine Corps officers, lawyers, or the L.A. County Coroner. By the time I identified an expert on the Russian court system who could help with a pivotal storyline, I was sure there wasn’t a research puzzle I couldn’t solve. Research has proven invaluable in my writing, knowing who and which questions to ask. This skill has also helped me in sales, enabling me to connect the dots and find key decision makers.

Knowing What I Don’t Know:
I remember filming a process video with a chef in 2010. He demonstrated how he makes Mornay sauce. When it became clear I didn’t know what was in Mornay, he questioned why I was covering food for major publications. If I didn’t know the basics about French mother sauces, what gives me the authority? My takeaway: he knew all about Mornay, Béchamel and Hollandaise. Just give him the platform and amplify his voice as the expert. As a writer, I don’t need to know everything, but I should be able to find who knows things.

I definitely have opinions, and celebrate what I like, but don’t impose my views. Compared to most people, I know a lot about food, but am not an “expert.” Beware of people who proclaim expertise. Especially on a topic as vast as food. Think of all the different cultures, cuisines and traditions in the world. There’s always so much more to learn.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’d like to work with more business operators who are looking to improve messaging to clients or potential prospects, but don’t have the time to do it themselves. Do you have an About page that a long-gone assistant wrote in 2012 that doesn’t reflect your current focus or offerings? Do you need a newsletter to go out every month that lets subscribers know what you’re working on and how you can help them? Do you have a blog that gives people practical advice, that will improve their lives, based on your experiences? I can help craft and deliver those messages.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foodgps.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/foodgps
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-lurie