Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sally Ekus. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sally , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
“No honey, you can’t go trick or treating this year”
When I was three and a half, I was diagnosed with Leukemia. When my blood counts were so low that my immune system was extra compromised, I couldn’t do even the most every day activities like go to school, let alone trick or treat on Halloween.
So my parents dressed up as different characters and hid behind the various doors of my house so I could trick or treat from the safety of my home.
We had joy. We found optimism.
Fast forward and I am now more than 35 years cancer free. I continue my commitment of finding the positivity in every day. One way that optimism shows up is in the practice of improv comedy.
In 2014 I walked into an improv 101 class with Pam Victor from Happier Valley Comedy. The goal had been to help the nerves that started to show up in my early professional life. Instead of just helping shake some public speaking nerves, I found a complete shift in my relationship to fear and failure. Improv has taught me to welcome the scary stuff in life and meet it with compassion, active listening, and often lots of laughter.
From a very early age I learned that life could be scary and the scary/hard stuff is inevitable. What we do to navigate hard times is up to us.
I chose to find and follow the fun no matter what is happening. I honor the hard because there is something beautiful on the other side of that door.
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?
I am a Senior Literary Agent at JVNLA where I spearhead The Ekus Group, a boutique culinary division specializing in cookbook and lifestyle titles. I represent a wide range of culinary, health, wellness, and lifestyle talent, from first-time cookbook authors to chefs, restaurant owners, professional food writers, bloggers, online creators, and journalists. On the non-culinary side, I represent books about caregiving and parenting, and I am expanding into select other non-fiction genres. From concept to contract, I have helped over 300 authors secure publishing contracts with the top publishers including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and numerous indie publishers. I also host an online community called How to be a Cookbook Author and write a Not So Secret Agent newsletter.
I love cooking and conceptualizing new spicy dishes. I am a dedicated supporter and previous board member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society New England Chapter and currently sit on the board of Happier Valley Comedy. I am also a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Women’s Media Group, The Association of American Literary Agents, and the Cherry Bombe Bombesquad among other organizations.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. I may sound like a broken record but the skills I learned, and continue to strengthen, through improv comedy positively impact every sector of my personal and professional life. And no, you don’t have to be funny or stand on a stage to reap the benefits of the core tenets of improv.
2. Life is like a taco, it can be messy but also really freaking great!
3. Do not hit “reply all”
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Honestly, when I am truly overwhelmed I am not great at tapping into my coping strategies. I try the usual suspects that sometimes work to calm my nervous system like going for a walk or taking a few deep breaths.
If I am really in need of changing things up though, I find the nearest wall. It could be the side of a building, my kitchen door, or inside the bathroom at whatever coffee shop I am in at the time.
I gently press the tips of all my fingers on the wall and lean in. I do ten finger push ups by pressing my fingers 10x in a pulse like motion letting the weight of my body flow with the movement. This gets me out of my previous state of overwhelm or anxiety.
If for some reason that doesn’t work, I go grab a taco.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jvnla.com/the-ekus-group
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyekus/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/howtobeacookbookauthor
- Other: https://notsosecretagent.substack.com/
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