Posted by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog on Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Joy Mangano's one-two combination of personal authenticity and intuitive ability to invent products consumers will buy turned her into the home shopping queen. If you don't know her name, you may know her products such as the Miracle Mop and Huggable Hangers.
She funnels her trademark energy into a new book “Inventing Joy,” a mix of memoir and inspiring advice for any would-be inventor. She is also going on a whirlwind book tour, hitting 10 cities in six days, including Atlanta November 13 for the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s annual book festival.
I spoke with her recently:
On the 2015 movie "Joy" about her starring Jennifer Lawrence: ""It was spot on. [Director and writer David O. Russell] absorbed everything I told him. He's brilliant. He added his cinematic vision and creativity. And I now do philanthropic work with Jennifer Lawrence. I'll be in Louisville where her hometown is and help her build a children's wing in a hospital. This book gives back. I believe it's time to give back at all levels of life."
Why the book: "I've spent so much time talking about products, I didn't realize until the movie came out that people wanted to know more about me, he story behind the journey. Finally, I realized the best product I could create at this point was my story."
On her new book: "The book is more than the movie. It gives an amazing blueprint. It's really the secrets, the failings, the successes that came my way to where I am today. It's not just for inventors or entrepreneurs. It's for anybody who needs to pull their family together, for somebody coming out of college. Everyone has a touch point, a door into this book."
The one key trait to get her where she is: "When I say courage, I don't mean it in an aggressive way. Just tamp down that fear, that voice that says, you can't do it. Keep taking little steps or big steps forward when you can. Just keep moving forward."
MORE ABOUT MANGAO ON THE MYAJC SITE
BOOK TOUR APPEARANCE
Joy Mangano
7:30 p.m., Monday, November 13
$18 member, $25 community
Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody
About the Author
