HUSTLE FILE #23: Esther D. Kustanowitz

NAME: Esther D. Kustanowitz (@estherk on Twitter)

OCCUPATION: Freelance writer, editor, blogger, commentator, essayist, pundit, social media advisor and creative consultant (http://MyUrbanKvetch.com, http://JDatersAnonymous.com and others).

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA (and occasionally NYC and Jerusalem)

WHAT’S YOUR HUSTLE: Writing, communicating, forming relationships, and training other people in social media so that they can do the same. I also provide commentary on popular culture, Jewish culture and dating & relationships. I’ve been called “the Jewish Carrie Bradshaw” and then “the Jewish Diablo Cody” – a definite upgrade, since it marks my transition from fictional character to real person (even though it’s a real person with a pseudonym). To sum up, “have keyboard, will blog.”

WHAT DOES YOUR HUSTLE MEAN TO YOU: For me, writing creates opportunities to engage with people on matters about which they are passionate, and opens a dialogue: while often, dialogue includes opposing opinions, encouragingly often, people are able to approach each other from positions of mutual respect, and build a conversation that enriches both “sides.” Communications and relationship-building are investments in others, in human capital with the endless potential for personal and professional return on that investment. And popular culture can provide rich commentary on contemporary life and serve as a safe space in which to examine the roles of cultural and religious influences on creating personal identity.

IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE THREE TOOLS FOR YOUR HUSTLE, WHAT WOULD THEY BE: my computer (kind of necessary), an endless supply of coffee and tea, and a cute, funny, smart personal trainer/intern/accountant man-servant to do my bidding. (Of those tools, I already have two out of three.) 

NAME: Esther D. Kustanowitz (@estherk on Twitter)

OCCUPATION: Freelance writer, editor, blogger, commentator, essayist, pundit, social media advisor and creative consultant (http://MyUrbanKvetch.com, http://JDatersAnonymous.com and others).

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA (and occasionally NYC and Jerusalem)

WHAT’S YOUR HUSTLE: Writing, communicating, forming relationships, and training other people in social media so that they can do the same. I also provide commentary on popular culture, Jewish culture and dating & relationships. I’ve been called “the Jewish Carrie Bradshaw” and then “the Jewish Diablo Cody” – a definite upgrade, since it marks my transition from fictional character to real person (even though it’s a real person with a pseudonym). To sum up, “have keyboard, will blog.”

WHAT DOES YOUR HUSTLE MEAN TO YOU: For me, writing creates opportunities to engage with people on matters about which they are passionate, and opens a dialogue: while often, dialogue includes opposing opinions, encouragingly often, people are able to approach each other from positions of mutual respect, and build a conversation that enriches both “sides.” Communications and relationship-building are investments in others, in human capital with the endless potential for personal and professional return on that investment. And popular culture can provide rich commentary on contemporary life and serve as a safe space in which to examine the roles of cultural and religious influences on creating personal identity.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ONLY THREE TOOLS FOR YOUR HUSTLE, WHAT WOULD THEY BE: my computer (kind of necessary), an endless supply of coffee and tea, and a cute, funny, smart personal trainer/intern/accountant/man-servant to do my bidding. (Of these tools, I already have two out of three.)

@estherk, http://MyUrbanKvetch.com, http://JDatersAnonymous.com