Lise's Ramblings

For several weeks now, I’ve savoured one to two pages daily from Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Hensen Journal . In this book, curator-archivist Karen Falk and Jim Hensen’s eldest daughter Lisa Hensen combine excerpts from the Muppet creator’s journals with photos, sketches, script doodles and biographical notes, spanning 1954 to 1988. What a joy! While most of us know Jim Hensen’s work―ranging from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock through to The Muppet Show and scores of other TV specials and movies―people recognized his talents well before any of those accomplishments. By the time he headed off to the University of Maryland, nobody could overlook Jim Hensen’s creativity. He had illustrated high school publications, designed sets for shows and performed from time to time. As a freshman, he secured his own TV show, Sam & Friends , and started a poster business of his own. He quickly moved on to creating funny commercials for Wilkins Coffee Co. In 1958, the ...

Mentoring ensures individuals acquire new skills by working alongside those who have more experience. For centuries, tradespeople have valued structured mentoring, in the form of apprenticeship. Up-and-coming athletes improve by training hard with mentors or coaches. In labs, researchers take less experienced, but curious individuals under their wing. Doctors work as interns under the watchful eyes of physicians and nurses with years under their collective belts. I can attest that identifying a mentor and fostering a relationship with that person will benefit you in all sorts of ways. How can you spot someone who has the making of a mentor? Seek out those who: ·           encourage growth and learning; ·           show leadership by example, even when they aren’t in formal management roles; ·           share their knowledge at any point...