You are in for a super treat this week because we have a great interview by Michael Cohen who is the Mr. Mike of Mr. Mike TV. I just got done watching a few of Mr. Mike’s videos and they are delightfully entertaining. You are going to fall in love with Mr. Mike.Michael Cohen lives in Liverpool, New York with his wife, a son and two daughters. Mr. Mike’s house surely must be full and fun and laughter. I know a few Zibbeters who will likely want to add Mike as one of their dream neighbors.Please enjoy the interview, leave Mr. Mike a comment, and then use the Share Tools so others can read it, too. Please spread the Zibbet Love!
My most treasured thing that I am is a father and a husband. My wife and I have been married for 9 years and we have been blessed with 3 amazing children. Our son is 8 and very, very much into hockey. Our oldest daughter is 4 and wants to be a Rockette when she grows up. Our youngest daughter is 1 ½ and is just the happiest person on the planet. As far as work goes, I think I’ve touched all of the important bases – I’ve worked at a movie theater, McDonalds and Burger King, read tarot cards on a telephone hotline, directing newscasts at a local TV station, ran my own daycare alongside my wife, and worked as a Special Education Teacher, both in a classroom and around the community. Currently, I am working from home, using my knowledge in the field of Early Childhood Special Education to support families and entertain and educate children, both locally as well as through my website.
Right now, being “creative” is it for me. Without that creative edge, people aren’t inclined to stick around and listen to what I have to say, no matter how helpful it might be. It’s funny but, when I think about it, I can’t quite figure our where the entertainer in me end and the teacher begins. I record songs that entertain, videos that encourage some real participation and thinking on the children’s end, designed around age-appropriate themes and concepts, and am also fortunate enough to be able to offer some great “Sensory Support” goodies that can be personalized with favorite colors, characters, you name it! In short, however, I would say that what I do is encourage a love for imagination and learning in kids while providing a safe and supportive environment for parents and families.Parents are 100% my inspiration. In my career as a Special Education Teacher, I have been blessed to have worked alongside some of the most amazing parents as we figured out the best ways for their children to be happy and successful, both at home and at school. I have been welcomed into people’s homes, into their children’s schools, and into their lives, typically with apprehension at first and, as time goes on with such a warm, loving attitude. I have never felt so at home as when I get to talk to the parent of a child with whom I am working, whether it’s about the great or the soon-to-be great. It’s the parents love and devotion for their children that gives me the inspiration to put that love and devotion right back out there for their kids, and any children that want to stop by and visit, to see.
Even before I student taught, I had the opportunity to observe and even work a little in an Inclusion preschool classroom. Without a doubt, that teacher helped to shape the rest of my life. I remember, one day, she told me that her favorite part of her job was figuring out just what made each kid tick, like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. She worked hard to understand each child as an individual before she started coming up with, “what will work.” And the kids loved her for it. On the entertainment side, I’m also a huge fan of The Laurie Berkner Band. If they don’t write the catchiest, but so simple and basic, songs for children, I don’t know who does. Her music was very much in mind when I wrote and recorded my most recent CD, “The Kids, The Animals, And The Troublemakers.” And then, of course, the amazing folks that I subscribe to on YouTube, from budding (and now successful) musicians to comedy troupes, to children’s educators and entertainers, they have certainly inspired me to find my own way of bringing what I have to offer to children through the internet.
My passion is definitely my family. We haven’t had the easiest go of it these past few years but we all work together to love and support one another. I am so proud of my children for their endless love for themselves and each other. If watching my children smile and play with one another from across the room counts as a passion, then there you go.I am so excited to have Zibbet host The Mr. Mike TV Shop. The shop has been very easy to customize, so that it fits with my branding. From a shopper’s standpoint, it seems to be simple to navigate and definitely encourages the completion of sales. Already, I have been able to use Zibbet to converse with a parent placing an order and it has been so incredibly easy and seamless. So far, so good – for sure!I noticed when I was writing the description for one of my products that, while URLs that I put into the description are clickable (a great thing!), html code is not accepted and there is no way to add a hyperlink. I would definitely prefer to be able to mention one of my other products, for example, and have the name of that product be clickable as opposed to having to have the whole ugly URL in the description. Also, being a musician, I would love for Zibbet to offer digital downloads. This way, I can sell both physical copies of my CDs as well as digital ones, rather than referring people to iTunes. 
Also, I definitely have plans to release several eBooks in the relatively near future. It would be great for customers to be able to download those instantly upon purchase as opposed to waiting for an e-mail with a link or an attachment from me.Right now, I’m trying to do a little bit of everything to get my name and my brand “out there.”Of course, there’s local word of mouth. I try to do my teaching and music thing whenever and wherever I can in my own area.
And then there’s the biggie: social media. Slowly but surely, I am figuring out the ins and outs of Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. In addition, my YouTube videos all have links to each other, to my shop, and to my website/blog.
I am definitely very new to Zibbet, so I’m sure that it’s going to take a little bit of time to discover the many things that have been serving to help Zibbet grow over the years. Right now, I would definitely say that people should not be shy – Put all that you’ve got out there. Don’t be embarrassed to really go after it and try to sell what you have to offer. What you have can help people, can make people smile, can keep people warm, can entertain, and on and on. From what I have seen so far, Zibbet also has a wonderfully supportive social community in and of itself. Use it. Use the knowledge that others have and share your own experiences. We’re all in this together and together is how we will be the most successful as well as bring the absolute best that we have to our customers.I would like to be doing exactly what I’m doing now, just more so. My goal is to release 5-7 new videos each week along with 5-7 blog posts, detailing new ideas to help families and children in all sorts of ways. I would like to use my shop to offer parents and children another way to experience the fun, education, and support that I have to offer – be it through weighted vests or blankets, music, preschool videos, books, etc. I love what I do and I look forward to growing and developing that with each passing day, week, and month.Tags: Featured Zibbeters, Mr Mike TV
