Gosh, kids really help you stay true to lessons you try to teach them.

As I'm advising my high school senior on her college essays, I'm practicing what I preach: Be bold, brave and tell a story.

I'm using my own advice as I'm working on a new resume. It's breaking all traditional rules - as for a few months they haven't helped get me calls for new work.

I thought about this new approach as a fun way to show that creative leadership comes from collective years of experiences, not just the last 10 years of working, which is the advice I've received from recruiters and HR professionals. I reject that early lessons learned aren't just as valuable.

I judge a company by its logo.

According to techreport.com, "75% of customers say the brand’s logo is the most identifiable company identifier."

I could see it as an opportunity to make it better, but what it really tells me is they didn't invest or invest wisely in the power of being a brand-led company.

Thank you to

Jacob Cass 🦩

I was working this out visually today. I think project management skills are often overlooked unless specifically pointed out. Here is a timeline of many projects I worked on over the last 17 months.

Interactive version here.

77% of consumers prefer to purchase from a brand they recognize.

In today's crowded marketplace, a strong brand story is more essential than ever. It's the emotional connection that differentiates your business and resonates with your target audience. Building a brand with personality and a story will help your audience remember not just what you are selling but who you are.

Working with a boutique branding agency can help you:

Why is Clear, to verify identities, on LinkedIn forcing its members to either be verified with their legal name or lose the benefits that come with verification?

According to LinkedIn being verified:

Enhanced Trust and Credibility Increased Profile Visibility Stronger Professional Image Protection Against Impersonation Access to Exclusive Features

Here’s the challenge. I have never been called Patricia, except by doctors and passport control agents.

I have been attuned to branding since I was about 10-years-old.

Design a website in a day?

My Adobe Portfolio Platform Observations:

I’ve worked with Squarespace sites for more than 10 years, but have also worked with WordPress and Wix.

Adobe Portfolio platform is not as intuitive as some platforms and has way less design options but I think it serves its purpose to highlight one's brand identity skills.

Who says AI doesn’t have a sense of humor?

I signed up for another job search platform and they offered a free scan of my resume. The result told me how bad it is – so they can try to emotionally trap you into paying them to help make it better.

This one dives into the design thinking process.

Kristin of Advocates & Allies has different target audiences while working with different ventures. With her consulting and service company A&A she works with families to provide guidance and support when navigating the 504 and IEP process.

Kristin wanted to spruce up her visual branding on LinkedIn to make it more clear that A&A was a separate venture than her work with Bridging the Educational Gap. Her only “must” was that we had to use yellow.

What can a visual problem solver do for you?

While in Paris there was a design I saw at the Paris Saint-Germain soccer shop that's making me kick myself because I didn't take a picture of it. I figured it would be online. It's not. It can't be found either in the PSG shop here in NYC.

So what I decide to do speaks directly to my skill set as a visual problem solver.

Details matter.

As a New Yorker for 24 years I haven't had a car. I want a car. I like to drive. If I can't have a teal Maserati, I think I want an AUDI AG.

A couple of years ago I was visiting my sister in Charleston, SC and I borrowed her car to go to the grocery store. I was excited as I usually have to carry all my groceries home in NYC. I opened the door and I saw the Audi logo at my feet! 😱 Logo Design, Brand identity

Who doesn’t love a sale?

Most companies or solopreneurs don’t need the big agencies with the big price tag to start building their brand. But they definitely will benefit from working with an expert in brand building.

Is the shape of the Eiffel Tower copyrighted?

I was wondering this as I was thinking about posting two great branding designs I found in Paris this month. It got me asking this question.

According to the tower’s official website, Eiffel Tower's shape and design were protected by copyright until 1993, 70 years after the death of its architect, Gustave Eiffel.

I was ready to buy Olympic merch!

When it comes to breakdancing merch for its Olympics debut in Paris the marketing folks at the IOC really missed the mark.

Before a recent trip to Paris my husband gave me a wishlist (all sports-related) of items to look out for while there.

I'm taking a trip down memory lane.

This is my first logo. I didn't design it. The now well-known toy designer and mural artist, Tristian Eaton did.

These were our early days in NYC.

After looking everywhere in Paris for cool Paris and Olympic designs I decided to take a stab at my own inspired by the one T-Shirt I saw that was on to something. Here is my own version. Says Paris and the Olympics without being too merch-like, which are the designs I always love when looking for souvenirs.

When I designed the logo for NYC Public School PSIS 187, I provided staff and support teams several files of the logo and the custom font. It’s a big school and various people of various degrees of design ability use the pieces. Over the years their visual communications have vastly improved and they are better at staying “on brand” by maintaining a certain level of consistency in the use of the brand.

Oceans apart, this street art in Paris resonates with me when thinking about the job search in NYC.

Application after application. Decades of experience and skills. Proven record of success with Photography, Design, Branding projects. Positive review after positive review of what it's like to work with me. All while raising and successfully advocating for 3 kids with 504s and IEPs in a complex NYC education system. Never pausing.