Image created by Google AI.

Progress isn’t a neat little upward arrow. Real growth is squiggly. It loops, backtracks, pauses—and sometimes feels like it stalls completely. But that mess? That’s where the magic happens. Unfortunately, we’ve been sold the myth that success is linear. When our journey doesn’t match that myth, we blame ourselves. Cue the shame. Cue the burnout.

Resilient leaders know better. They embrace the zigzag. They find wisdom in the detours.

Think back—when did something that felt like failure end up preparing you for something bigger? What did that moment teach you? Growth hides in the squiggle.

#Blogboost #ProgressNotPerfection #ResilienceInLeadership #NonlinearSuccess #KeepGoing #LeadershipGrowth #ActThePart #AdvantaStrategies #StrategicThinking

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Networking is more about follow-up than first impressions.

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by Linda Reed Friedman | | Business, Events, Leadership, Reputation | 3 Comments

Trade shows can showcase your talent and brand but shouldn’t cost you your voice.

The Designer’s Elevator Pitch:

by Linda Reed Friedman | | Business, Creativity, Leadership, Relationships, Wealth | 1 Comment

If you can’t explain your vision in a minute, you’ll lose the moment. In the world of design, opportunities often appear unexpectedly,a quick chat at a showroom, a brief meeting at a networking event, or a chance encounter with a potential...

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Elegant events aren’t just about the wine and the lighting they’re where lasting professional connections begin. With confidence, curiosity, and a graceful goodbye, you can turn any gala or awards night into an opportunity for genuine rapport.

Sweat Palms

Oct 8, 2025 | Business, Career, Creativity, Events, Helpful People, Leadership, Relationships, Reputation

Swap sweaty palms for confident handshakes.

Tell Me More

Oct 7, 2025 | Business, Career, Creativity, Events, Leadership, Relationships, Reputation

A few months ago, I watched a young designer at a networking event nervously circle the coffee station. She rehearsed “So, what do you do?” at least four times before finally approaching a woman from a major firm. Five minutes later, they were laughing...

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Oct 6, 2025 | Business, Career, Creativity, Events, Leadership, Relationships, Reputation

Because small talk isn’t small at all. It’s where big things begin.

Power of Story Telling

Oct 5, 2025 | Business, Creativity, Leadership, Relationships, Wealth

The Power of Storytelling in Your Presentations Make the client the hero.Your presentation isn’t just about showcasing your design genius it’s about inviting the client into their own success story. When they can see themselves living in the space you’re describing,...

Stage Presence in the Studio

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: You don’t need a spotlight to shine—just presence.

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2 Comments

Angie Vallejo on at

So true! I need to look more around corners and curves than trying to see a straight line. Thanks!
Alice Gerard on at

That is so true. I’ve made some paintings that have seemed like monumental disasters at the time. And then, I realized that the paintings weren’t quite so awful, even if I did feel that I failed. And I remembered that FAIL=First Attempt In Learning. Then I applied what I learned from the Monumental Mistake, and the next painting made me really happy.

Progress