Envisioning Possibilities –
Travel
Travel and Helpful People is one of the locations on my Bagua.
A story about the law of attraction – is it something you want?
I created a vision board about nine years ago based on feng shui and the bagua. I continue to use the Bagua template on an annual basis.
In the bottom right-hand corner are Travel and Helpful People. My intention, then, was to focus more on career and reputation and making money. I wasn’t paying attention to the lower right-hand corner. The corner is where the Dreams of Travel and Helpful People reside. This vision board of 2015 was cut and pasted with a friend visiting for this event. As we chatted and pasted, I cut out two cruise ships and put them in that corner without actively thinking about traveling. I filled the remaining part of this 30 x 60-inch dreamland with beautiful pictures of family, relationships, good health, career, wisdom, and many Dollar Signs.
As I was dragging out a new board, I looked at the previous year’s board. It had been sitting at my desk in my home office for almost a year. On the board were two cruise ships. We had taken a cruise with our friends in February and one with our family over Thanksgiving. They were both unplanned. It was an AHA to me. Yes, I believe in the law of attraction, but I think it believes in me.
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Why Every Designer Should Practice Their Speech
In design, presentation is persuasion. When you practice speaking as much as sketching, you build trust, authority, and excitement around your ideas. A polished pitch can make the difference between a “maybe” and a “let’s do it.” Remember your voice is part of your professional toolkit. Use it well, and let it sell your vision as powerfully as your designs do.
NETWORKING …. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER
Networking is more about follow-up than first impressions.
Sound as Good as You Look
Trade shows can showcase your talent and brand but shouldn’t cost you your voice.
Think Fast, Speak Smart
When someone tosses a tough question your way, your brain might go blank before your mouth opens. That’s normal—but it’s not permanent. The trick is to pause with purpose, not panic. The repeat-pause-answer method lets you buy time...
Social Savvy
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
Swap sweaty palms for confident handshakes.
Tell Me More
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...
The Conversation
Because small talk isn’t small at all. It’s where big things begin.
Power of Story Telling
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,...