A few years ago, things were getting pretty serious between Sam and I (my then-boyfriend, now-husband). We knew we wanted to tie the knot and settle down, it was just a matter of popping that question. Of course being a designer and a bit of a control freak, I insisted on picking out my own engagement ring. It took some serious convincing, but after weeks of persuasion Sam finally agreed.

We stopped at shops large and small. We scoured Jeweler's Row in Philly, but I was looking for a very specific combination of antique style with modern utility. I wanted just the right amount of ornamentation, a simple profile from the top, and to have it fit with a straight wedding band. As it turns out, this was a pretty tall order. Sam continued to be patient with me, even though he admitted at least one nightmare where I looked through an endless wall of rings and still couldn't find the one. Yeah, he's a trooper, my Sam.

After months of frantic searching, I still couldn't find exactly what I wanted. Then, finally, it occurred to me. If I couldn't find the right one, why couldn't I just make it myself? So that's exactly what I did.

Earlier this summer, my friends from Forefathers Group shared their manifesto on revisions. This post was a bold statement for their business, and struck a serious chord with me. Their perspective falls in line with a lot of my own beliefs on the subject, and I thought it was time to share those with you lovely people.

A few weeks ago, I shared some insight into my One Concept Approach to logo and brand design. Today, I'd like to share why I don't offer revisions—at least not in the traditional sense. But before I share my take, let's chat a bit more about the culture of revisions within design and the psychology behind them.

There's nothing I love more than crafting beautifully strategic branding for people who love nothing more than helping others. Collaborating with those who share your values makes the whole process that much more smooth, rewarding, and fun along the way. So when Jamie of Spruce Rd. asked me to hop in as lead designer to create the new Advice from a 20 Something brand identity, I didn't even hesitate

A little over a month ago, I decided to participate in my first 30 day Bikram Yoga challenge. Bikram is the type of hot yoga where it's 105° and you practice the same flow of 26 postures each time. Keeping myself fit is super important to me, especially since I spend the majority of my week sitting behind a computer. Nothing seems to help relieve my back and shoulder pain quite like Bikram does. Beyond that, the meditation element leaves me feeling tired yet energized—excited yet calm. Needless to say, I'm hooked.

A 30 day challenge was a huge commitment for me. It was far from easy showing up day after day. But I really wanted it and I wouldn't allow myself to think that I couldn't do it. I just showed up one day, and then the next. It wasn't about dropping everything to religiously do 30 days of yoga. It was about integrating the yoga into my life (not the other way around) and showing up in the best way I could whenever I could. 30 days later, I consider this a serious personal breakthrough.

My Year of Breakthroughs

For me, 2016 has been a year of breakthroughs and 30 days of yoga is just one of them. Blogging weekly was a big one for me, as was taking the leap to start my business. It's not because I have magic powers or unfathomable talents that these things were possible for me. It's because I got sick of living my life in the shadows. I wasn't unhappy, but I wasn't overjoyed either and I want a joy-filled life. I wanted it bad enough, and dared to ask “why not me?” Most importantly, I stepped out from where I felt comfortable and I went for it.

Sure, it's downright terrifying to journey out into the unknown. But if you're not overjoyed with your current circumstances, I say it's worth the risk. I've been thinking a lot lately on what it takes to create your own breakthroughs and after some serious self reflection, I've realized these steps have been key for me. I hope they can bring some clarity to your own path and help you take that essential next step.

Like any other profession, it's taken years of experience to transform me into the designer I am today. My college years taught me how to think and solve problems (and of course the in's and out's of design software). The first years of post-grad life were all about honing those skills, getting experience working with clients, and becoming more efficient with my work. However, it took another few years for me to figure out the best process for how I'd work with my clients.

THE PROBLEM WITH OPTIONS

Early on, projects involved me creating as many solid logo options as I could for my clients. However, with experience I noticed that this led to more indecision for my clients, a seemingly endless cycle of “tweaks” and revisions, and me left feeling like more of a puppet than a problem-solver.

Next I transitioned to presenting three initial logo options with limited rounds of refinement. This seemed to work better, but I could tell that something was still off. I either felt that one was a stronger solution than the rest or all my ideas could reach farther if they could be united somehow.

I used to have a very different picture of what my life would look like and who I'd be sharing it with. If I'm being totally honest, I always imagined that I'd marry another creative or designer like myself. I had this grandiose plan that we'd join forces and spend our days making incredible things together, with no discernible line between work and play.

Then I found Sam—a hard-working, strong-willed, volleyball-playing, IT guy with the absolute best heart. He wasn't what I'd always considered my “type” to be, but life's funny that way. Sam wasn't what I expected, but he's exactly what I needed.

When Form Marries Function

When it comes to how we operate, Sam and I are polar opposites. IT versus design. Function versus form. Logic versus emotion. I want to make everything beautiful, and he wants it to be as efficient and inexpensive as possible.

Our differences come up constantly, from decorating our home to planning getaways and even making quesadillas (mastering that 1st flip was quite the ordeal). Of course it can be a bit of a struggle, but our differences have also taught us both so much.

As we celebrate our first wedding anniversary and my first 6 months of owning a small business, I can't tell you how much I've grown. I've discovered so many parallels between my marriage and business, and my relationship with Sam has taught me so many priceless lessons I use constantly in my business. So without further ado, I'd love to share a few of my favorites.

The more regularly you practice writing, the easier it will get and the more defined your brand's voice will become. You'll start by mimicking others, but over time, your true voice will emerge as you learn to get cozy in your own brand's skin. My weekly blog posts have been priceless for helping my own growth in this area.

Since blogging is a longer form of writing, it can seem pretty daunting and it's hard to know where to begin. What's helped me is to follow the same steps each time, which makes the writing process a whole lot smoother. I'm sharing these steps with you in the hopes that it will help you jump in and start honing your own voice. Now let's dig in!

There's no question that the right logo and visual identity are essential to your brand. They're the first thing your customers see—that all too critical first impression. But they aren't everything.

Even the most visually stunning brand will feel hollow without the right content and voice behind it. Crafting that compelling tone is essential to effective communication for your brand, and today I'm here to share tips on that very topic.