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You will see how struggles lead to understanding, growth, and financial success.

I work four days a week as an advisor to creative professionals. I help creatives move from stuck and scattered to being clear and confident. I use a story-driven strategy. That method, coupled with one-on-one conversations, brings down the barriers that are so common among the creative community.

From a current client…

“While Ted wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s a force to reckon with. I admire his courageous vulnerability, unapologetic candour, and shrewd decisiveness. Ted has listened and advised me through lows and highs. Most often with an interesting story from his life and an amusing reminder of the messiness of being human. His wisdom, advice, and encouragement have been tremendously valuable to me.” -Lannie Lee

In my free time, I write and draw to illustrate my stories.

I’ve been a contributor off and on to Fast Company for years:

https://www.fastcompany.com/user/ted-leonhardt

One of the things I’ve discovered while working with creatives is that sharing honest stories about my fears and self-doubt helps them understand and cope with their struggles. I currently have 25 clients, and at least a third of them are in their twenties. All of them struggle with the same stuff I did, but do so in their own ways, naturally.

My Becoming series is a memoir of self-examination, written to help me understand how I struggled and worked around barriers.

The Negotiation series is my attempt to help creatives deal with the forces of the world and emerge on top.

Short Takes are just that, quick responses to things my clients are dealing with in the moment.

I grew up in Seattle. I was born in Centralia, a railroad fuel and water stop between Portland and Seattle. My mother gave me up for adoption a couple of days after my birth. I was placed with a “care mother” awaiting suitable people to adopt me. I don’t know her name, but I know from my research that I would have been severely damaged if she hadn’t taken good care of me. The Leonhardts adopted me at five months.

In my late twenties, I co-founded a design business focused on corporate communications. Later, we moved into branding and brand design. We grew the business to $10 million in fees and sold it in 1999. A few years later, the holding company that owned my former business asked me to move to London as Chief Creative Officer/Global. Leaving that position, I started my advisory practice, which I’ve been doing ever since.

My career has provided valuable insights into negotiations for creatives. You can learn more at my site:

https://tedleonhardt.com

I now live in Bellingham, Washington, across the border from Vancouver, Canada, with my wife, Robin (pictured above), and two Siamese kitties. My son and two grandsons live close by. I’m the facilitator of the Memoir & Nonfiction writing group hosted by Village Books. https://www.villagebooks.com/writing-groups

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