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09/26/2026

Author's Notes: Be Kind to Yourself

Writing and publishing a book will teach you things about yourself.

When Alyssa Gangaram asked me what I learned about myself through the process of writing and publishing Transform Thinking, Transform Life, I didn't have to think long. I learned to be more forgiving of myself when I don't meet the specs.
And I mean that both literally and figuratively.
We all carry an internal checklist of who we are supposed to be, what we are supposed to accomplish, and how things are supposed to go. And when reality doesn't line up with that checklist, when the specs aren't met, it is so easy to turn that frustration inward. To blame yourself for things you do not have control of.

What this process taught me is that compassion toward yourself is not a weakness. It is continuous practice. It is one I am still learning every single day.

When things go south, and they will, try a little kindness toward yourself first. You deserve the same grace you would give anyone else.
What is one area of your life where you could stand to be a little kinder to yourself?

09/05/2026

Author's Notes: Let It Go

I had a chance to chat with our illustrator, Alyssa Gangaram. She asked me about the process of publishing Transform Thinking, Transform Life. So here it is, in all its imperfect glory.

It did not go smoothly. Not even close.

Every author will tell you that publishing has its challenges. But this was something else. No matter how many times I adjusted the specifications, the book would not meet all the requirements needed to publish. Each attempt brought its own frustration, its own hope, and its own disappointment.

And then I had a moment of clarity. A very Queen Elsa moment.

Let it go!

At some point you have to "ship it," that is a Seth Godin term in his work The Practice. Do you keep chasing perfection, or do you trust that the content inside is what truly matters? I chose the content and let the work go out into the world rather than hold it hostage over specifications.
Perfection is a moving target. And sometimes the most powerful thing you can do as a creator is release your grip and let your work be what it is. Then, you learn from those lessons.

The workbook is out. The content is landing. And the spine? Nobody has complained yet.
What are you holding onto that you just need to let go if in order to level up?

09/02/2026

We're kicking off a 4-week challenge with a serious perk: 4 free VIRTUAL ONLY seats to an exclusive Lunch & Learn with Arivee Vargas,

Week 1 Challenge: Beyond Burnout

"Beyond Burnout: Sustaining High Performance."
October 29th

Co-hosted by Virtual Patent Gateway & Humble Rising.

Learn how to build sustainable success now, not after burnout forces the lesson.

To win a seat, answer this week's challenge correctly.
Be one of the first 4 to get it right.
Email us at [email protected] by September 8th to win.

Don't sleep on this one!

08/31/2026

We can't say YES to everything without burning out.

Ep 117 of Virtual Water Cooler Chat dropped today, Monday, August 31.
Check it out on VPG's YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. Use the link to check it out now! https://youtu.be/Ww1VC56Ghkc?si=7wbsdaobzFFPQKmo​​

Phil Eklem and I had a very insightful discussion about saying NO isn't a setback. It's a strategy. Reputation and our brand is built on the quality of our work, not the volume of it. We must be conscious about not overcommitting. Alignment is also critical and something stuck with me during the recording with Arivee Vargas Esq, and to paraphrase, there's a season for everything. Sometimes you know when it's time to "change neighborhood" and explore what actually aligns. That's a clear message that Mark Green often talks about what founders must evaluate about their own growth. Yes, Mark, I remember that. So many gems and nuggets of wisdom.

What made this episode even sweeter: Phil and Connor Houghton were attorneys I supported at my previous firm, then they turn clients when I started Virtual Patent Gateway, LLC. Sitting across from them as partners, hearing how they're shaping the next generation of legal leadership, that's a full circle moment.

08/27/2026

Say hello to Button 🦔 and her human, Danielle Tong, VPG's newest Project Intern!

When Danielle went looking for an avatar, she didn't pick a generic icon... she picked a hedgehog. And once you meet Button, you get it. Thoughtful, determined, endlessly curious, the kind of hedgehog who tackles a challenge head-on with quiet confidence and a whole lot of warmth.

Sure, Button might curl up into a little ball when things get tricky. But give her a minute, she always uncurls ready to take it on.

Danielle brings that same energy to VPG. A recent UC Davis grad with a degree in Sociology (with Law & Society emphasis) and Psychology, she previously served as a Communications & Digital Unit Intern in the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, so she knows a thing or two about sharp communication.

Danielle will also be assisting at the ADAPT Happy Hour and attend the RLLB2026 in Las Vegas in September, 2026 as a VPG intern, and thanks to Yu and IP Law for providing her registration to attend this incredible .com annual conference.

We're so excited to have her (and Button 🦔) on the team. Check out Danielle's profile and send a connection her way: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-tong-930bb6233/

08/21/2026

Women in IP are phenomenal, yet too many of us don’t recognize our own light. That has to change.

Your brand becomes unique when you clearly identify the problems you solve and you’re often best at solving the problems you’ve already overcome.

Following my doodle video from two weeks ago, here’s the rest of the story about OLO Markers.

My superpower is connecting people. Through webinars and conferences, I’ve built incredible friendships, including with Professor Sasha Strauss, whose perspective on brand strategy rewired how I see my life and work. Six years ago, he even corrected my language in real time, and I still have the clip!

I used to be quiet. Happy behind the scenes, doing the work and hoping to be seen.

But, HOPE is NOT a strategy.

For 6½ years, I’ve built Virtual Patent Gateway with an incredible community of creative talent. Together, we’ve created courses, books, workbooks, webinars, training, and connections around the globe.

The part you don’t always see? Fighting to keep your own light from dimming while building something from nothing.

That’s why this October experience matters.

This isn’t a lecture. It’s a collective creative experience guided by Sasha, designed to help women in IP get curious, get creative, and discover their own essence.

And no, we’re not here to sell markers. OLO Markers—what Sasha calls the “Ferrari of markers”—is creating a special collaboration set for Sasha and Ashley’s brands, with proceeds from Sasha’s named set benefiting the American Heart Association.

When the tools match the intention, something special happens.

✨ **Doodle Your Essence**
📅 October 29, 2026

Come explore your professional identity like a brand worth investing in.

Registration link in the comments.
👉 Comment **ESSENCE** or DM me to join us.

08/20/2026

Acceptance is not the same as giving up.
In Your Time to Rise, Arivee Vargas shares a mindset shift that reframes what it means to accept where you are.

So often, we treat acceptance like surrender, like we're settling for less than we wanted. But that's not what it means at all. Acceptance is about being honest about where you actually stand, so you can move forward with intention instead of staying stuck in resistance.

Here's what changes when you stop fighting reality: you finally create space to see things clearly. What's no longer serving you. What you actually need next. Who you're becoming.
Growth doesn't start with denial of where you are. It starts with truth.

Thank you to Arivee Vargas for this powerful reminder.

What's a reality you had to accept before you could move forward? Share it in the comments, I'd love to hear it.

08/15/2026

Author's Notes: Bringing the Story to Life
After writing the Leadership Catalyst, I asked myself, how do I take these stories and make them truly impactful?

That question became Transform Thinking, Transform Life.

The companion workbook takes some of the scenarios and characters from The Leadership Catalyst and puts them to work in a whole new way. It isn't just about reading the story anymore; it is about stepping into it. Taking what resonates and turning it into real, tangible growth. Every module is designed to move you from inspiration to action.

And then there are raccoons. The characters and raccoon avatars are woven throughout, and they are just so much fun. There is something about bringing those personalities to life in a workbook format that makes the whole experience feel less like work and more like an adventure. Learning doesn't have to be dry. Growth doesn't have to be so serious.

Transform Thinking, Transform Life is for anyone who has ever finished a book feeling inspired but wasn't sure what to do next. This is the next step. This is where the story becomes your story.
Are you ready to turn inspiration into action?

08/13/2026

What if the "perfect job" doesn't exist, because you're only looking for one?

Searching for "the one perfect job" to fulfill every professional need? That pressure might be holding you back more than you realize.

In conversations with young professionals, Andrew Ting kept hearing the same theme come up again and again: the hunt for a single role that checks every box, purpose, growth, stability, passion, financial security, work-life balance. It's an appealing idea. One job, one title, one place to pour all your ambition into. But chasing that "perfect fit" often sets people up for unrealistic expectations, constant second-guessing, and a lot of unnecessary pressure on a role that was never designed to be everything at once.

Andrew's take? You don't need one job to do it and expecting that from a single role might be the very thing holding you back. As a lawyer, professor, and advisor, he's intentionally built a career where each role fulfills a different part of his vision. His legal work challenges him professionally, teaching lets him give back and shape the next generation, and advising keeps him connected to new ideas and industries. No single role carries the full weight of his ambitions.

Instead of asking "what's my dream job?" maybe the better question is "what combination of roles lets me live my dream life?"
Sometimes the answer isn't finding the perfect role. It's building a portfolio of them.

Disclaimer: This video is posted for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

08/11/2026

At some point, ambition without alignment just becomes exhaustion.

Arivee Vargas explores the shift many high achievers eventually face, moving from proving and performing to actually moving with alignment.

For years, the goal is to prove you belong. Work harder, hit the next milestone, earn the next title. And it works; success follows. But so does a quiet kind of burnout, because proving yourself never really has a finish line.

Real growth starts with a harder question: does the life I'm building still reflect who I'm becoming, or who I used to be?

That's the shift. Ambition doesn't have to disappear; it just has to evolve. When it's rooted in alignment instead of proof, it becomes something sustainable. Something that actually feels like yours.

Has your definition of success changed as you've grown? Tell me what shifted for you in the comments.

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