Dear Class,

Here it is several days later since critiques… and, there are a few comments in follow-up I wish to share with you as the class closes out… first order of biz, I wish to say and it not go unnoticed is you all were an outstanding class and you have much to be proud that you accomplished. And the work you did was superlative… I commend you, and thank you for the honor of letting me be a part of it.

Hopefully, during the time of the class you might have come to recognize the value of being personal and how it might empower your own work; and how, when you do it right, you are exposing your own leadership. Personal leadership is a process of maintaining your vision and values right there before you and working to bring your life into alignment such that it can be in harmony with them.

Leaders are made; they are not born that way… it is a process. And, if you want to be ‘at the top’ — perhaps the top of your profession, and profitable, then that is who you must become— a leader. When you read of someone you admire, no matter what the human drama; or, some adverse dilemma that they might have had to overcome; or the trial that they may have faced in trying, perhaps even failing… it is typically about the ideals of seeking the gaining of a personal ethos— obstacles are only temporary to their goal.

As you grow in your knowledge, begin to realize that your success is all around you. It is the inspiration you seek for your work. It is always right there… actually probably within 10 feet of you in any direction. It is often we look but we just don’t see… so my counsel is to start looking, for as Paul Rand surmised, the ‘always’ problem of the artist “is to defamiliarize the ordinary.”

As you look over the images I am sending to you as a post- summary of the quarter’s experiences you’ll be hard-pressed to believe that You did all this. As you look at them, listen to the noise in the images, the energy. What an amazing journey you all just participated in… for we now know each other a little better, you have a little more understanding of what all this is about, what I am about, and maybe you have insight into how deep our reach into industry and networks really are; what that can mean for you into your future; what the ‘standard,’ is about; how amazing many of the alumni are; where they are; what the potential for you into a future time might become?!.

Let’s not forget, a couple of you are a little wealthier ($ 8,000 in tuition scholarships to be exact via the wine project) from the adventure.

This kind of class—and the kind of students you are—is what differentiates Portfolio Center from any other education. Just try to explain everything you did to someone you meet on your break… they’ll never understand fully- even as you read this you know it.

My expectations are huge for each of you.

You all were amazing and I am proud of you.

Have a great break!

Hank.

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