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This is a short poem by Joanne Z. Tan: "Is life One Way or a Round Trip?" using metaphor of creek, river, lake in Yosemite, rain, snow, lightning, thunders, clouds, and the fog in Golden Gate Bridge, symbolizing life's journey. To watch it as a 2-min video To read it as a blog A tiny creek In the high country of Yosemite Born of melting snow Filtered through the clefts of granite Streaming down a thawing peak. Dripping, dropping, Dancing its way Giggling, laughing, Roaring, swelling, Dashing out of the Valley. Does it know where it goes? When will it end? And why? Who owns its life? More creeks gather, Into the Merced River. Onward, forward, one way journey seaward, Hither and thither, torrential, playful, Reckless, mournful, Restless, peaceful. The creek, the river, become the lake, Waters the crops along the way, feeds the climbers of the peak. Matters not If ever it reaches the sea. Murmurs, shimmers, under the sun it simmers, rising water, skyward ascends, ignites lightning and thunder. Angelic or devilish, could care less, Rain and drizzle, descends. Between Heaven and Earth, metamorphosis, transcends. Into the misty fog reincarnates, the creek, the river, and the lake, ghosts through the Golden Gate Bridge, hugs the seedlings on the Marin Ridge. The fog rolls into the hovering clouds snow flakes swirl and flutter down on the peak That birthed the tiny creek. If that creek is life itself, Is it one way or a round trip? Insignificant, not self aware, It lives, one form or another, knowingly or unknowingly A part of a grand design, Earthly and finite, Eternal and divine. © Joanne Z. Tan, 1/17/2026 All rights reserved. About the author, Joanne Z. Tan Joanne Z. Tan is the Founder & CEO of 10 Plus Brand, Inc., a brand strategist, thought leadership coach, and speaker. She helps executives, board members, entrepreneurs, and organizations decode their Brand DNA, build trust in the AI age, and lead with brand power, more than just a successful business. A former journalist, award-winning photographic artist, Joanne was trained in law and business, and had a liberal arts education from Brandeis University before earning a law degree. Her coaching emphasizes comprehensive strategies, business modeling, thought leadership and high authority content creation, brand building, culture, teamwork, resilience. Joanne is also a poet, writer, and photographic artist. © Joanne Z. Tan, 1/17/2026 All rights reserved. (About 10 Plus Brand: In addition to the “whole 10 yards” of brand building, digital marketing, and content creation for business and personal brands. To contact us: 1-888-288-4533.) - Visit our Websites: https://10plusbrand.com/ https://10plusprofile.com/

Brand Design is the process of creating unique visuals, such as name, slogan, logo, to symbolize and amplify brand DNA, personality, and voice, through color, font, and brand image. 👉 To watch this short intro as a 2-min video 👉 To read this short intro as a 1-min blog Now let me ask you something. If AI can generate a logo in 30 seconds…If Canva can give you 15 brand kits before lunch…If everyone has access to the same tools… Why do so few brands actually stand out? And why do so many brands feel… interchangeable? We are entering an era where automation is accelerating sameness. The problem is deeper than design since brand DNA decoding is the foundation for design, website, marketing. Here is the uncomfortable truth: If your brand design does not communicate who you are in five seconds,your market will decide for you. If your brand looks like everyone else,you compete on price, speed, and convenience.That is a race no premium brand wins. 👉 For a small fee, you can access the full article with the “secret sauce” at: https://10plusbrand.com/course-category/name-tagline-logo-identity-design/ It comes with a video too. Here in Part 2, I will share my secret sauce, through real-world case studies, about: How brand design becomes your offense and defense in the age of AI, Why real brand design does not start with visuals, How the strongest brands translate identity into imagery, What separates timeless brands from trendy graphics, and yes, How to choose color and font, and create your name, tagline, and logo, to build a brand that is recognized, remembered, and trusted, in an age where design is cheap, but meaning is rare, where visuals are abundant, but identity is scarce. If you are serious about evolving your brand, protecting your positioning, and building equity that compounds over time, the full article and case study are available behind the paywall (It’s well worth the small fee.) 👉 For a small fee, you can access the full article with the “secret sauce” at: https://10plusbrand.com/course-category/name-tagline-logo-identity-branding-design/ It comes with a video too. 👉 And subscribe to our FREE Newsletter for more insights: https://10plusbrand.com/newsletter-subscription/ 👉 If you need to discuss 1:1 with me, please use the contact form on 10PlusBrand.com. Thank you. About the author, Joanne Z. Tan Joanne Z. Tan is the Founder & CEO of 10 Plus Brand, Inc., a brand strategist, thought leadership coach, and speaker. She helps executives, board members, entrepreneurs, and organizations decode their Brand DNA, create authentic brand identity and content to build brand equity and lead their industries in the AI age. Trained in law and business, Joanne was a former journalist, and an award-winning photographic artist. She had a liberal arts education from Brandeis University before earning a law degree. Joanne's passion is to build brands for leaders and their organizations with her analytical, holistic, and strategic design thinking, as well as her artistic creativity. Her coaching emphasizes comprehensive strategies, business modeling, thought leadership and high authority content creation, brand building, culture, teamwork, leadership mindset and resilience. She guides leaders to stand out with vision, multi-disciplinary approaches, and strategies in leading themselves and their organizations. Additionally, Joanne is a poet, writer, and artist. © Joanne Z. Tan, Jan. 2026. All rights reserved. (About 10 Plus Brand: In addition to the “whole 10 yards” of brand building, digital marketing, and content creation for business and personal brands. To contact us: 1-888-288-4533.) - Visit our Websites: https://10plusbrand.com/ https://10plusprofile.com/ ©Joanne Z. Tan all rights reserved.

Game 7 of the 2025 World Series became an instant classic. With the Dodgers leading 5–4 in the bottom of the 11th, injured Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound on his own insistence. What followed was a rare display of mental strength, focus, and purpose at the highest level of competition. In this SoS (Sip of Solace) episode, Joanne Z. Tan reflects on what made that moment historic. From Yoshi’s calm under pressure to the Dodgers’ climb out of a 0–3 deficit, this game reveals how discipline, teamwork, and belief shape true heroism. A short, powerful takeaway on leadership and performance when everything is on the line. Watch it as a 3-minute videoRead it as a 1 minute blog 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for insights on brand identity, thought leadership, and growth About the author, Joanne Z. Tan Joanne Z. Tan is the Founder & CEO of 10 Plus Brand, Inc., a brand strategist, thought leadership coach, and speaker. She helps executives, board members, entrepreneurs, and organizations decode their Brand DNA, create authentic brand identity and content to build brand equity and lead their industries in the AI age. Trained in law and business, Joanne was a former journalist, and an award-winning photographic artist. She had a liberal arts education from Brandeis University before earning a law degree. Joanne's passion is to build brands for leaders and their organizations with her analytical, holistic, and strategic design thinking, as well as her artistic creativity. Her coaching emphasizes comprehensive strategies, business modeling, thought leadership and high authority content creation, brand building, culture, teamwork, leadership mindset and resilience. She guides leaders to stand out with vision, multi-disciplinary approaches, and strategies in leading themselves and their organizations. Additionally, Joanne is a poet, writer, and artist. © Joanne Z. Tan, Jan. 2026. All rights reserved. (About 10 Plus Brand: In addition to the “whole 10 yards” of brand building, digital marketing, and content creation for business and personal brands. To contact us: 1-888-288-4533.) - Visit our Websites: https://10plusbrand.com/ https://10plusprofile.com/ Phone: 888-288-4533 - Find us online by clicking or follow these hashtags: #10PlusBrand #10PlusPodcast #JoanneZTan #10PlusInterviews #BrandDNA #BeYourOwnBrand #StandForSomething #SuperBowlTVCommercials #PoemsbyJoanneTan #GenuineVideo #AIXD #AI Experience Design #theSecondRenaissance #2ndRenaissance #thoughtleadershipcoaching #SipofSolace #WeAreBetterAngels

"How is it possible to even define LOVE? Only poetry can describe some aspects of it," said Joanne Z. Tan. This is one of the short poems written by Joanne Z. Tan. To read it as a 2-min blog To watch it as a 2-min video subscribe to our Newsletter About the author, Joanne Z. Tan Joanne Z. Tan is the Founder & CEO of 10 Plus Brand, Inc., a brand strategist, thought leadership coach, and speaker. She helps executives, board members, entrepreneurs, and organizations decode their Brand DNA, create authentic brand identity and content to build brand equity and lead their industries in the AI age. Trained in law and business, Joanne was a former journalist, and an award-winning photographic artist. She had a liberal arts education from Brandeis University before earning a law degree. Joanne's passion is to build brands for leaders and their organizations with her analytical, holistic, and strategic design thinking, as well as her artistic creativity. Her coaching emphasizes comprehensive strategies, business modeling, thought leadership and high authority content creation, brand building, culture, teamwork, leadership mindset and resilience. She guides leaders to stand out with vision, multi-disciplinary approaches, and strategies in leading themselves and their organizations. Additionally, Joanne is a poet, writer, and artist. ©Joanne Z. Tan all rights reserved. Please don't forget to like it, comment, or better, SHARE IT WITH OTHERS! - To stay in the loop, subscribe to our Newsletter (About 10 Plus Brand: In addition to the “whole 10 yards” of brand building, digital marketing, and content creation for business and personal brands. To contact us: 1-888-288-4533.) - Visit our Websites: https://10plusbrand.com/ https://10plusprofile.com/ Phone: 888-288-4533 - Find us online by clicking or follow these hashtags: #10PlusBrand #10PlusPodcast #JoanneZTan #10PlusInterviews #BrandDNA #BeYourOwnBrand #StandForSomething #SuperBowlTVCommercials #PoemsbyJoanneTan #GenuineVideo #AIXD #AI Experience Design #theSecondRenaissance #2ndRenaissance #thoughtleadershipcoaching #SipofSolace #WeAreBetterAngels

In today’s world flooded with AI-generated content and “AI slop,” one quality stands out as the ultimate differentiator: Brand Authenticity. AI is a powerful tool, but it can’t replicate humanity. Half of consumers say AI content feels “off” or inauthentic. So how can your brand leverage AI without losing the human touch? Joanne explores how to let AI handle efficiency, while humans own creativity, storytelling, and emotional connection. In this video, global brand strategist and thought leadership coach Joanne Z. Tan unpacks:✅ What brand authenticity really means (beyond buzzwords)✅ How brands like Cracker Barrel and Coca-Cola show the risks of losing authenticity✅ Why “social-first” brands are outperforming others with double-digit growth✅ How AI is changing consumer perception—and why humans must lead creativity✅ Practical steps to protect your brand identity, vision, and trust in the AI era To read it as a 3-min blog To watch it as a 10-min video Why does authenticity matter more than ever? According to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, trust in institutions is dropping, while trust in brands is rising. Consumers are no longer just buying products—they’re investing in purpose, values, and honesty. Brands that “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” are the ones building loyalty, stability, and real human connection. 🔑 Questions to consider for your own brand: What do you truly stand for? How do your brand promises align with your actions? Where should humans control, and where should AI support? If you want to rise above the AI noise and build a brand that people trust, follow, and love, this video will give you the frameworks and insights you need. Timestamps:0:00 – Why Brand Authenticity matters now2:45 – Trust shift: from institutions to brands5:10 – What authenticity looks like in practice8:20 – The AI dilemma: efficiency vs. human connection12:15 – Case studies: Cracker Barrel & Coca-Cola15:40 – Building an authenticity strategy for the AI Age About the author, Joanne Z. Tan Joanne Z. Tan is the Founder & CEO of 10 Plus Brand, Inc., a brand strategist, thought leadership coach, and speaker. She helps executives, board members, entrepreneurs, and organizations decode their Brand DNA, create authentic brand identity and content to build brand equity and lead their industries in the AI age. Trained in law and business, Joanne was a former journalist, and an award-winning photographic artist. She had a liberal arts education from Brandeis University before earning a law degree. Joanne's passion is to build brands for leaders and their organizations with her analytical, holistic, and strategic design thinking, as well as her artistic creativity. Her coaching emphasizes comprehensive strategies, business modeling, thought leadership and high authority content creation, brand building, culture, teamwork, leadership mindset and resilience. She guides leaders to stand out with vision, multi-disciplinary approaches, and strategies in leading themselves and their organizations. Additionally, Joanne is a poet, writer, and artist. © Joanne Z. Tan, Jan. 2026. All rights reserved. ©Joanne Z. Tan all rights reserved. Please don't forget to like it, comment, or better, SHARE IT WITH OTHERS! - To stay in the loop, subscribe to our Newsletter (About 10 Plus Brand: In addition to the “whole 10 yards” of brand building, digital marketing, and content creation for business and personal brands. To contact us: 1-888-288-4533.) - Visit our Websites: https://10plusbrand.com/ https://10plusprofile.com/ Phone: 888-288-4533 - Find us online by clicking or follow these hashtags: #10PlusBrand #10PlusPodcast #JoanneZTan #10PlusInterviews #BrandDNA #BeYourOwnBrand #StandForSomething #SuperBowlTVCommercials #PoemsbyJoanneTan #GenuineVideo #AIXD #AI Experience Design #theSecondRenaissance #2ndRenaissance #thoughtleadershipcoaching #SipofSolace