December planning. Christmas gifts. Two godsons to spoil.

I'm standing in the toy store, surrounded by the latest gadgets and games.

Everything with flashing lights and promises to be "educational."

But I keep thinking about last Christmas.

The expensive robot toy that was forgotten by New Year's.

The building set that's still in the box.

So this year, I bought them something different.

A day out ticket.

Not a thing. An experience.

Last Sunday was that day.

Paw Patrol bouncy castle. Dora the Explorer obstacle course. SpongeBob ball pit.

Trampoline park where they bounced until they were dizzy.

But mostly just time.

Uninterrupted, phone-away, fully-present time.

No agenda except being together.

And watching them light up when they realized they had my complete attention.

It made me think about how we approach our careers.

Most designers are collecting things.

Certificates. Skills. Portfolio pieces. LinkedIn connections.

Always adding to the pile.

But the people who get the roles they want?

They're giving experiences.

Not just showing what they can do.

Creating moments where decision-makers feel heard and understood.

I see portfolios every week that look like toy stores.

Packed with every possible feature and interaction.

"Look at all the things I can build!"

But hiring managers aren't collecting designers.

They're looking for someone who can solve their specific problems.

Someone who makes them feel confident about the decision.

When you shift from showing everything you can do to focusing on what they need most, everything changes.

Your portfolio becomes a conversation starter, not a checklist.

Your interviews feel like collaborative problem-solving sessions.

Your whole approach becomes about creating that moment of "yes, this person gets it."

My godsons won't remember the specific games we played yesterday.

But they'll remember that someone chose to spend real time with them.

That feeling of being the priority.

That's what stays.

The same principle applies to how you present yourself in your job search.

It's not about having the most impressive resume.

It's about making people feel like you understand what they're actually trying to build.

That you're not just looking for any job.

You're looking to be part of their specific mission.

This is exactly the kind of mindset shift we work on in Career Creators.

Moving from "hire me because I'm qualified" to "let me help you solve this challenge."

From showcasing everything to focusing on what matters most.

From collecting credentials to creating connections.

If you're ready to stop collecting and start connecting, reply "Day" and I'll send you the info.

P.S. The park tickets and ice-creams are already gone. But those kids are still talking about their time with me. Some gifts keep giving long after the moment ends.