Patricia Phelan - Executive Storyteller & Digital Communications Consultant

09/11/2025

It may have been 24 years ago, but it still feels like yesterday.

Our small town in New Jersey, (a suburb of NYC) was rocked to its core. But responded with wide-open hearts for those who needed it most.

A community that literally wrapped its arms around one another.

As both my kids are commuting to NYC right now, I am in a moment of reflection, and like to share it with you.

Eleven years ago I wrote, 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟵/𝟭𝟭 - 𝗔 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁, but it still rings true today.

As I sit here on my front porch on this beautiful, crisp, not-a-cloud-in-the-sky September day by the Jersey Shore, it’s remarkably like it was back in 2001.

My story may be like many of yours, when our community truly became one family.

It’s about a small town with a big heart - and more.

Let’s continue to honor the lives we have lost as well as the families and friends they left behind. And the first responders, the courageous men and women who put their own lives on the line in the utmost act of bravery..

And let us strive to be the people we were on September 12th - united, compassionate and one.

May we continue to remember. Not just today, but every day.

We will never forget.

My story https://lnkd.in/egUPDH-B
#911

As I sit at my kitchen table and type this note, I realize that this is exactly where I sat 13 years ago today, watching my morning shows while getting ready for the day. Living in a suburb of NYC - we are literally a 45 minute boat ride away from the city.

07/17/2025

From Zoom Screens to Real Scenes: Philly, You Stole My Heart 😍

Yesterday, I did something special.

I had the chance to meet with my clients in person for the first time in Philadelphia. And let me tell you, it hit different.

As many of you can agree, there’s just something about seeing someone face-to-face. Hearing their real voice, watching the body language, feeling their energy. I guess you could tell there was quite a vibe - boy, was it fantastic.

And the best part? 😃

The voices they use in person.
The conversations they have in real life..
Are totally in sync with their LinkedIn voice.

Authentic. Real. Fabulous.

This always reminds me why I started my career in the first place.

Some call me Oz behind the curtain helping to create your online personality that is congruent with your live version - the authentic (and cool) you.

💡 That’s not business-to-business.
💡 That’s person-to-person.

In this digital world, this connection matters more than ever.

✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

Over this past year, the progress they’ve made has blown me away. As I often refer to to myself as LinkedIn mom, it's been a pleasure watching each of them own (and cultivate) their unique voice, lean into strategy, and show up with confidence. And grow.

A very proud mom, indeed. 🙂

Talking about those wins in real time, not just on Zoom or Microsoft Teams, truly is a whole different level of powerful.

And the best part?

We had a good laugh, too.

While I was in there talking about the importance of ringing bells and making noise on LinkedIn, my husband was out sightseeing - texting me a photo of (yep) the Liberty Bell.

You can’t make it up. 💥🛎️

✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

So whether it’s a strategy call, a team celebration, or a road trip selfie - ring the da** bell.

Keep making some noise.
Because connection isn’t built by playing small.

Philly, thank you for the spark. 🔥
Team, you crushed it. 🙌

Keep fanning the flame, ringing the bell and bringing your A game to the table, as always.

Your voice matters more than ever. And we are definitely listening. 💕 ✨

06/19/2025

True story. ❤️

05/30/2025

Last week in Cape Cod, I walked into a breakfast spot and left with a lesson in leadership. ☕ ✨

Our first morning of vacation, Steve and I stopped in The Captain’s Table - a cozy little breakfast and lunch spot right there on Main Street. The owner greeted us with a smile the minute we walked in and our sweet waitress came right over, chatting like we were old friends. 😍

From that moment on, conversation flowed - just like the coffee. ☕

It was so much fun.

We talked about birds nesting in potted plants (right there on their patio), college graduations (congrats, Lyvia!) and life on the Cape.

And then - just like magic - someone nearby eating breakfast alone joined in. 💫

Turns out, Brian owns a local gym after a successful journey is entrepreneurship (and a NJ guy) who loves this place as much as we do.

One simple meal turned into a meaningful connection. 😃

No scripts.
No strategy.
Just people - being people.

Suddenly, breakfast became community

✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲. 💡

It’s the energy you bring to the table and how you welcome people in.

Whether it's..

The board table.
The breakfast table.
The Captain’s Table.

It’s about how you make people feel. 😍

No matter if you are leading a team at your breakfast place or a team at a national company - culture starts with connection

And connection starts with presence.

Not only is the scenery absolutely gorgeous - the people, even better. What an unexpected anniversary gift this was for us.

See you at the table next year, Chatham! 💗

04/25/2025

A Mom Story

Before I was LinkedIn Mom, I was a Mom.

Still am. And it’s the best job in the world. 😊

And here’s a little story I’d like to share with you on this special day.

I remember a little over 28 years ago when I was pregnant, my doc asked me what day I wanted to deliver my baby.

Since she was scheduled to be a c-section, I thought it would be neat to have her a day before my 29th birthday. For some reason, I had a sense of intuition to choose that day.

What a present that would be! 🎁

Although her due date wasn't until mid May, my doctor reassured me that it was a safe date to deliver, especially since her big brother was almost 10 lbs. After 24 hours and an emergency c-section, that little big guy robustly said hi to the world almost three years prior.

So my doc thought this may be a similar delivery, minus the 24 hours of craziness. 😳

💫💫💫💫💫

When I arrived to the hospital on my scheduled due date for Maddie, I remember my nurse telling me that I was in labor. I thought, that's weird, I really am not due for a few more weeks.

But I was.

Well, it was a good thing I chose that date to have my girl.

Turns out, we had some complications that led to a few scary moments. After she was born, they rushed Maddie to ICU for her labored breathing. Had I delivered her naturally, there could have been very serious complications for both of us. That's a story for another day.

But we were okay.

Everything ended up to be just fine, thank goodness.

I was able to see my little 7 lb bundle of joy the next day - on my birthday. And she was breathing on her own. ❤️

How ironic it was I chose April 25th to deliver Maddie. And, how lucky I was to follow my intuition. It truly led me to exactly the right moment to bring her into the world.

It's like she chose her day. 😇

💫💫💫💫💫

Since then, I have often noticed that Maddie has a wicked gut instinct. Her sense of intuition, coincidence and saying exactly what you think or doing exactly what needs to be done before saying it - is how she rolls.

Literally, it's not unusual for her to finish your sentence or call you exactly when you are thinking of her.

Happens all the time.

I never thought about how she came into the world until today. Since my parents passing, I think about spiritual stuff more, and I really do believe the angels were on our side the day our Maddie came into the world.

And they sent us one, too.😃

I followed my intuition delivering her on the 25th. But in reality, I think it was Maddie giving me a nudge saying, "Yoo hoo, I think I'd like that day for my bday, please." ❤️

💫💫💫💫💫

So today, I’d like to give a little shout out to my daughter, Madison.

Happy Birthday to my little birthday buddy, who continues to inspire me every single day.

How lucky the angels shared you with us.

I can’t wait to see what #28 brings along the way! ❤️

04/24/2025

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. 💫

Your reality.

Pay attention to what you’re listening to, because that eventually dictates what you’re going to say and do.

In a negative or positive way. 💡

What motivates you?
Who do you listen to to recharge?

Here’s a few of my favorites:

Check out:
✔️ Mel Robbins - author of recent publication - "Let Them"
✔️ Lewis Howes - host of "The School of Greatness" podcast
✔️ Dr. Joe Dispenza - author of "You Are the Placebo"
✔️ Tony Robbins - who doesn't know him? 🙂 I love his podcasts.

It’s like a reboot for mind, body and soul.

My walks in the woods have become sacred classrooms.

✨✨✨✨✨

“What you listen to and who you listen to is shaping your mindset more than you realize. Guard your ears like you guard your time.” Gary Vaynerchuk

What do you like to listen to to re? Would love to add to my collection.

*In honor of my bday this Saturday, I will be treating myself to extra "thinking walks" in the woods to enjoy this beautiful spring weather. To include more downloads on Audible/new podcasts. Any recommendations appreciated! *

✨✨✨✨✨

Happy Thursday!

04/16/2025

Here's a little LinkedIn trick I bet you didn't know. 🤔

Confused about invitations?

Yeah.
Me, too.

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 hashtag #𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀:
✔️ Click on your Network icon at the top of profile
✔️ View Invitations and go to the right and choose Show All
✔️ You are now in Manage Invitations.
✔️ Click on the word People.
✔️ Go to the prompt Filter By.

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝘆:
💡 All invitations
💡 Your company
💡 Your school
💡 Has mutual connections

So there you go! ✨

Take a few minutes to clean up your invitations using this method.

It's pretty cool.
And saves you time, too. 😊

Happy Wednesday!

04/13/2025

During a trip to Hilton Head, I was reminded of a very important lesson - again. 😊

How stories connect us.

Our morning walks often accompanied a stop sy Coligny Hardware. Beth, the owner, always greeted us with a big, warm smile - and her beautiful white dog, Charlie, was right there at the door, like a familiar rhythm. That simple, steady presence mattered more than I expected.

The hugs and tail wags were great, too. 😊

It was the same when we went dinner at Nunzio’s.

The food never disappoints, but what kept us going back year after year, was our waiter, Anthony and the friendly bartenders. They didn’t just serve us, they shared stories. Every time we were welcomed into something more personal.

It felt like we were part of the family. 💕

And that’s when it clicked: storytelling isn’t just about what we say - it’s about how we invite people in.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: ⭐️

✔️ 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
They make people feel seen, like Charlie at the door or a familiar voice at the end of the day. They turn routine into relationship.

✔️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.
A simple interaction can become something lasting when it’s rooted in purpose and shared with heart.

✔️ 𝗔𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽.
A good story doesn’t close the door—it opens it. It creates space for others to share, relate, and engage.

At one point, I found myself sitting in this silly, oversized adirondak chair outside a local restaurant - just thinking. 🤔

And I realized that leadership can feel like that sometimes: you’re sitting in a big chair, holding a lot, wondering if your voice still matters.

And it does.

Sharing your story isn’t small.

It’s how people find you.
It’s how they trust you.
It’s how you connect.

It’s how they remember that leadership isn’t about always having the answer - it’s about creating space for others to show up, too.

Now isn’t that a big story to tell?

Happy Sunday! ❤️

04/10/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

Over the last 17 years of building my own business, my success has aways led back to one thing.

My story.

✔️ "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." Simon Sinek

And..

✔️ "It's better to be a first rate version of yourself than a second rate version of somebody else." Judy Garland

These two quotes live in different worlds - business and the arts - but they uncover the same truth.

Online, in person - in life.

Your story matters because it’s yours.

On LinkedIn and in leadership, there’s a quiet pressure to shape yourself into what you think people want — polished, strategic and professional.

But what people really connect with — what builds trust, relationships, and opportunities — is honesty. Your real voice. Your actual path. Your “why,” not just your wins.

When leaders lean into storytelling, they relate on a human level.

Not product or service - to person.

Person to person. 💡

That’s when the magic happens - which is not in performing or the sell, but the being..

Being you.

And isn't that a story worth telling? 😊

Happy Thursday!

04/06/2025

True story ❤️❤️❤️

04/06/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀

I used to treat weekends like a finish line - get to Friday, collapse, and hope Monday won’t hit too hard.

But here’s what I’ve learned. 👇

If I don’t use this time reboot, I bring the same mental clutter into a new week.

😬

As leaders, we don’t always need more hours - we need more clarity.

Rest isn’t a reward. It’s part of the strategy. ⚡️

I lead better.
I listen better.
I show up better.

What we do on the weekends shapes how we show up on Monday morning.

When I step back - take a walk, unplug for a bit, go outside and literally ground myself - I am more refreshed, more grounded, and more intentional.

And happier. 😊

💡𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹:

✔️ 20% better decision-making with regular reflection (Harvard Business Review Review)
✔️ 23% boost in productivity with just 15 minutes of daily reflection (Harvard Business School)
✔️ 73% of employees feel guilty taking breaks if their leaders don’t (LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index)

And I’m starting to apply that same intentionality and purpose to how I use LinkedIn.

Not just to post - but to connect, reflect, and lead with presence.

And be more intentional, too. 😀

💡 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:

✔️ 75% of B2B buyers use LinkedIn to evaluate thought leadership
✔️ Leaders who post with consistency build deeper trust and stronger relationships
✔️ Sharing personal reflections helps people connect with you, not just your title

You don’t have to be “on” all the time. You just have to be real.

Share what grounds you.
Share what reminds you that you’re more than a job title.
Share what matters to you.

Because in the end, leadership isn’t just about what we know.

It’s about how we live and who we are - especially when no one’s watching. ❤️

04/03/2025

I'm excited to announce that after 17 1/2 years in business, I have finally launched my newsletter, 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. 🚀

I was invited by LinkedIn to use this feature many years ago, but was nervous to start. When you publish your first article, it blasts out to all your connections - which mean 4,340 people were to be notified.

To say "yikes" would be an understatement. 🤨

Anyway, I am happy to share that I already have 527 subscribers which has been more than I had every imagined, and subscriptions keep growing daily - which is pretty cool.

Today, I published my first tip sheet which is aimed at sharing a few basic tips for leaders who want to use Linkedin to help build business. But - these tips are for anyone who is serious about building solid relationships in this digital age.

I know it's been a while since I posted, but this was pretty excitimg. And even better - Senior Managing Editor, Head of News Growth at LinkedIn subscribed!

Woo hoo! 🥳

If I haven't been able to help you personally, please utilize these tips if you are on the job search, your kids are looking to find an internship, you are building a business or you simply want to use Linkedin to make $.

I am here to help. 😊

Just click on the link in the comments to check it out.

Thank you!

💕

P.S. How great is it spring is here?!! 🌸🌼🌷