Can you imagine…
A special place in the heart of Central Park... and why you really should get a passport when you don't need one.
Kate, as you know by now, is a very special member of my professional team.
Today she's joined for a few hours by a very special member of my family team - my younger daughter Hudson who jumped on the train to Grand Central station early in the morning to help Kate with the day's challenges...
Inexplicably Hudson, who I don't believe I've seen chew gum once in 16 years, seems to have adopted the habit just for the duration of this shoot. If you are or have been the parent of a teenager you feel my pain.
Actually I'm very proud of H who it seems, mercifully, has inherited the best of Amy & I - which is to say she is a great deal more like her mother than me!
As to our subject line: "A Beatle in a field of fruits in a park"?
Well, join Hudson and Kate with ever-patient camerawoman Britani and see if you can crack today's conundrum before they do...
Oh - and read my note below about passports and please take action today if you don't have one or it has less than a year until expiry.
Founder's Daily Briefing
Planning an overseas trip?
No?
Then now is the time to sort out your passport!
One of the smartest travel things I ever did was during the pandemic.
I had no upcoming plans that needed passport... so I made sure I got a new one!
Unless you actually enjoy standing in long lines and paying excess fees it usually takes many weeks to get a new passport. That's weeks you won't even notice if you're in no hurry, but weeks of stress if you're up against a travel deadline.
I've done the last-minute-panic passport renewal a couple of times in the past and the stress of not even knowing if your trip will happen ain't worth it. Trust me...
You don't exactly need a luxury passport cover, but like a quality wallet it just feels great.
So:
Tips for a Hassle-Free Passport Application
Start early:
Passport processing times can vary significantly. Begin the process well in advance of your planned travel - or better, as I said above, when you don't need one at all. Go on. Do it now!
Take your time & get it right:
The applications aren't difficult, but you need to get everything right. I have both US and British passports and all hell broke loose when I formatted my date of birth in the American MM/DD/YYYY format on my British renewal where they expected DD/MM/YYYY.
Careful with that passport photo:
No-one likes their passport photo and border security doesn't care how you look, so set vanity aside. Case in point, my most recent, ghoulish, passport headshot:
Of course I hate it but the passport authorities love this pic because it meets their strict requirements:
Size: 2x2 inches (head should be 1 - 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head. I cropped this picture to remove the junk around the edge.
Recent and Color: Taken in previous 6 months, in color.
Background: Plain white or off-white, with good lighting, no shadows.
Face: Neutral expression, full face visible, eyes open, facing camera. And definitely no smiling. They won't allow any hint of happiness.
Attire: Everyday clothing; no hats or sunglasses (unless for religious/medical reasons.)
As you can see I did this last one myself mid-pandemic, by taping a sheet of paper on the wall to make a suitable background. To be honest it was a bit fiddly to get everything done and printed it out at the exact size etc, so I'd recommend you just pay for one at a photo booth or local pharmacy etc.
Fill forms neatly and triple-check everything.
Keep Track of Your Application: Many countries offer online tracking systems for passport applications. Utilize these tools to stay updated on your application’s status.
Remember, a little preparation goes a long way. By following these tips, you can ensure that your passport application process is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Safe travels.
Seymour Segnit
Founder, Inventor & CEO
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Kate's Power trip calendar
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