Take a look at our newsletter this month.
LIVE LIFE VIVE LA VIDA!
September 2018
8866 Gulf Freeway, Suite 440, Houston, Texas 77017
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page 1 National Self- Improvement Month
page 2 3 Tips to Help Organize Your Crazy Life
page 3 Small Business Spotlight!
page 4 International Talk Like a Pirate Day
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Have You Heard about Our VIP Program?
SELF-IMPROVEMENT COULD BE A WASTE OF TIME
Here at the Law Offices of Don E. McClure, Jr., we feel so fortunate to have been able to serve this community for over 23 years. To thank our current and former clients for their continued trust and loyalty over the last couple decades, we wanted to give back by offering a free membership to our VIP Program. This program is so chock-full of great benefits that attorneys at other firms often find it too sensational to believe, but we assure you: These benefits are the real deal! Some, but not all , of these amazing and FREE benefits include: 1. Free 15-Minute Legal Consultation Sometimes all someone needs to do is chat with a lawyer. We want to hear your story. If it’s not a legal matter that we can handle, we will refer you to an experienced attorney who can help you. 2. Free Small-Business Contract Review Are you planning to sign a new lease, contract, or other paperwork and want an attorney to look it over? We will review small-business contracts and other documents for you — for free! 3. Free Notary Service No more long lines or silly fees at the bank. We will notarize your documents right here in our office by appointment. 4. Free Entry into Attorney McClure Contests Our firm puts on big giveaways and contests several times a year. As a hand-selected VIP member, you are automatically entered into most giveaways. As a VIP member, you can enjoy these benefits, plus so many more! Please go to attorneymcclurevip.com to sign up today!
I was talking with my son, Nathan, yesterday, and we were discussing some ways that he could discover his passion and true talents as an individual. Throughout our discussion, we verbally compiled a list of both his weakest traits and his strongest traits. I mentioned to Nathan that I believe it is far more important to amplify our strengths than try to fix our weaknesses. Yes, we need to have basic competencies, but it is my stance that working to improve our weaknesses is usually a waste of effort and time, especially when compared to the return on investment that accrues when we work to improve our strengths. “I believe that it is far more important to amplify our strengths than try to fix our weaknesses.” Working on a weakness — at least beyond a basic skill level — will have a marginal impact. In the end, the result of that effort is mediocrity, whereas playing to your strengths will lead to a level of expertise that few people possess. To illustrate this idea, you can start by examining the career paths of the most successful people you know in
your life. I’m willing to bet that they have assiduously worked to become highly specialized in a niche field that requires their specific strengths. Furthermore, it is clear to me that when we only work on our weaknesses, we become generalists, meaning that we have no special skills to set us apart. In other words, we become average. The real question is not about focusing on only strengths or only weaknesses, but finding the balance that you need to become successful. Of course, that balance is not going to be a 50-50 split, but a balance that is appropriate to the direction you want to take yourself throughout life. I suggested to Nathan that we should consult the book “Strengthfinder 2.0” to discover his true strengths. The book describes in detail 34 basic strengths and then lists 10 “Ideas for Action” that help the reader enhance those strengths. In addition, there is a one-time-use code in the book that will unlock an online test that determines a person’s top five strengths.
In doing more research, I discovered that while
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NEED A PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO MANAGE YOUR KIDS’ CRAZY SCHEDULES?
IS YOUR LOVED ONE IN DANGER?
Across the U.S., over 40 percent of nursing home residents have reported abuse. When you consider that some studies indicate that only 1 in 14 cases are ever reported to authorities, basic math will tell you that gross neglect, abuse, and/or exploitation are running rampant. Additionally, self-reported statistics from nursing home attendants indicate that 50 percent of such attendants admitted to abusing or neglecting elderly patients in nursing homes. Due to the age and physical infirmities of the patients, nursing home elders that experienced even modest abuse had a 300 percent higher risk for wrongful death compared with nursing home residents who had never been abused. Due to the tragic prevalence of this neglect, I want to help you pinpoint some warning signs that may aid you in uncovering what is happening to your loved ones. Physical Abuse Some of the signs of physical abuse include the following: unexplained broken bones or sprains, visible bruises or welts, unexplained broken eyeglasses, or evidence of restraint, such as rope marks on the elder’s wrist. Additionally, if you notice a sudden lack of hygiene or cleanliness, then your loved one might be physically neglected. Emotional Abuse The signs of emotional abuse will vary depending on the senior and the caregiver, but generally speaking, if you notice any unusual behavior in the elderly person that resembles symptoms of dementia, such as mumbling behavior, thumb sucking, or rocking behavior, abuse might be occurring. Additionally, if you notice that a caregiver constantly refers to patients by pet names, you should be cautious. While names like “Sweetheart” are endearing, their overuse might indicate that the caregiver doesn’t actually know a patient’s name. Financial Exploitation If you notice any changes in the elderly person’s financial situation, such as unexplained withdrawals from the elderly person’s bank accounts; changes in power of attorney, life insurance policies, property titles, or wills; or missing cash from the elder’s home or room, then violations are likely occurring. What to Do Families of abused elders are entitled to take legal action. When you suspect something is amiss, remove your family member from the situation immediately. Then get the facts. Document as much evidence as possible, write down everything that happened, and hold on to documents you receive from the facility. Then call us here at the Law Office of Don McClure Jr. so we can provide you and your family with justice for the wrongs suffered.
TRY THESE 3 TIPS INSTEAD
School has started. Youth sports are in full swing. Work is crazy. Food has become more about necessity than enjoyment. All of this can only mean one thing: Fall has begun. The crazy schedules this time of year can make it tough for parents to keep their heads on straight; making it through the insanity sometimes feels more like survival than life. But there are tactics you can employ to turn the tide and find more time for yourself. Tag Team There’s no reason to try to do everything on your own. The phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” exists because managing the stressors of life requires help. A great place to start is by establishing car pools with a parent group you trust. You can alternate drivers weekly, which provides the opportunity for you to focus your attention on other priorities — or if you’re lucky, have some freedom. accessible than ever. By using a tool like a shared calendar, you can coordinate the entire family’s schedule so you never miss a beat. And apps like Mealime and MealBoard give you the ability to whip up food that is cost-effective and delicious. Teamwork Makes the DreamWork While you’re busy trying to rally the troops at soccer practice, the scene at home resembles a horror movie. Laundry is piling up, food is spoiling in the fridge, and the dust bunnies around the house now have names. Housecleaning is a part-time job in its own right. The only way to stay on top of duties around the house is to work together. A chore chart with clear responsibilities is a great place to start. Whether you have one child or eight, everyone is capable of pitching in. You can have all the organizational abilities in the world, but the best way to manage life’s madness isn’t by directing day-to-day tasks; it’s by managing stress. Instead of using these tools to control life, look at them as a way to free up time so you can decompress and enjoy the things you love. The Right Tool for the Job Technology makes organization easier and more
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VIVE LA VIDA ¡VIVE LA VIDA!
Septiembre de 2018
8866 Gulf Freeway, Suite 440, Houston, Texas 77017
AttorneyMcClure.com | 281-402-3478
¿Has Escuchado sobre Nuestro Programa VIP?
LA SUPERACIÓN PERSONAL PODRÍA SER UNA PÉRDIDA DE TIEMPO
Aquí en el Bufete Legal de Don E. McClure, Jr., nos sentimos muy afortunados de haber servido a esta comunidad durante más de 23 años. Gracias a nuestros clientes actuales y antiguos por tu confianza y lealtad continuada a lo largo de las últimas décadas, queríamos devolvérselo ofreciendo una membresía gratuita a nuestro Programa VIP. Este programa está lleno de increíbles ventajas que los abogados en otras firmas a menudo las ven demasiado buenas para creer, pero le aseguramos: Estas ventajas son increíbles! Algunas, pero no todas , de estas ventajas increíbles y GRATUITAS incluyen: 1. Consulta Legal Gratuita de 15 Minutos A veces todo lo que alguien necesita es hablar con un abogado. Queremos escuchar tu historia. Si no es un asunto legal que podamos gestionar, te recomendaremos a un abogado experimentado que podrá ayudarte. 2. Revisión Gratuita de Contratos para Pequeños Negocios ¿Planeas un nuevo contrato u otro papeleo y quieres que un abogado lo revise? Revisaremos los contractos y otros documentos de pequeños negocios por ti — ¡gratis! 3. Servicio de Notario Gratuito No más tiempos de espera o precios ridículos en el banco. Certificaremos tus documentos aquí mismo, en nuestra oficina, con cita previa. 4. Entrada Gratuita en Concursos Attorney McClure Nuestra firma organiza grandes sorteos y concursos varias veces al año. Como miembro VIP, entrarás automáticamente en (casi) todos los sorteos. ¡Como miembro VIP, puedes disfrutar de estas ventajas, además de muchas más! ¡Por favor, visita attorneymcclurevip.com para registrarte hoy!
Ayer estaba hablando con mi hijo, Nathan y debatíamos sobre las maneras en las que podría descubrir su pasión y verdaderos talentos como individuo. A lo largo de nuestro debate, comenzamos a hacer una lista verbal tanto de sus debilidades como de sus fortalezas. Le mencioné a Nathan que creo que es mucho más importante trabajar en mejorar nuestras fortalezas que pasar tiempo intentando arreglar nuestras debilidades. Sí, necesitamos tener competencias básicas, pero mi posición es que trabajar para mejorar nuestras debilidades normalmente es una pérdida de tiempo, especialmente cuando se compara con el retorno de la inversión que conseguimos cuando trabajamos para mejorar nuestras fortalezas. “Creo que es mucho más importante trabajar en mejorar nuestras fortalezas que pasar tiempo intentando arreglar nuestras debilidades.” Trabajar sobre una fortaleza – al menos más allá de un nivel básico – tendrá un impacto marginal. Al final, el resultado de ese esfuerzo es mediocridad, dónde si trabajamos nuestras fortalezas eso llevará a un nivel de maestria que pocas personas poseen. Para ilustrar esta idea, puedes comenzar
examinando las carreras de las personas de tu vida con más talento que conozcas. Apostaría a que han trabajado de manera constante en
especializarse más y más en algo unico que requiera de fortalezas específicas. Además, para mí está claro que cuando solo trabajamos en nuestras debilidades, nos volvemos generalistas, lo que significa que no tenemos habilidades especiales que nos diferencien. En otras palabras, nos volvemos promedio.
... CONTIUA EN PÁGINA 2
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Comprar o vender una casa puede ser una experiencia aterradora tanto para los compradores nuevos, como para los experimentados. A lo largo del proceso, no solo tienes la tarea de navegar a través de un estrés de costos de entrada, seguros de hipoteca, tasas de interés y cuotas mensuales, pero también tienes que preocuparte sobre reunirte con prestamistas bancarios y trabajadores de reformas. Aunque el sistema pueda ser estremecedor, puedes superarlo de una manera mucho más sencilla con la ayuda de un Agente Inmobiliario competente y capaz. Afortunadamente para todos los que vivimos en Pearland, Deer Park, Pasadena y el área sureste del Contado de Harris, tenemos a Mónica Ocanas y Ruby Miranda del Equipo de la Reina! Este mes, me gustaría comenzar destacando a Mónica Ocanas. La pasión de Mónica por ayudar familias comenzó hace 22 años cuando empezó su carrera como secretaria legal. Durante más de dos décadas, ayudó a muchas personas a navegar a través del sistema legal, proporcionando información y comodidad a las familias que pasaban por retos legales. Luego, hace cinco años, eligió un cambio de carrera y se hizo agente inmobiliaria. Desde su transición al sector inmobiliario en Keller Williams, ha ayudado a muchos individuos y familias a conseguir el sueño Americano de la propiedad de un hogar. He sido amigo de Mónica mucho antes de que fuese agente inmobiliaria y a lo largo de los años, hemos cosechado una relación profesional genial e incluso dirigimos a amigos y familiares a los negocios del otro. Junto con Mónica, me gustaría destacar a Ruby Miranda, otra excelente Agente Inmobiliaria de Keller Williams. Gracias a su carrera de éxito, ha sido apodada como, “Realtor Ruby, la Reina Inmobiliaria de Texas.” La prioridad no.1 de Ruby es asegurar la satisfacción de sus clientes y la cumple al escuchar sus necesidades y deseos, para así poder encontrar la casa de sus sueños. Además, ella cree que sus programas de comercialización dentro y fuera proporcionan a los clientes la motivación que necesitan para vender sus hogares por precios generosos y de manera oportuna. Tanto Mónica como Ruby son Agentes Inmobiliarias fenomenales porque pueden garantizar un servicio al cliente genial. También están en la vanguardia de la tecnología de comercialización y saben cómo automatizar actualizaciones a través de correos electronicos y mensajes de texto y textos para que los clientes sepan qué esperar durante cada fase del proceso. También son fluidas tanto en inglés como en español. Si estás buscando ayuda para tu siguiente aventura inmobiliaria, asegúrate de contactar con estas señoritas. Puedes contactar con Mónica en el 832-814-4386 o Monica@ realtorruby.com, y puedes contactar con Ruby en el 832-465- 5988 o thequeen@realtorruby.com. PEQUEÑO NEGOCIO A DESTACAR MÓNICA OCANAS Y RUBY MIRANDA, AGENTES INMOBILIARIAS
LA SUPERACIÓN PERSONAL PODRÍA SER UNA PÉRDIDA DE TIEMPO
... CONTINUACION
La cuestión real no trata de centrarse solamente sobre fortalezas o solo sobre debilidades, sino encontrar el equilibrio que necesitas para tener éxito. Por supuesto, ese equilibrio no va a ser una división de cincuenta-cincuenta, sino un equilibrio que sea apropiado para la dirección que quieres tomar para tu vida. Sugerí a Nathan que deberíamos consultar el libro, “Strengthfinder 2.0” para descubrir sus verdaderas fortalezas. El libro describe, con detalle, 34 fortalezas básicas y luego enumera “10 Ideas para Tomar la Acción” que ayudan al lector a mejorar esas fortalezas. Además, hay un código de un solo uso en el libro que de la acceso a una prueba por internet que determina las cincos fortalezas más determinantes de una persona. Al continuar con la investigación, descubrí que aunque “Strengthfinder 2.0” contiene una información genial para cualquier que busque detectar sus fortalezas y mejorarlas, su libro suplemento, “Clifton Strengths for Students” estaba escrito de manera específica para ayudar a los lectores adolescentes como Nathan y Natalie. Compré esta versión para guiarles. Como Natalie irá a la universidad y aprenderá a tomar decisiones críticas en la vida por su cuenta, podría encontrar una gran utilidad a un libro como este durante ese proceso. Compré copias del libro original que está pensado hacia los adultos para Edith y para mí. Ninguno de los dos duda de la importancia de re-evaluar nuestras fortalezas en diferentes puntos de nuestras vidas y carreras. Según pasa el tiempo, las fortalezas pueden crecer y adaptarse. Por eso, detenerse y reflexionar sobre sí mismo siempre es algo de vital importancia, sin importar dónde estés en la vida. Pero al final, incluso aunque identifiquemos nuestras fortalezas, ese conocimiento es inútil si no actuamos para pulir nuestras habilidades y mejorar nuestras fortalezas. Y con nuestro acceso constante al internet a través de nuestros siempre presentes telefonosmobiles, tenemos recursos infinitos al alcance de nuestras manos. Desde podcast y libros (escritos y audio-libros) hasta cursos por internet y vídeos, ya no tenemos excusa. Si elegimos seguir siendo promedio, esa elección es nuestra. Si elegimos ser excepcionales, esa elección también es nuestra. Así que, este Septiembre, el Mes Nacional de la Superación Personal, te pregunto: ¿Tú que eliges? – Don E. McClu re, Jr.
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Buying or selling a home can be a frightening experience for both new and seasoned buyers alike. Throughout the process, not only are you tasked with navigating the stress of down payments, mortgage insurance, interest rates, and monthly take-home pay, but you also have to worry about meeting with loan officers and contractors. While the system can be overwhelming, you can get through it a whole lot easier with the help of a proficient Realtor. Fortunately for all us residing in the Pearland, Dear Park, Pasadena, and southeast Harris County areas, we have Monica Ocanas and Ruby Miranda of The Queen Team! This month, I would like to start by spotlighting Monica Ocanas. Monica’s passion for helping families began 22 years ago when she began her career as a legal secretary. For over two decades, she helped many people navigate the legal system, providing information and comfort to families going through complex legal challenges. Then, five years ago, she opted to make a career change and became a Realtor. Since her transition into real estate at Keller Williams, she has helped many individuals and families achieve the American dream of homeownership. I was friends with Monica long before she became a Realtor, and over the years, we have built up a great professional “Strengthfinder 2.0” contains great information for anyone looking to detect their strengths and improve upon them, its companion book, “Clifton Strengths for Students” was specifically written to help adolescent readers like Nathan and Natalie. I purchased this version to help guide them. As Natalie heads off to college and learns to make critical life decisions on her own, she might not find a book more helpful than this one. For Edith and myself, I purchased copies of the original book that is geared toward adults. Neither of us doubts the importance of re-evaluating our strengths at different points of our lives and careers. As time goes on, strengths can grow, change, and adapt. That is why some self-reflection is always pivotal regardless of where you are at in life. But in the end, even if we identify our strengths, such knowledge is useless if we do not act to hone our skills and improve our strengths. And with our constant access to the web through our ever-present smartphones, we have infinite resources sitting in the palms of our hands. From podcasts and books to online courses and videos, we no longer have any excuses. If we choose to remain average, that choice is ours. If we choose to become exceptional, that choice is also ours. So, this September, the National Month for Self-Improvement, I ask you: What is your choice? ... CONTINUED FROMCOVER
relationship and even refer friends and family members to one another’s businesses.
Alongside Monica, I would like to spotlight Ruby Miranda, another excellent KellerWilliams Realtor. Due to her career success, she has been dubbed, “Realtor Ruby, the Texas Queen of Real Estate.” Ruby’s No. 1 priority is ensuring her clients’ satisfaction, and she accomplishes this by listening to their needs and desires in order to find them their dream homes. Additionally, she believes that her online and offline marketing programs provide clients the edge they need to sell their homes for top dollar and in a timely manner. Both Monica and Ruby are phenomenal Realtors because they can guarantee great customer service. They are also on the cutting edge of marketing technology and know how to automate updates through emails and texts so that clients knowwhat to expect during every phase of the process. They are also fluent in both English and Spanish. If you are looking for help with your next real estate venture, be sure to reach out to either of these ladies. You can reach Monica at 832-814-4386 or Monica@realtorruby.com, and you can reach Ruby at 832-465-5988 or thequeen@realtorruby.com.
INSIDE-OUT GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE
Inspired by Food &Wine magazine
INGREDIENTS
• 8 slices of bread
• 8 ounces ham, thinly sliced • 1/2 pound Swiss cheese, sliced • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard • 1/4 cup apricot preserves
(Pullman works best)
• 4 tablespoons
unsalted butter, room temperature • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
(preferably Parmigiano- Reggiano)
DIRECTIONS 1. Butter each slice of bread on the outsides and sprinkle with Parmesan. 2. Layer ham and cheese evenly on top of 4 slices of bread. 3. Spread apricot preserves and mustard across the other 4 slices. Press sandwiches together. 4. In a cast-iron skillet or large sauté pan over medium heat, grill sandwiches until golden, about 3 minutes per side. 5. Cut in half and serve.
– Don E. McClu re, Jr.
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YO HO HO, LANDLUBBERS! CELEBRATE TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY
Ahoy, matey! Wednesday, Sept. 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Brush up on your pirate vocabulary, grab your eye patch, get your puffy shirt dry cleaned, and bring a little seafaring fun to your office or classroom. The holiday began as an inside joke between pals John Baur and Mark Summers in 1995. For reasons not even understood by themselves, they began speaking like pirates while playing racquetball, saying things to each other like, “That be a fine cannonade” (“Nice shot, dude”) and “Now watch as I fire a broadside straight into your yardarm” (“But watch this”). They decided Talk Like a Pirate Day needed to become official, so they chose Sept. 19, which The History of These Swashbuckling Shenanigans
was Summers’ wife’s birthday (and the only date he could remember besides Christmas and the Super Bowl). In 2002, they pitched the idea to humor columnist Dave Barry, who promoted it in his syndicated column, and the concept quickly spread internationally. Did Pirates Really Talk Like That? The “pirate-speak” popularized in movies and Disney attractions probably sounds nothing like real pirates did in centuries past. Today’s swashbuckling phrases delivered in a strong Southwest England accent can be traced back to Robert Newton’s 1950 portrayal of Long John Silver in the movie “Treasure Island.” Historically, English-speaking pirates probably sounded more like Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately, the pirates of the
Golden Age didn’t
leave behind any YouTube videos to confirm this.
Learn the Lingo, Landlubber Participating in Talk Like a Pirate Day is easy — you just need to know a few key phrases. “Ahoy, matey” means “Hello, friend!” “Blimey, that son of a biscuit-eater hornswaggled me out of me doubloons” means “Darn it, that jerk cheated me out of my money!” “Shiver me timbers, that old salt is three sheets to the wind” means “Wow, that old sailor has had too much beer.” And if a pirate (or your boss) says, “Swab the deck, ye bilge rat, or it’s Davy Jones’ locker for ye!” start mopping the floor immediately.
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