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For The Ambitious Advocate BRIEF RECESS
AUGUST 2024
FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF J. PRICE MCNAMARA
THE DANG GOATS ATE MY TRACTOR SEAT! And Other News from the Funny Farm …
“Be careful, those goats will eat anything!” Their former owner had warned us even before we took custody. Be careful? I didn’t get it.
I shared a few months ago that our new busy hobby is a rural Greensburg Louisiana farm bordering the Tickfaw River that came with four goats and two donkeys. We didn’t know anything about goats or donkeys and didn’t particularly want them. The two horses and two dogs we already had were enough. But they were a non-negotiable at the seller’s insistence, as the Kubota tractor was at mine. The seller would include the tractor if we took the animals. Done. Then two of the goats had four kids — three nannies (Debbie, Boots, and Mocha) and a billy (Fleece). We didn’t even realize they were pregnant until we woke up one morning and there they were. Cute little animals. To avoid exponential growth of the herd, we gave the four originals to a nearby goat farmer once the kids were weaned and big enough. But they still seemed really young, so I made a little opening just big enough for them through the goat wire on the tractor shed gate. Now they would have their own little shelter in bad weather apart from the donkeys and horses and not get trampled. Brilliant. Went back to work in Baton Rouge for the week, then back to the farm Saturday morning. The tractor seat was gone! The vinyl, the spongy cushion, all but the metal frame and a few fragments. And it wasn’t just chewed up and left there. It was gone ! For a little while, the goats didn’t seem so cute.
But good abounds! We just built a new corral for Susan to train horses and have a safe, confined riding space for nieces and grandchildren. The blueberry bushes are loaded, and the beehive is chock full of honeycomb. Country life is awesome!
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The Best Advice I Ever Got For a Happy, Thriving Law Practice The Story of Jim’s Battle Again
Hire slow, fire fast, and only work with superstars, no matter how rare they may be.
(we use LeadDocket and FileVine at the advice of law firm owners with much larger practices), and electronic calendaring. We hammered out our case management processes, and Sara grabbed the bull by the horns and customized LeadDocket and FileVine to work just the way we wanted. It’s been a life‑changing experience. As we evolved, so did Sara’s role and our relationship. She became, and remains, an essential strategic co-collaborator in every respect for improving our processes and our ability to help anxious clients feel confident and well-cared for as we navigate the weird, federally regulated ERISA appeal and litigation processes. I’ve learned that Sara has talents and skills and insights that I’ve never had, didn’t know she had, and would be lost without. She’s brilliant and irreplaceable in countless ways. In short, a superstar. Soon, we needed to hire more paralegal help. I had been reading books and going to seminars around the country about running a happy, thriving law practice, and every source agreed: Hire slow, fire fast, and only work with superstars, no matter how rare they may be. I figured it would be easy, as Sara was my only experience. NOT! We placed ads on LinkedIn, Indeed, and Craigslist. About 1 in 20 applicants had a resume without either typos or a long list of jobs they had held for less than one or two years. For many of the few who looked promising, a quick look on social media told us our values weren’t aligned. Then we hired and quickly fired quite a few others. One lasted less than two days. One came in a few minutes late each day, then spread her breakfast out on her desk and played on her phone while she ate for another 15 minutes. For others, it was shopping online or constantly texting or Facebooking. Maybe if you work for the government but not here.
We kept hiring and firing until we landed Erika in the midst of our transition. Erika has blown Sara and me away with her drive, her grit, her love for our mission and our clients, her judgment, her confident problem-solving skills, and her ability to organize any form of chaos into a well-run system. Always laughing throughout any challenge. And her understanding of computer tech and ability to implement it in our practice is nothing short of amazing. It took lots of hiring and quick firing to find Erika — another superstar. We hired and fired several more, and just a year ago were blessed to find Erin. With a teaching background and no law office experience, Erin was so fast to learn and is so conscientious and professional in her work. One of her superpowers is her natural, genuine sweetness and empathy with new clients who call. She doesn’t have to try. It’s in her DNA. They all rave about her and say we’re lucky to have her, which comes as no surprise. We are. We’re really sad but happy for her that she’s leaving us in January to have another baby — her third child — and to be a full-time mother (for a while; we’ll coax her back one day). Another superstar, always welcome back. We interviewed a bunch to find Erin’s replacement and were blessed again with another standout. Dana has been with us only a week as I write this, and she fits right in. She’s a veteran paralegal who’s been at it for years and is figuring out how we do things so fast it’s scary. We’re excited to have Dana on board. I know she’s another superstar who will continue to improve our processes and our clients’ experience. I hated firing people. Studies show that having to fire someone doubles the chances of having a heart attack the following week. Look it up. But if you want a happy, thriving law practice, you must hire slow, fire fast, and only work with superstars, no matter how rare they may be.
I’ll be honest. While I do have a happy thriving law practice now, it’s a recent phenomenon. For many years, my practice often felt like a beast I had to fight as its slave for the reward of independence. Although I’ve never wished I’d gone into any other line of work, I’ve found the practice of law often stressful, grueling, tedious, exhausting, sometimes chaotic, and occasionally thrilling. And I had no idea that good team members are hard to find. I just got lucky with my first hire. I didn’t hire a second to join us until just a few years ago. It’s been a long journey. I started with a mostly maritime and auto insurance defense firm for four years, then got restless and went to the Jefferson Parish DA’s office and tried felonies for three years. That job let me start a side-gig personal injury practice. I was renting a closet-size office from a well-established estate planning attorney who didn’t like handling the personal injury cases that came his way. He was happy to finance them, I was happy to work them up and try them if needed, and we shared fees 50-50. When I left the DA’s office and opened my own shop 30 years (WOW!) ago right after getting married and starting a family, financially scary became part of practicing law. Scary but worth it. Sara was my first secretary, paralegal, office manager, bookkeeper, calendar tracker, therapist, and lifesaver. She’s still with me, thank God. When we decided four years ago to refer out all personal injury cases and handle only ERISA cases, mostly for denied disability insurance claimants, it was still just Sara and me. Lots of changes came with the transition. We went paperless, started using cloud-based client intake CRM and case management programs
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CREATE A COMFORTABLE HAVEN FOR YOUR CANINE COMPANION We consistently adjust and add things to our homes to make them more comfortable, but we should remember our furry friends, too! Our dogs also deserve a comfy spot to rest, and doing so is as easy as picking up a few items from your local home improvement store. Furry Friends, Happy Homes nst Unjust Benefit Termination Since dogs spend most of their time on the ground, especially if you don’t allow your pups on furniture, you should make extra efforts to ensure the floor fits their needs. As dogs grow older, they will need more traction to move around. Soft rugs can provide them with a snug spot to rest. You might think that installing carpet is a better option, but dogs can have accidents and get sick more frequently as they age, putting your carpet at risk. Many stores also sell comfy, machine- washable dog beds at reasonable prices. Another area of your home you should pay attention to is your baseboards, as your furry friend may mistake them for chew toys. This is much more common in puppies, but dogs of all ages are susceptible to this behavior. The next time you’re out, pick up a bitter apple spray and use it on your baseboards, furniture legs, and anything else your dog may chew on to prevent them from tearing up your home. You might not think you need to buy new appliances when you get a dog, but it can help you maintain your home better. Certain vacuum cleaners pick up pet hair better than others. Additionally, you will need to run their beds and toys through
Lime Chicken With Corn and Poblano Salad Inspired by PureWow.com
Ingredients Chicken • 3 tbsp olive oil
Corn and poblano salad • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 poblano peppers, diced • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 14-oz can of corn • 4 scallions, minced • Juice of 2 limes • 1/3 cup chopped cilantro • Salt and pepper
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. • 1 cup all-purpose flour • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 3/4 tsp black pepper • Zest of 1 lime • 8 chicken thighs
Does your office turn away calls about “long-term disability insurance” claim denials because you don’t handle administrative appeals or “ERISA litigation” in federal court? We want to hear from you! We happily share fees on referred ERISA long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death insurance denial cases. Send us an email at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com or call (225) 201-8311 to start the referral process! WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS! 2. In a large oven-proof skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. 3. In a bowl, whisk flour, spices, and lime zest. Dredge chicken in the mix to coat. 4. Add chicken, skin-side down, to skillet, then place skillet in the oven for 30–35 minutes. 5. In a medium skillet, heat olive oil and add poblanos. Sauté 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for another minute. 6. In a bowl, add poblano mix, corn, scallions, lime juice, and cilantro, toss and serve with the chicken.
the washer and dryer at some point, so ensure your appliances are up for the task.
Finally, make sure you have a doormat or something for the dogs to walk over near your doors. This will prevent them from tracking mud, dirt, and other debris into your home. Bringing home a dog can be fun but requires preparation. Take these steps to ensure your
ERISA is all we do!
dog is comfortable and your house is fully puppy-proofed for their arrival.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
ERISA INSURANCE J. PRICE MCNAMARA Claim Attorney
10455 Jefferson Hwy. Suite 130 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 201-8311 WinMyBenefits.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Living the Country Life
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Learning to Hire Superstars
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Create a Dog-Friendly Home With Simple Upgrades
Lime Chicken With Corn and Poblano Salad
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The Role of a Growth Mindset in Overcoming Challenges
Harnessing the Power of a Growth Mindset PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS
Cultivating Success With a growth mindset, success plays second fiddle to self-improvement. Celebrating the effort we put into each task motivates and encourages us to work harder and accomplish more in the future. Rather than focusing on the destination, the focus is on the journey. A growth mindset is a great way to become more positive, successful, and adaptable. By incorporating more facets of a growth
While there are no treadmills for the mind or ellipticals for our neurons, science tells us that mental exercise can help us obtain a growth mindset. The American Psychological Association defines a growth mindset as “the belief that a person’s intelligence and abilities can grow and improve with practice.” A growth mindset is the antithesis of a “fixed mindset,” which people exhibit when they quickly give up if they can’t solve a problem. Nurturing a growth mindset, in contrast, can help you view failure or setbacks as opportunities for learning. More Than Effort Having a growth mindset is about more than just effort. It is the belief that you can develop your abilities and talents, as well as a perspective on how you approach life’s lessons and learning. That belief allows you to learn more quickly and achieve greater results, no matter what you aim to achieve. This does not mean simply having an open mind; it also means finding a way to continue striving to improve your knowledge, attitude, and performance. Some call it having “grit.”
mindset into your life, you will be well on your way to changing things for the better.
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