Gibson Law - December 2019

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Give Yourself the Gift of Peace of Mind How Hiring a Lawyer Can Save You Money This Christmas DECEMBER 2019 GIBSONLAWGROUP.COM (817) 769-4044 DIVING DOWN WITH GLG

Another problemwe see all the time is well- intentioned businessmen and women using perfectly acceptable DIY contracts, but not having the first clue what due diligence should be performed before the contract is signed and money changes hands. One of our more challenging recent cases, for example, involved a young entrepreneur who bought a business and the real estate it sat on, spent a lot of time and money developing it, only to find out when he went to sell it later that the guy he bought it fromwasn’t even the rightful owner! This wasn’t a case of fraud; just two guys wheeling and dealing without knowing that they needed to run a title search. A 15-minute consult with a lawyer before the deal was done could have avoided that disaster. Think of calling a lawyer like going to the doctor for a checkup: By paying for a routine visit and checking in for problems regularly, you can avoid major surgery bills down the line. A retainer will usually run you $750–$1,500, but if you don’t invest in one, the financial fallout could be much bigger. Moreover, a lot of one-off projects can be handled on a flat-fee basis. Six or seven years ago, a client who wanted to spend more than $300,000 to buy a new business came to me for a quote on a retainer. He didn’t want to pay the $750 fee I proposed, so instead he downloaded a generic form from the internet without any professional help and moved forward in buying the business. It wasn’t long before he came running back to my firm for help when the contract imploded. Instead of a small upfront fee, he ended up spending more than $175,000 on a lawsuit.

I’ve been practicing law for nearly 30 years, and in that time my team and I have cleaned up a lot of messes. Some of the worst ones I’ve seen— think hundreds of thousands of dollars down the drain—have been the result of DIY legal work. Now, I certainly believe in pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. That’s the currency of the American Dream, a concept my firm aims to protect above all others by helping entrepreneurs, particularly first and second- generation Americans, build successful businesses. But choosing the DIY route for your legal work is asking for trouble. Online services like LegalZoom, RocketLawyer, LawDepot, and HelloSign make it seem easy to draw up legal contracts, but the truth is that the law isn’t simple — and any website that says it is will be setting you up for failure. There are 50 states in this country, and every single state has different laws. That’s why a website that drafts one-size-fits-all legal documents in China, California, or anywhere other than the state where you live will likely be chock-full of unenforceable and, frankly, dangerous provisions and create problems for your business that wouldn’t otherwise exist. “Think of calling a lawyer like going to the doctor for a checkup: By paying for a routine visit and checking in for problems regularly, you can avoid major surgery bills down the line.”

you make your next major business decision. I’m passionate about entrepreneurship, and the last thing I want is for your small business to stumble because you didn’t have the right legal advice. Whether you’re planning a merger, an acquisition, or just need help drawing up a legal contract, don’t be afraid to give me a call. I’d be happy to discuss your business’s needs free of charge. From there, we can work out the cost for the service, or, if your business is established, you can put us on retainer and call me any time with a question, no matter how small. To schedule your free consultation, visit GibsonLawGroup.com, call us at 817-769-4044, or swing by our new office, which is conveniently located in the middle of Dallas. I’d love to sit down with you personally and discuss what we can do to help your business grow.

–David Gibson

This holiday season, consider giving yourself the gift of peace of mind by calling GLG before

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There’s No Expiration Date on Entrepreneurship THE JOYS OF STARTING A BUSINESS AFTER YOU ‘RETIRE’

As a nation, America is getting older. By 2030, 20% of Americans will be 65 or older. With people living longer than ever before and the baby boomers approaching retirement age en masse, older adults will continue to have a massive impact on the American economy at large. Normally, we think of seniors as people who cash in on the hard work they’ve already accomplished. Many young people even worry Social Security will be wiped out by the time they reach retirement age. But who’s to say older adults can’t contribute to the economy? If you’ve ever tried to change jobs late in your career or pick up some part-time work after retirement, you know it’s hard to be hired as a senior. Quartz recently called seniors “the economy’s most underused natural resource.” Until more employers understand the value and potential of older workers, entrepreneurship remains the most viable avenue for seniors wanting to work after their primary career has ended. There are a number of reasons why seniors find creating their own business to be rewarding and why they tend to succeed when they do. Unlike younger people, who often become business owners in an attempt to make a fortune, older entrepreneurs can be content with small, sustainable micro-businesses. They also approach their businesses with a wealth of experience that can’t be purchased. As a result, 70% of ventures founded by older entrepreneurs are still open five years later, more than double the rate of the general population.

With so much potential to be found in senior-run businesses, it’s no surprise that organizations are rushing to empower older adults with the tools they need to succeed. Senior Planet, a coworking space for seniors with outposts nationwide, teaches classes on skills like website creation in a space that makes older learners feel welcome and comfortable. On top of being an important economic driver, entrepreneurship can be a wonderful way for seniors to generate meaning and value in their lives. It’s never too late to start the business of your dreams.

Royal Rinks CURLING ATHLETES EVERY FAN SHOULD KNOW Every four years, as some of the world’s best Olympic athletes battle for gold medals, the world falls in love with curling. Curling originated in 16th-century Scotland and is most popular in Canada, where many Scots immigrated. Now, 480 years after the first recorded instance of curling occurred on a frozen pond in Scotland, many devotees have left their mark on the sport’s history. These are just a few of the greats. Harvey Mazinke Curling Team In 1973, Canada held its collective breath as the Harvey Mazinke Curling Team took their final shot in a world championship match against Sweden. The rock ultimately failed to reach the rings, crowning Sweden as world champions and snapping the 10-0 record Harvey Mazinke had built during a week of competition. But regardless of that final score, Harvey Mazinke’s impact on the sport was not diminished. The team was crowned the Canadian Men’s Curling Champions in 1973, and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame recognizes them as “ambassadors to the game.”

Roy Thiessen Choosing only one devoted coach to highlight is difficult, but it must be Roy Thiessen. Roy coached championship teams —or rinks, as they are called in curling— at both provincial and national levels. His expertise led him to chair the first Saskatchewan Summer Games in 1972, theWorld Junior Men’s Curling Championships in 1979, and theWorld Ladies’Curling Championships in 1983. Budding athletes can learn all of Roy’s secrets and the fundamentals of curling in the numerous books he wrote.

Joyce McKee Curling Team Without Joyce McKee, Sylvia Fedoruk, Donna Belding, and Muriel Coben, the Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship, now called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, would have never become the nationally recognized organization it is today. The aforementioned women were part of the Joyce Mckee rink and were the first winners of the championship in 1960. Their style, play, and knowledge propelled women’s curling into the leagues of men’s competitions, proving that women could compete at just as high of a level as their male peers. To this day, the Joyce McKee rink’s accuracy is unparalleled. If you can’t wait another two years before curling hits center stage at the Winter Olympics, check out the podcast “Curling Legends” to get your fix of curling greatness.

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TAKE A BREAK

We all know reindeer visit our rooftops every Christmas Eve, but what brings them there? Follow the unique and complicated history of Santa’s reindeer to find out. A visit fromwho on what night? In the 1820s, Clement Clarke Moore penned a holiday poem that became the foundation for a phenomenon still alive today. Commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,”“A Visit From St. Nicholas” is a beloved story shared by every generation. It is in this poem that reindeer were first credited with powering Santa’s sleigh around the globe. Many popular songs, movies, and plays have preserved Moore’s vision of St. Nick, and his reindeer and their names are no exception. (Well, kind of.) Rudolph wouldn’t join the squad until a department store added him as part of their promotions in the 1930s. What’s in a name? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, and Cupid were all brought to life by Moore, but have you ever heard of Dunder and Blixem? Though we now know the duo as Donner and Blitzen, Moore originally named them Dunder and Blixem— the Dutch words for thunder and lightning — but publishing companies wanted names that would rhyme better with the rest of the poem. Still, it was a few decades before Donner and Blitzen made their appearances in the version of the poem we know today. Reindeer burgers, anyone? Moore’s poem paved the way for Santa’s most famous form of transportation, but it was actually Carl Lomen, an Alaskan businessman, who mass-marketed reindeer as Santa’s companions. In the late 1890s, the Sami natives of Northern Europe, who were longtime reindeer herders, made their passage from Norway to the U.S. with a herd of reindeer to invigorate the Alaskan landscape and help their native neighbors. Lomen saw the reindeer as an opportunity and partnered with the Macy’s department store company to create a promotional Christmas parade in which Santa, led by his reindeer, a sleigh, and Sami herders, were prominently featured. Lomen’s goal was to promote his massive reindeer conglomerate for the production and sale of reindeer meat. Instead, a holiday story was born. WHAT ABOUT DUNDER AND BLIXEM? The Strange History of Santa’s Reindeer

CLASSIC ROAST CHICKEN

Inspired by Ina Garten

Ingredients

1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise

1 chicken, approx. 5–6 lbs

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Kosher salt

1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced

Freshly ground pepper

1 large bunch fresh thyme, 20 sprigs removed

4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces

1 lemon, halved

Olive oil

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse chicken inside and out, removing giblets if included. Move to a work surface, pat dry, and liberally season with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with thyme bunch, lemon halves, and garlic head. Brush outside with butter, and then season again. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen string. 3. Meanwhile, in a roasting pan, toss onions and carrots in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and 20 sprigs of thyme. 4. Place the chicken on the vegetables and roast for 1 1/2 hours. 5. Remove from oven, and let stand for 20 minutes covered with foil. 6. Slice and serve with the vegetables.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

How Hiring a Lawyer Can Save You Money

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The Power of Senior Entrepreneurship Get to Know Some of Curling’s Best Athletes

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Classic Roast Chicken How Santa Claus Became Powered by Reindeer

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Glamping at Its Finest

YURT SWEET YURT GLAMPING IN BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS

Spruce Hole Yurt, Colorado

The allure of the great outdoors calls to many, but pitching a tent and cooking over a fire isn’t for everyone. If that describes you, consider the yurt: a small, permanent structure often outfitted with electricity, plumbing, and other modern amenities. Expertly nestled in remote locations, they provide comforts of home in the midst of nature. Here are just a few around the United States available for rent. For those new to the glamping scene, this is a great choice for an easy transition. With picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean, the Treebones Resort in Big Sur has an array of spaciously comfortable yurts to choose from. The resort has heated pools, a cozy lodge, and even a sushi bar. About an hour up the coastline, you can find a few shops, restaurants, and art galleries if you decide you’ve gotten your dose of nature for the day. Treebones Resort, California

Nestled in the San Juan Mountains about 10 miles north of New Mexico, this yurt is a snow- lover’s paradise. Skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking trails are plentiful in this backcountry location. At the end of a chilly day, come home to comfy beds, cooking supplies, and decor made to feel like you’re camping — but with sturdy walls to keep out the cold. For the glampers who truly want to get away, hike just under 1 mile into the woods of the Adirondack Mountains to discover rustic yurts beckoning you to cook over a fire or bundle up with a book. At night, the yurt’s domed skylight offers excellent stargazing. For those keen on winter activities, skiing and snowshoeing trails start right outside the front door. In the summer, enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming. Falls Brook Yurts, NewYork

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