NOV 2018
WADE LAW GROUP
THE LEGAL ISSUE 408-842-1688
www.WadeLitigation.com
HOW I SET THE TONE FOR MY DAY
SUCCESSFUL PRIORITIZATION STRATEGIES
When it comes to time management, it’s important to know your priorities. How else are you going to make the most of your time? Each day, without fail, first thing in the morning, I generate a list. I usually stick to 10 things a day. I list out what I’m going to do that day and the order I’m going to do them in, from urgent to less urgent. Whether I’m out in court proceedings all day or in the office, this is a crucial part of setting the tone of my day. It’s a compass that points to my priorities: what’s happening that day, calls I need to make, court appearances, which briefs I need to prepare — this list is a visual tool to go through and make order of my day. This strategy works just as well for a whole week. Typically, I go about doing tasks this way: I prioritize what I’m going to do, then I take action. It’s helpful to look at what needs to get done but not spend hours overanalyzing it. That time is better used on what I’ve identified as important tasks. Once something is on my list, I can assess its value. If a client is waiting to hear back from me, that’s going to move up and take priority over an internal task. I also try to be realistic about what can get done. Don’t set yourself up for failure by creating a list that’s unattainable and will just need to be revised the next day. On most lists, you’ll also see something about taking frequent breaks to be at your most productive — I’m not the best at this, because I always want to keep working, but I do know how helpful it is to give your brain a break once in a while, especially when working on complex tasks. When it comes to tasks that are part of the bigger picture of our firm, I share them with my team because I want them to be on board with our firm’s priorities. It makes the tasks more attainable and helps us better serve our clients. Once you’ve defined your priorities, get your team on board with them.
Some find it helpful to use the Eisenhower method: creating a matrix for decision- making based on a task’s urgency and importance. Each task gets labeled as one of the following combinations: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but less important, or neither urgent nor important. What ends up on my list of 10 tasks for each day has to fit the urgent and important criteria. I’ve also found it helpful to complete the tasks I’m dreading first. This way, they’re done, and I’m not spending the morning thinking about the task I don’t want to complete instead of focusing on just doing it. It’s more efficient and effective to complete it than to procrastinate. More often than not, you’ll find that it’s not as bad as you expect. If you don’t prioritize, it’s impossible to manage all the tasks you need to get done in a day. It’s overwhelming, and it’s not efficient. By making a list and ordering everything, you know what absolutely must get done that day and what needs to get done but has more flexibility. I also rely heavily on my calendar to tell me what’s coming up and to keep track of obligations. It’s a great tool if you use it wisely. Of course, one thing is always at the top of my list every day: my kids. That’s nonnegotiable. This season, I’m looking forward to celebrating the holidays with them, incorporating our annual traditions and adding a few new ones.
How do you prioritize?
Amiel Wade
1 408-842-1688
Scaling a business is one of the most complicated challenges for entrepreneurs. Developing a model that allows for consistent growth while maintaining profit margins and effective systems is a substantial task for business owners. But once the proper blueprint is in place, a new test presents itself, and how well you perform will undoubtedly define the future success of your company. Hiring plays a significant role along a company’s path to success. It’s not a landmark or a checkpoint on the map; it’s the vehicle that takes you to your destination. Your business is only as good as the people who propel it forward. You need individuals who fit into your culture, possess the necessary skills to be effective, and have a desire to continue learning best practices if you’re ever going to achieve your goals. Some qualities are universally known to be linked to good hiring practices, but there’s still one important question that divides the masses: Do I hire for experience or potential? EXPERIENCE A degree- or trade-specific education can certainly lay a foundation for an employee to be successful, but experience provides specialized training that cannot be found anywhere else. An employee who has a working knowledge of their craft can provide a sense of security when hiring. With new employees playing such a pivotal role in growth, many employers want to limit uncertainty and ensure they aren’t gambling with their company’s future. But experience doesn’t equate to competency, which is why some employers elect to hire for potential. EXPERIENCE VS. POTENTIAL WHAT MATTERS MORE IN NEW HIRES?
POTENTIAL The argument for hiring based on potential centers around two concepts. One is that by hiring someone with a bright future and helping them achieve their goals, you could gain the loyalty of that person and thus retain that employee for a longer time. This comes with the caveat that those who have potential also look for potential, so as an employer, it’s important to provide opportunities for advancement. The other argument is that potential combined with training can equate to a more effective employee in the long run. In truth, the disagreement that transpires is a moot point. You can hire someone with experience or an individual with potential and strike out just the same. All successful employees will have one important trait: passion. You can’t teach passion, but you can hire for it. AN ACT OF GRATITUDE OR A HOLLOW GESTURE? SAY THANK YOU LIKE YOU MEAN IT GIVE THE GIFT OF FOOD We all need to eat, so what better way to say thank you than with a sweet treat? You may not be aware of any unique dietary restrictions your client may have, so it’s best to play it safe. A tin of cookies or some peppermint bark will delight almost anyone, but if your client is a fitness company, they may prefer a healthier treat, like a fruit basket. DONATE TO A CLIENT’S FAVORITE CHARITY A great way to show that you care is by helping a client give to their favorite charity or cause. If you happen to know a charity near and dear to their heart, you can make a surprise donation in their name, or you can reach out and ask them directly. It’s the season of giving, after all! The best way to make your thank-you feel authentic is to genuinely be authentic. Yes, an unexpected gesture can reflect well on your company and encourage clients to talk you up to their friends and family, but potential referrals should be a perk of giving back, not the main goal. Practice genuine gratitude this Thanksgiving, and it will be well-received.
Thanksgiving is a time to express your gratitude to the people in your life. During this time of year, plenty of companies talk about how thankful they are for their clients. But more often than not, to those clients, words of thanks feel like just another sales gimmick. If you want to show your clients how much they mean to you, here are a few ways you can express that thanks authentically. SEND A THANK-YOU NOTE Getting a letter in the mail is a nice feeling. Taking the time to send a client a handwritten letter is the kind of pleasant surprise that really makes someone feel good. Obviously, a handwritten note will take more time to craft than an email, so it’s okay to send fewer notes in order to really make an impact. Find some tips for writing awesome thank-you notes at Helpscout.net/blog/how-to- write-a-killer-thank-you-note.
www.WadeLitigation.com 2
3 TRUE CRIME SHOWS YOU HAVE TO SEE
MOVE OVER, SITCOMS, THERE’S A NEW TREND IN TOWN
There’s a genre of entertainment that many Americans are afraid to admit is their secret obsession. It’s as if you’re hiding a secret that you desperately want to confess, but you’re afraid of the judgment and concerned looks from your friends. Then one day, you muster the courage to casually mention a docu-series you watched — hoping for absolution but concerned the jury won’t understand — and the floodgates open. Suddenly your closest friends and family have passionate opinions on the justice system and can tell you they know exactly who murdered who and how. Deep down inside, everyone loves a good mystery. Here are three of the best. ‘MAKING A MURDERER’ Directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos take viewers through an experience that feels like the most maddening game of ping pong ever played — in any given episode, your view may bounce from one polarizing opinion to another. After watching 10 mind-bending episodes of Steven Avery and his attorneys going back and forth during the trial, you’ll have questions that demand answers. So many, in fact, that Netflix has confirmed the production of a second season and a spin-off series titled “Convicting a Murderer.” ‘THE JINX’ Forty years of conflicting reports on three murders make for one compelling HBO series. Robert Durst goes under the spotlight after speaking for the
first time about the death of three people connected to him. A web of lies, convolution, and gritty storytelling comes to one bone-chilling conclusion that will make your jaw drop. ‘THE STAIRCASE’ Did Michael Peterson kill his wife? Did the American justice system tear apart the dream it so righteously attempts to protect? What is considered fact in a murder trial? These are just a few of the questions you’ll contemplate as you go on a 16-year journey told over 13 gripping episodes. Questionable expert testimony and crime scene evidence are juxtaposed with a competent defense team and a convincing defendant, making for a story that begs viewers to take sides. In the end, the only fact you’ll know to be true is that you can’t trust your intuition.
SUDOKU
CHIPOTLE-ROASTED CARROT SALAD
These spicy, tangy carrots make a healthy Thanksgiving side that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Plus, you can do most of the work in advance and assemble the finished dish on the big day.
INGREDIENTS
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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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30 small carrots (2–3 bunches), tops removed and carrots scrubbed
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4 ounces watercress, stems trimmed
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2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced
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Plain Greek yogurt, for serving
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1 teaspoon adobo sauce from the chipotle can
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Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
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1 tablespoon molasses
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a rimmed baking sheet, toss carrots with chipotle peppers, molasses, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and roast for 30–35 minutes. 2. Transfer carrots to a plate and let them cool completely.
3. Once cooled, toss carrots with adobo sauce. Lay across a platter, and top with watercress. 4. Serve alongside yogurt.
3 408-842-1688
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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WADE LAW GROUP
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
How I Prioritize
Debunking Experience vs. Potential in New Hires
What Are Companies Thankful For?
3
True Crime Makes for Gripping TV
Chipotle-Roasted Carrot Salad
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3 Movie Locations to Captivate Your Eyes
3 FAMOUS MOVIE LOCATIONS YOU NEED TO VISIT
WHY WATCH THE FILM WHEN YOU CAN SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES?
Movies captivate audiences partially because of their ability to transport you to a different place. The heart yearns to be taken places, and cinema facilitates that journey. But what if you could immerse yourself in those fantastical worlds by visiting the destinations that you’ve seen on the big screen? Here are three places that are worth the trip.
HOBBITON The only aspect of “The Lord of the Rings” that is more compelling than the fantastical journey of Frodo is the alluring, untamed countryside and quaint towns that make up Middle Earth. The Green Dragon Inn, Bilbo’s house, and the rolling hills of New Zealand make for a backdrop that will transport you straight into the life of Middle Earth’s smallest people — only these houses aren’t small at all. And you don’t need large, hairy feet to enjoy them. CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL Harry Potter captured the imagination of the world. There are multiple sites across the United Kingdom where you can get lost in the adventure that shaped a generation, but there
is one spot at the top of almost every fan’s list. Hogwarts is a magic castle in J.K. Rowling’s books, but in real life, its film location is a functioning cathedral in Oxford. Take one step onto the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral, and you might begin to wonder when the next Quidditch match will begin. TIKAL NATIONAL PARK When George Lucas witnessed a poster of this famous archeological site, he didn’t see an ancient culture — he saw Yavin IV, the perfect location for the Massassi Outpost, a rebel haven found in the first film of Star Wars. Though the movie paints a futuristic look at the region, walk through Tikal National Park, and you’ll experience it as a trip through history.
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