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March 2023
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A Changed Perspective
What the Book ‘Learned Optimism’ Taught Me
A good book can change your life. And, as I learned about 20 years ago, so can your perspective. There are only two instances where I’ve written to an author to thank them. I’ll share the second another time, but in honor of National Optimism Month in March, I want to talk about Martin Seligman.
The book provides multiple tools that helped me. For example, it encourages positive self-talk. When you encounter a problem, you should remind yourself that you’ve been in this kind of situation before and solved it. Things will, therefore, probably turn out the way they did in the past, particularly if you do your best under the circumstances. I know it sounds pedestrian — but it actually works.
Seligman is one of the first scientists to work in the positive psychology field, and I picked up his book “Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life” as a young man. Seligman’s life work began in the 1960s when he performed psychological experiments on dogs. He placed dogs in chambers, only some of which were escapable, and then issued electrical shocks. (Remember, it was the 1960s.) In a second experiment where all dogs could escape, the ones who couldn’t the first time didn’t even try. They had given up. Seligman posited that the dogs stopped making good decisions because they felt the situation was hopeless and out of their control. Human psychology is more complex than a dog’s, but additional research fleshed out Seligman’s findings. Over time, he came to believe that just as we can learn to be helpless, we can also learn to be optimistic.
Fast forward about 10 years: Something had gone wrong at work. An employee called me to report a problem. It was a significant issue and a stressful situation, and we had to find a way to fix it. We had a conversation about how to move forward, but before we hung up, I asked her, “Are you doing ok?” “I’m fine,” she replied. “Why?” I told her I know how easy it is to spiral and worry about the worst possible outcome; in law, thinking of the ways things can go wrong is our job. But operating from that framework isn’t always great for your mental health. “No,” she said. “I think we’ll work it out, and everything will be ok.” I was impressed. “How did you learn to have that attitude?” I asked. To my shock, she replied, “I learned it from you.”
I couldn’t believe that I’d gone from the most pessimistic of the pessimists to someone whose conduct could influence others into becoming optimists. In all areas of my life, believing myself to be capable and knowing that most things will work out has been invaluable. “Learned Optimism” changed who I am, and it’s the best book I’ve ever read.
“Learned Optimism” contains a test that allows you to gauge your outlook on life. It’s a little complicated, but an overall score of less than 0 means you have a profoundly pessimistic view that is not consistent with reality; in fact, you might need professional mental health support. I scored a -10. It was an incredible moment in my life that changed everything. I suddenly saw that I was looking at the world through a biased filter. And I realized that if I wanted to, I could set that filter aside.
– Nate Riordan 1 206-903-0401
Feeling the Luck of the Irish? Check Out America’s Best St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
As we inch closer to the beginning of spring, nature around us is coming back to life. Soon, the grass and trees will return to their typical green hue if they haven’t already. Luckily, you don’t need
Chicago River a beautiful shade of emerald green. They’ll start tinting the river around 9 a.m., and the color will fade within six hours, so make sure you get there early! Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is also one of the biggest in the country. You’ll see floats, Irish step dancers, and much more. NEW ORLEANS, LA Once Mardi Gras concludes, all eyes are on St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city hosts a parade on March 11, and it’s always quite a spectacle. You’ll see the makings of Irish tradition everywhere, including cabbage, onions, and potatoes, so keep your head on a swivel. You can also head to the Irish Channel neighborhood on March 11 to attend an all-day block party. Plenty of green beer will be available at this event, so come ready to celebrate! NEW LONDON, WI Let’s say you want to do something slightly toned down but still exciting for St. Patrick’s Day. Then, you’ll want to check out New London, Wisconsin, for one of the country’s most unique St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. Leprechauns will change the city signs from New London to New Dublin. The city also puts on an Irish funeral parody in its annual downtown parade.
to wait until April to see an abundance of green again. On March 17, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and people across the country will dress in green to honor the occasion. Certain cities in the U.S. go big for St. Patrick’s Day. If you’ve never attended a St. Patrick’s Day parade or celebration, maybe this is the year. Below you’ll find a few cities with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations worth checking out. CHICAGO, IL Nobody does St. Patrick’s Day quite like Chicago, Illinois. The entire city gets a makeover! This year, on March 11, Chicago will host its St. Patrick’s Day parade, which includes dyeing the
All in the Family
4 TIPS FOR WORKING WITH LOVED ONES
Many businesses are a family affair, and franchises are no different. But while working with your loved ones can be an extremely fulfilling prospect, it’s also a minefield that has ripped many families apart. If you’ve brought your spouse,
is on the same page and a respectful chain of command is in place.
around the dinner table will erode your emotional connections with the people you love most. Make time for each other outside of your business relationship. PREPARE FOR CONFLICT. Disagreements are inevitable in any workplace, but they can become particularly fraught when working with family. So, it pays to have a strategy in place before it occurs. Sit down with your family member(s) and discuss how you’ll resolve future conflict. Ideally, you should write official policies and procedures that outline how you’ll make decisions and who has the final say. Make sure you’re all on board with the plan, or it could fly out the window later. The above tips should set you on the path to success. Combining family and business isn’t always straightforward, but countless people make it work with the right attitude, preparation, and willingness to communicate.
REMAIN ACCOUNTABLE. Our standards tend to relax around family. Surely, your spouse will be more forgiving of your procrastination than any other manager — right? That’s a
parents, children, or siblings into your franchise, it’s normal to feel a little tension. But starting from the right framework can ensure that the problems in your business and relationships don’t get out of hand.
slippery slope you don’t want to head down. Expectations, quality, and work ethic should remain high, even when you know your co-
workers well. Slacking off leads to resentment both from your family members and any other
HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED ROLES. Mom may rule the roost at home, but that doesn’t necessarily make her the boss at work. Many problems arise when family members confuse personal relationships with business ones. Everyone in a business should have clearly outlined roles and responsibilities, especially when they’re related. Conflict is reduced when everyone
employees at the business.
STAY PROFESSIONAL. We all have personal problems, but we must leave them at home. A private argument should never bleed over into the workplace. And just as importantly, you shouldn’t bring your business home with you. Talking shop
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Non-Competes Are on the Ropes How the Proposed FTC Rule Will Affect Employers
Do companies have the right to restrict their workers’ future employment opportunities? Currently, they do throughout most of the U.S. But a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule proposed on Jan. 5, 2023, would seek to end the practice by banning non-compete agreements, leaving employers with many questions. Non-compete clauses purport to protect trade secrets by disallowing workers from taking expertise to a competing business. In the past, companies used the agreements sparingly, reserving them for high-wage workers, researchers, and executives who could realistically do significant damage by taking their talents — along with insider knowledge and possibly clients — to the competition. But in recent years, the practice has spread among low-wage workers, which ultimately caught the eye of labor unions and the Biden administration.
A coalition of public interest and labor organizations first petitioned for the rule in March 2019. In 2021, President Biden signed an executive order urging the FTC to regulate non-competes. A rule proposed in 2023 seeks to outlaw them entirely between employers and workers, with a fine of $100,000 for each violation. The rule would also apply to independent contractors and retroactively invalidate existing non-compete agreements. Proponents of the rule argue that current non-competes unfairly restrict worker rights and suppress wages. Barring someone from working in their current industry for any other company severely limits their employment options. But workers often feel they have little power to refuse or don’t even realize they signed the non-compete.
have the authority to bar non-competes from the marketplace. Still, experts expect the rule to pass in some form, sparking an almost inevitable legal battle. As the case winds its way through the court system, the regulation will likely not go into effect for several years. The comment period on the FTC’s proposed rule ends on March 20, 2023, and the agency urges you to submit your thoughts online or through the mail. California already bans non-compete agreements, while North Dakota and Oklahoma restrict them significantly. Other states are considering similar laws. But it’s worth noting that non-competes seem to be the way of the future. Companies that use non-compete clauses should consider how they’ll pivot in the coming years or risk being caught flat-footed.
Critics of the rule, including one FTC commissioner, argue that the FTC does not
IRISH PANCAKES
TAKE A BREAK
Start your March mornings off with a seasonal flair by making these traditional Irish pancakes! Thick yet crispy, these pancakes are a sweet way to fuel your day.
Ingredients: •
Inspired by TheKitchyKitchen.com
2 cups all-purpose flour
• • •
1 large egg, beaten 1 cup buttermilk
• • •
1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1 tbsp white sugar
2 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
Directions: 1. In a bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Set aside. 2. In a skillet, brown 1 tbsp of butter.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the beaten egg, buttermilk, and browned butter. 4. In a constant stream, add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients while stirring. Do not over beat! 5. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1 tbsp of butter, stir until the skillet is coated, and then add a few large dollops of batter (about 3 inches wide) to the pan. Do not overcrowd. 6. Cook 4–5 minutes a side, until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with butter, jam, and syrup.
Solution:
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IN THIS ISSUE 1 2
How Nate Learned Optimism The Best St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in America The Dos and Don’ts of Working With Family What the FTC’s New Non- Compete Rule Means Irish Pancakes One of the Hottest Marketing Trends of 2023
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Artificial Intelligence Is Everywhere! What That Means for Your Marketing
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING AI? One of the biggest benefits of AI marketing is that it gives you a better understanding of your consumers. This means that your automation will be faster and more intelligent and can positively impact your company’s revenue and ROI. AI can also generate personalized content both on social media and in emails that will attract your customers. In addition, because you’re using technology to create content, AI won’t make any costly mistakes. AI marketing doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. In fact, it’s expanding its channels by improving customers’ experience using chatbots. The marketing tool will improve business’s messaging services to provide customers with a better chatting experience. Chatbots could even integrate into sales, lead generation campaigns, and other customer service channels.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the hottest marketing trends of 2023. AI is helping business owners boost their customer experience, better understand their target audience, and measure and judge for optimized growth. But what exactly is AI marketing, and how can it benefit you and your business? WHAT IS AI MARKETING? Companies will use AI technology to make automated decisions quickly. It collects and analyzes data, observes economic trends, and develops strategies faster than any human can. AI marketing software can take on a wide range of responsibilities, such as data analysis, consumer trends, and content creation and personalization. But how does AI compute and calculate this information? Whose data and trends is it looking at? Because AI marketing is used
to help businesses improve their customer experience and understand their audience better, the best data for AI to use would be yours — the business’s customers. AI will analyze customer data and notice specific trends that will help it predict your actions on apps, websites, and other media. With this insight, companies can use these trends to create personalized content just for you in a matter of seconds.
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