Check out our January newsletter!
January 2022
Our Goal for 2022 I BELIEVE WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE
As I’ve taken over the management of our firm the past couple years, I’ve often looked to leaders in other fields for inspiration to cultivate my management style, which requires a completely different skill-set than just being a lawyer. It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I’ve looked to Dabo Swinney, head coach of my alma mater, Clemson University, for inspiration at times as well. Dabo took over as interim head coach for Clemson midway through the 2008 season after the firing of the head coach and since then, Dabo has propelled his team into greatness. Clemson is now considered one of the best programs in college football. I strive for that, too. Over the years, I believe we have cultivated a law firm that’s designed to represent our clients with integrity, grit, and commitment. I know we have built a team that is dedicated to helping people resolve tough legal situations and prevent further complications, allowing them to lead happy, healthy lives. Yet, I also know we’re not perfect and there is always room for improvement and reevaluation of how our firm operates. This past summer, I saw an area of improvement that we just couldn’t ignore anymore. We had just added several new staff members due to the retirement and departure of a couple valued employees, but we continued to grow quickly. It honestly felt chaotic at times, and I could sense overwhelm building with our new team. We needed to refine some policies, systems, and procedures in order to continue provide the level of service our clients deserved. In August 2021, I decided to attend a work shop in North Carolina specifically designed to do just that! For three grueling days, I didn’t leave the hotel where the workshop was held, as I, along with other attorneys from all over the country, tirelessly drafted and re-drafted policies, systems, and procedures (PSPs) for our firms. Sure, we had written procedures for some aspects of our firm (we are attorneys, you know), but with the addition of new staff members, these PSPs needed to be refined. I spent my days at the conference outlining the steps we take in every part of the process of any kind of case we may take on as well as standardized guidelines for how every task gets performed focusing on “who does what by when.” I just scratched the surface during these days, and we still had to implement all of these PSPs, but I quickly realized how valuable this would be going forward. It would help us provide a better client experience and also create a stronger work environment for our team. Now, at this point, I want to pause for a moment
to reiterate that we had not been disorganized in the past. To the contrary, I believe we were effective and efficient, but that does not mean we couldn’t be better, because our reality was that our reach was expanding and we had new clients to help. As we begin 2022, we are constantly working on our PSPs. One thing Dabo says all the time that I love is “Do the common things in an uncommon way.” I believe this maxim leads to success and preach it daily to our team.
All this may seem unnecessary to explain in our newsletter, which is understandable. People come to attorneys to help them through difficult legal situations, and the legal work is what we love to do. That said, January is always the time for resolutions, I did want to give everyone a peek behind the curtain to understand that we are dedicated to constant improvement. This self-criticism and the commitment to excellence drives all of my decision making in all aspects of our firm. If you are reading this article and there is anything we can do to provide better service, please reach out to me. I’m serious! I’m not going to shy away from it. I believe you deserve to know just how committed we are to providing the best client experience possible. Thank you for your continued trust in our team this past year. I’m looking forward to becoming an even stronger firm in 2022 and beyond, dedicated to helping your family, no matter what, and like Dabo says “The Best is Yet to Come!”
Happy New Year!
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BECOME A CHEF IN 60 SECONDS OR LESS
WITH HIGH-QUALITY RECIPES ON TIKTOK
Getting recipes and food advice from strangers on the internet has never been easier, and the
tested or even intended to be eaten. The best way to avoid this is by paying close attention to the
authentic recipes aren’t verified, so to make sure these are real recipes, listen to their instructions. Do they tell you what they are making? Do they share ingredients, measurements, cook time, and further instructions?
preferred recipe-gathering platform right now is TikTok because it’s fast and convenient. Unfortunately, that’s not always a good thing. If you’re wondering how to sift through all the bite-sized videos to find the best recipes, follow our guide to TikTok!
video. Is the creator using ingredients not normally put together or that have conflicting tastes? Are they making exaggerated comments or facial expressions over a simple dish?
TikTok also created a recipe button on cooking videos, which will help list out ingredients and
If you still aren’t sure after questioning the video, then check the creator’s account
directions. This will make it easier for you to get all the details on your new favorite recipe. ACCOUNTS TO BEGIN WITH If you’re just starting your TikTok culinary journey, check out @Newt, who makes learning recipes fun and easy. He cooks a variety of dishes that
WHERE TO START On the TikTok app, click on the “Discover” tab, and from there, you can search for any recipe you’re looking for. You can even search accounts using this tab if you know a specific creator. If you’re looking for something that just looks tasty, use the hashtags #TikTokCooks and #Recipes to see what has made it to the front page! AVOID FAKE RECIPES Some TikTok creators film satirical, “clickbait” videos making outrageous dishes that were never
for other content they’ve made. If they regularly make other satirical videos, you can probably assume their newest viral hit is also fake. Sometimes looking at the comments will help, but the comments could also play into the joke.
are both educational and entertaining. Also check out @CookingWithShereen , a professional recipe developer who makes gourmet cooking at home easy. Happy cooking!
FIND REAL RECIPES The easiest way to find accounts that will share real recipes is to look for a blue verified check mark by their name. But some creators who share
A Sign of a Healthy Marriage? The Prenup WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS MARRIAGE AGREEMENT
Most people don’t enter into their marriage thinking about divorce, but contemplating the “what if” could save you and your spouse time, emotional energy, and money in the event of divorce. While some may view prenuptial and postnuptial agreements as negative or pessimistic, these documents can be powerful tools. The Anatomy A prenuptial agreement, or prenup, is entered into by a couple prior to the legal act of marriage. Prenups outline the steps that will be taken should the marriage end in divorce. For instance, some prenups outline that whatever each spouse brought into the marriage is what they will take with them should the marriage end. A postnuptial agreement is very similar, with the only exception being that couples enter into these agreements after they are legally married. In order to be valid, prenups and postnups are required to be in writing and signed by both parties. Each party must make a full and comprehensive disclosure of all their assets as well. The Value A prenuptial agreement can be a great tool for prompting couples to discuss financial situations before entering into a contract for marriage. Use the creation of a prenuptial agreement as the basis for some of these difficult discussions
and create a foundation of great communication for the start of your marriage. If all goes well, this just might be a sign that your marriage will never see the prenuptial agreement again.
Beyond a little premarriage counseling, it’s important to remember that no one
has a crystal ball that will tell them what the future will hold, and regardless of how sure you are about marrying your spouse or staying married to them, divorce can happen to anyone. A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can lessen the length and cost of this process. Furthermore, these documents can be updated or even revoked. As your marriage continues, your assets blend together, and as your lives grow, you can amend your agreement to reflect your current situation. A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement doesn’t alter the love you have for your spouse. If you and your partner want to foster greater protection by preparing a prenup or postnup, please contact our team today. You can also learn more about our other areas of legal expertise online at DouglassRunger.com.
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What Happens When Billionaires Divorce?
Chicken With Lemon Herb Sauce
3 LESSONS FROM BILL AND MELINDA GATES
Microsoft is one of the most well-known companies in the world, and its co-founder, Bill Gates, is estimated to be the fourth-richest person in the world. But with great power and money doesn’t necessarily come marital success. After 27 years together, Bill and Melinda Gates divorced in 2021, and while most divorces don’t involve millions or billions of dollars, their split provides great lessons — lessons that you should consider even though you may not want to hear them. Divorce knows no age. As of 2021, Bill Gates is 66 years old and Melinda Gates is 57. And they have plenty of life left to live! They now join a growing number of baby boomers who are opting to divorce after decades of marriage. Divorce can be difficult at any age, but there can be a feeling of defeat that comes with “gray divorcing.” What’s important to remember is that some partnerships end as people grow. Life will move forward, no matter your age. Prenuptial agreements are important. When the couple married, Microsoft was already a growing success. It would have been possible and advisable for Bill and Melinda to enter into a prenuptial agreement before their marriage or a postnuptial agreement after their marriage that would have outlined how marital assets and debts would be addressed in the event of divorce. But that didn’t happen. A few years prior to their divorce, though, the couple did create their own separation agreement, essentially a postnuptial agreement, which split their marital assets. This was an important step for the couple because they saved millions of dollars in attorney’s fees they would have incurred litigating over the division of assets. Co-parenting is possible ... even if your kids are grown. Their three children are grown, but Bill and Melinda have pledged to continue serving together through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is a valuable thing for divorcing parties’ children who don’t want to endure the stress of fighting parents. Melinda Gates recently announced that she will step down from the foundation after two years if it’s too difficult for either party or the foundation to endure as a result of the divorce. By their continued commitment to the foundation, the couple is showing the world that a partnership can be formed and be beneficial after a divorce. This display can be a welcome sign to many co-parents.
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be bland with this citrusy chicken!
INGREDIENTS • 1/3 cup and 2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 4 boneless chicken breasts • 1 clove of garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup parsley, chopped • 1/3 cup mint, chopped • 1 1/2 tsp pepper • 1 lemon, for juice and zest
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 450 F. 2. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. 3. Season chicken with salt and pepper if desired and sear it in the skillet for 3 minutes on each side. Bake chicken until its internal temperature is 165 F. 4. In a blender, add 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, salt, parsley, mint, pepper, and lemon zest and juice and blend ingredients until coarsely mixed. 5. Top chicken with sauce and serve!
INSPIRATION
If you have questions about your divorce, please contact our team today. You can also learn more about our other legal options at DouglassRunger.com.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead
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1 Taking a Cue From Clemson and Improving Our Work 2 Learn How to Cook With TikTok Why You Need a Prenup or Postnup 3 3 Lessons From Bill Gates’ Divorce Chicken With Lemon Herb Sauce 4 The Coolest Winter Sport You’ve Never Heard Of Inside This Issue
Biking … in the Snow? THIS SPORT COULD KEEP YOU FIT THROUGH THE WINTER If you visit Long Island this winter, you just might see talk show host Jimmy Fallon zooming through the streets on a fat-tire bike. These bikes look a little silly, but their wide (4–6 inches) tires are grippy enough to let New Yorkers like Fallon commute even on the snowiest days. Outside of the city, fat biking is a popular sport on snowy mountain trails where a street bike would never survive. 3 REASONS TO RIDE If you already love cycling, investing in a fat-tire bike can help you extend your bike season and enjoy the sport all year round. It’s also a great way to stay in shape! As Bicycling magazine puts it, “On a fat bike, you can burn up to 1,500 calories an hour in soft conditions — seriously. But you’ll also recover faster than if you went for an hourlong run.” Finally, zooming through the snow on a bike is just fun. As Singletracks writer Michael Paul says, “They make you feel like you’re 8 years old again — you’ll be hard- pressed to wipe that grin off your face!” TROUBLE ON THE TRAIL In some ways, that boundless joy is warranted because winter fat biking can actually be safer than summer mountain biking thanks to the deep snow that cushions falls on trail sides. That said, it’s still important to choose your
route wisely and take precautions. The International Mountain Bicycling Association suggests bringing along ice fishing picks and rope if you ride across ice and watching the weather to avoid slush. Bikers should also bring provisions, dress properly, and use proper trail etiquette depending on where they ride. Visit IMBA.com/Node/1865 to learn more . A FINAL REALITY CHECK The biggest downside to fat-tire biking is the expense: “Budget” bikes start at over $500 and quality rigs can cost more than $3,000! Fortunately, you can rent fat-tire bikes by the day in most mountain towns and ski resorts. Also, fat bikes aren’t just for winter — if you invest in one, you can ride it all year round. For a full beginner’s guide to fat biking, visit FatBikePlanet. com/how-to-ride-a-fat-bike-for-beginners .
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