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June 2022
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Written in the Stars Why My Dad Was Such an Influence
As Father’s Day approaches, I can’t help but think of my dad, who passed away in 2017. I miss him a lot and still get the urge to call him; sometimes, my hand twitches for a millisecond to pick up the phone. Old habits are hard to break. In a way, Dad is the one who trained me how to become an attorney. He was an English professor, and he taught me how to debate. It might sound a little corny, but we would sit around the dinner table arguing about current events and make our predictions for the future. We also spent a lot of time debating about
I’ve tried to carry that legacy forward in my work. I like to say that we make it easy around here to make mistakes. That might sound like a bad thing to anyone unfamiliar with the concept. Why would I want my employees making mistakes? Well, I don’t — but they will, whether or not I like it. We all do. So, the only way forward is to recognize the mistake, own up to it, and bring in other people as necessary to fix it. As a result, we’ve built a culture of trust at the office.
No one feels like they’re going to be excoriated. You’re judged here not by the mistake you make but by how you handle it.
the meaning of words. Eventually, someone would always call the other’s bluff and coyly excuse themselves. When that happened, we all knew they were going to get the dictionary in the hopes of returning triumphant. Because many words have multiple meanings, no one ever really won, but we had a lot of fun. Dad used to wish that he had a dictionary to keep by the table, and he eventually inherited my grandfather’s and
Dad had a lot more to teach. Since he was a professor, he didn’t have much money, and he had to find ways to entertain himself. He did so by reading and learning. He used to say, “Be curious; what you learn is yours forever.” It was astounding — and because it made me jealous, occasionally annoying — how he could sit down and teach himself virtually anything.
its accompanying pedestal. It lived near the dining room table for many years, and it’s a beautiful book with gorgeous pictures in the margins. The dictionary belongs to me now; you might notice it behind me if we’re ever on a Zoom call. Dad taught me the meaning of many words and the importance of a well-written paragraph. But I learned so much more than that from him. Most of all, he taught me about accountability and how to own up to my mistakes. Making a mistake can often hurt other people, so admitting to it as quickly as possible is the only right way to move forward. But your mistakes hurt you, too. If you’ve ever tried to cover one up, just think of all the stress it caused. Dad taught me that it’s better for you to confess your mistakes — and that fixing them generally isn’t as difficult as you imagined.
Among many other things, he knew all about the constellations, including their Greek, Roman, and local Native American names and stories. I could sit with him under a starry sky and listen to him go on for ages about each one and how three different cultures understood them. The older I get, the cooler I realize it was. After Dad died, I couldn’t even look at a starry sky for a while. It was too painful. These days, I look up at the stars and think of him fondly. Though the loss still hurts, I try instead to focus on the legacy Dad left behind. A love of words, a desire to learn, and the humility to acknowledge my failures have made me who I am today. Our time together felt too short, but Dad’s lessons will last a lifetime.
– Nate Riordan 1 206-903-0401
Travel Insurance: Scam or Savior? If you’ve ever booked a plane ticket or hotel stay online, you’ve probably been offered an opportunity to “protect” your purchase for an additional fee. Since you’re spending big dollars on your trip, you may have hovered over the option, wondering if it’s a wise investment or a quick money-making scheme. Before you buy, you should know that trip protection and travel insurance are different. When you book directly through the airline or hotel or on a travel website like Travelocity or Expedia, they offer you trip protection. These plans often provide nothing more than a voucher you can use to reschedule in the event of a cancellation — something you won’t need if you book refundable accommodations. But you can also purchase travel insurance through a reputable third party, and these policies offer cash refunds if your trip is canceled or interrupted. They also typically cover lost or damaged bags, and high-quality policies will cover medical emergencies that occur at your destination. But there may be restrictions, so always make sure you understand the terms and buy coverage that offers the protection you want.
It can be hard to swallow the idea of paying more to insure yourself against an event that probably won’t happen. So, can you skip it? The risk you’re willing to take is up to you, but remember the amount of money you’re spending on travel and consider whether it’s worth protecting your investment. While you may decide against travel insurance for your weekend trip two states away, experts recommend always purchasing it for international travel or cruises due to the higher cost and potential for things to go wrong. The price, they say, is usually worth the peace of mind. If you’re going to purchase travel insurance, you should take the time to shop around, just like you did with your accommodations. Not all plans are created equal, so read the fine print and make sure you understand what is covered — and what is not. The last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on a policy that leaves you holding the bag.
Delivering the Goods
SHOULD YOU DITCH THE THIRD-PARTY APPS?
By now, you know the price of doing business with third-party delivery apps. Services like DoorDash, GrubHub, or UberEats take a commission of about 30% per order, meaning that costs add up quickly. Some restaurateurs have even found themselves taking a loss. But as the impacts on local business have become more widely understood by consumers, more report a preference for ordering directly from the restaurant; in one study, 70% of customers preferred it. It’s enough to get any business owner wondering whether there’s more money to be made in ditching the apps and doing delivery themselves. Sixty percent of Americans report ordering takeout or delivery at least once a week, and 31% say they use third-party delivery apps at least twice a week. Considering that 59% of
millenial orders are for takeout or delivery, these numbers can only be expected to grow. We are well past the point of swaying diners away from the convenience of eating restaurant food at home. There are benefits to keeping your delivery service in-house — that’s why Chinese restaurants and pizza joints have done so for decades. Restaurants can pocket delivery fees rather than paying them out to apps. And how many times have you received a complaint about a third-party delivery arriving cold or in otherwise unacceptable condition? In-house delivery allows your establishment to perform better quality control. But the drawbacks are just as numerous. Delivery fees seem appealing, but they likely won’t cover the cost of paying your couriers. Then there’s the problem of managing a fleet of vehicles or paying drivers to use their
own. Insurance may be the most prohibitive factor. Delivery is dangerous work, and if you’re underinsured, an accident can cost you everything. A tightly regulated system with only a handful of delivery workers can benefit mom and pop restaurants with only one or two locations. But for franchisors managing multiple locations and looking to grow, the overhead costs, additional management, and insurance headaches are often not worth the commission savings. Fortunately, there is a silver lining. When researchers surveyed restaurant operators, 60% said delivery had generated incremental sales. Other research showed that third-party delivery raises sales volume up to 20%. Those delivery apps have their downside, but they’re becoming a standard cost of doing business.
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Unlock Your ‘High Performance Habits’ And Gain Long-Term Business Success!
Did “Atomic Habits” by James Clear change your life in 2018? Was “Tiny Habits” by BJ Fogg one of your top books of 2019? If you’ve read those two bestsellers, you’re a step ahead of most entrepreneurs. But you might still be sleeping on one of the original books on the power of habits, which is packed with gems you can’t find anywhere else: Brendon Burchard’s 2017 read “High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way.” Brendon Burchard is a legend in the world of personal development coaching. Oprah. com called him “one of the most successful online trainers in history,” and more than 2 million people have taken his online courses. But with the help of your local library, you can start learning his secrets to success without paying a cent.
help you reach your personal and business goals. He calls this the HP6 model.
your truth and your ambitions” by telling someone about your goals every day. But that alone isn’t enough. To truly form the habit, you also need to reframe struggle and zero in on someone worth fighting for — whether that’s your team, your clients, or your children.
1. Seek clarity. 2. Generate energy. 3. Raise necessity. 4. Increase productivity. 5. Develop influence. 6. Demonstrate courage.
“High Performance Habits” is a business book, but it’s also a personal development book. It will force you to dive deep into your strengths, weaknesses, and motivations to unlock your real high-performance potential. You can use it to fit more tasks into a day, increase your confidence, or become a better leader — whatever your business needs!
As you can see, these aren’t your basic healthy habits like “drink water” and “get eight hours of sleep”! Burchard calls the first three “personal habits” and the last three “social habits,” and in the book he uses real-life examples to explain each habit. He also offers daily exercises that will help you form them.
It takes multiple keys to unlock each habit. For example, to demonstrate courage, Burchard says you must “share
Pick up a copy today to see why Andrew Burns of Medium calls this “the epitome of a book that needs more than one read.”
In “High Performance Habits,” Burchard recommends six specific habits that will
GRILLED CORN AND RICOTTA DIP
TAKE A BREAK
This dip tastes great with bread, crostini, or crackers and will be a hit at any summer gathering.
Ingredients:
Inspired by Saveur.com
• • • • • •
6 ears of corn
black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
•
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated 2 tbsp unsalted butter, diced Chives and scallions, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups ricotta
• •
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp thyme, finely chopped Kosher salt and freshly ground
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. 2. In a large grill pan on high heat, cook the corn until charred on all sides. Let cool, then cut the kernels from the cob. 3. In a food processor or blender, purée two-thirds of the kernels with the cream, ricotta, flour, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in remaining whole kernels.
Solution:
4. Pour into an 8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top, and dot with butter. Bake for approximately 1 1/2 hours, until bubbly. 5. Garnish with chives and scallions before serving.
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600 Stewart Street #1300 Seattle, WA 98101
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IN THIS ISSUE 1 2
Nate Shares His Dad’s Biggest Lessons Is Travel Insurance Worth Your Money? Can You Do Better Than the Delivery Apps? Read This Book to Boost Your Performance Grilled Corn and Ricotta Dip Meet TikTok’s Favorite Money Expert
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Meet the ‘Financial Feminist’ Tori Dunlap Helps Women Save
A woman stands in front of a camera. She says, “I will have over $30 million by the time I retire, and I’m only 27. Let’s talk.”
“I’m never going to shame people for their oat milk lattes or blame their brunch habits for not being able to buy a home,” Dunlap told Forbes. Targeting such a specific demographic is a smart strategy because she can tailor her message and marketing dollars just for them. 2. She’s social media savvy. Dunlap jumped on TikTok early, and she plays the algorithm game on both TikTok and Instagram well. By using reels, trending soundtracks, and humor, she makes her social media presence “engaging, entertaining, and actionable,” as she put it to Forbes. 3. She’s not afraid to get personal. On her podcast “Financial Feminist,” Dunlap shares details about her childhood and opens up about her own struggles with money and sexism. This transparency helps convince her fans that she’s the real deal, and because she feels like a friend, they stick around and use her services long term.
Would you watch the rest of that video? If so, you might want to join the many people who already follow Tori Dunlap ( @herfirsk100k ) on Instagram and TikTok. By age 25, Dunlap had saved $100,000 thanks to financial advice from her parents — and she turned that process into a business. She launched Her First 100K, a financial coaching service for women, and became a viral success on social media. The Guardian newspaper calls her “the TikTok feminist saving people from debt” and Forbes puts her at the center of the “FinTok” (Financial TikTok) movement. She’s been featured on the “Today Show,” Business Insider, TIME, and BuzzFeed since launching her business in 2019. So, what is she doing right? 1. She knows her demographic. Dunlap talks directly to people just like her: millennial and Gen Z women fighting an uphill battle against the patriarchy and suggestions that deprivation is the only way to save.
To learn more about what makes Dunlap tick, visit HerFirst100k.com.
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