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D ecember 2022
Why We Should Think About the Future Now N o T ime to L ose
Who hasn’t wondered what it would be like to travel through time? Time travel has captured our imaginations for decades and shows no signs of losing popularity. Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day on Dec. 8 allows us to indulge in this fantasy. Where would you go? There are countless options, so my choice might seem a little odd. But I’d like to go forward in time and have a conversation with myself. This is actually an exercise I do once every three years or so, and I’ve found it extremely valuable. The idea is to imagine who and where you’ll be in five years and then ask yourself how you got there. It helps to be as specific as possible. And I don’t mean only with material things. It’s not difficult to imagine the shiny car you’ll be driving, but many other questions are much harder. How is your career, and do you like what you’re doing? Is your relationship with your kids what you’d like it to be? Who is your significant other, and how is that relationship going? The more specific you are, the more clearly you can see what you want and the behaviors that will get you there. I’ve always believed firmly in intentionality and baby steps. Some people work more off epiphanies. Like Paul the Apostle in the Bible, they wait for a light on the Road to Damascus to tell them when they need to make a change. That has never been how I operate; it’s too easy to get off track that
way. Instead, I identify what I want and choreograph the steps I need to get it. And because they’re baby steps, none of them require a giant leap of faith — just small, consistent, intentional changes. Interestingly, it was time for me to do this exercise not too long ago, and for the first time, I was stumped. I can see clearly where The Manely Firm will be in the short term. We’ll be opening our first international practice within the next two years followed quickly by another. (Where, exactly, is currently the subject of a spirited debate.) But five years from now remains a puzzle. I’m sure that means something — I just have yet to figure out what. Once I do, I’m sure I’ll learn something about myself. And that alone is worth the time it takes to do the exercise. Ultimately, everyone’s least favorite job interview question serves a purpose. Where do you see yourself in five years? Even though none of us can tell the future, the answer to that question tells us a lot about who we are — and who we can be — in the present.
–Michael Manely
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I mpress the G uests WITH THESE HOLIDAY HOSTING TIPS
Stock up on your guests’ favorites. Have you ever stayed with someone who didn’t have extra food for their guests? Don’t put your guests in this situation. Load up your pantry, refrigerator, and cupboards with your guests’ favorite foods and drinks. If you don’t know what they are, ask ahead of their visit! Your guests will appreciate your conscientious gesture and have a much more enjoyable time if they can eat their favorites while visiting.
Prepare a guest room. If your guests are staying with you, you need to prepare somewhere for them to sleep. Make sure you make up the bed, have plenty of pillows and blankets on hand, and provide adequate closet space for their clothes. Even if they aren’t staying in a traditional bedroom, their sleeping area should still be ready when they arrive. Clear off a table for them to use as a nightstand and put sheets on the couch or mattress where they’ll sleep. Use real dishes. When we have company over for a meal, especially a large gathering, it’s usually easier to use plastic or paper options — saves on cleanup, too! The holidays are not necessarily the time for this shortcut. Break out the fine china if you have it, or use regular dishes for your guests. It’s okay for the kids to have paper plates, but if you want to make a good impression on visiting adults, nicer dishes will dress up the table setting and meal.
The holidays are rapidly approaching, and soon, we’ll share laughs while enjoying the festivities with our loved ones. Before the celebrations begin, you must prepare your home for visitors, especially if they stay overnight. It can be stressful whether it’s your in-laws, best friends, or distant cousins coming to stay with you. You want to leave a good impression, but how do you ensure everyone’s needs are met, including yours? Here are three tips for setting yourself up for a successful holiday, regardless of who stays with you.
F inding H is C alling Meet Luke Tobis!
Luke Tobis didn’t find his passion immediately. He attended George Washington University with dual majors in pre-medicine and business administration, but decided after graduation that he didn’t want to pursue either profession further. As he considered his options, he took a position with AmeriCorps, a federal volunteer agency that helps people in need. With Americorps, Luke worked on many sexual health issues, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. “I learned very quickly that people with HIV have a very love/hate relationship with the law,” Luke said. “The government empowers them by providing care, but at the same time, they’re waiting to punish people with laws about disclosing their status.” Intrigued, Luke attended law school but had the misfortune of graduating in 2020 when many law firms were not hiring. He spent time studying for the bar exam in Gainesville, Florida, before eventually finding a job in Atlanta near family. His first job as an attorney was in insurance defense litigation, but he soon switched to family law and joined The Manely Firm.
“So far, I’ve loved it,” Luke says. “The circumstances and consequences of my cases are so much bigger. My clients are dividing up their lives, and we need to make sure their children are taken care of, and a healthy, productive relationship can develop between both parents. I make sure my client’s interests are represented, but I also have to make sure those interests aren’t harmful to the children.” Luke married his wife in 2019 and has three boys and a 1-year-old daughter. Between his family and building a career, he doesn’t have much time for hobbies, but he makes sure never to miss an episode of “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” or “House of the Dragon” TV shows. He used to be an avid runner and hopes to resume that hobby soon, along with his passions for skiing and scuba diving. Until then, he looks forward to settling in to The Manely Firm. “I like that it feels like a family here,” Luke says. “No one closes their door unless necessary, and I can go to other attorneys for help.” But working with clients remains the best part of the job. “I’m helping actual people with their lives,” Luke says. “That’s often the best feeling ever.”
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“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” –C.S. L ewis
W hoville R oast B east
M aking Y our D ream W ork
Inspired by TasteMade.com
WHY THE MANELY FIRM WORKS IN TEAMS
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, areas of expertise, and places where their familiarity is a little shakier. Many attorneys in the family law industry run very successful small practices by themselves. Sometimes they’re brilliant lawyers, but their knowledge is still finite and limited to their experiences. And their blindspots can cause significant problems for their clients’ futures. Our commitment to working in teams is one factor that has made The Manely Firm so successful for our clients. We know that no one is an island, and we don’t believe a single attorney can sufficiently meet a client’s needs. We work collectively and collaboratively, with at least two attorneys and two paralegals assigned to each case. The same cannot be said of most other family law firms, no matter their size. Michael Manely estimates that less than 10% of the industry works the way we do. “Usually, it’s as if attorneys are working in a vacuum,” he says. “They are assigned a case and work it by themselves. It’s just a loose arrangement of attorneys calling themselves a firm.” But, Michael points out, “If you send one person to win a baseball or football game, it won’t happen.” He adds, “Imagine trying to pull off an ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ type plan with only one person. No, everyone has a part to play in creating perfection. And even James Bond needs a team around him.” Unsurprisingly, when Michael opened the Firm 30 years ago, he knew he wanted to create a place where people worked together. “A collaborative process makes so much more sense to me,” he says. Working in teams allows The Manely Firm to develop more creative solutions and fill gaps a lone pair of eyes may have missed. We believe this collaboration is the secret behind the very successful outcomes we secure for our clients. So, don’t be alarmed that multiple people are working on your case. It’s all a part of our process and how we go about helping our clients meet their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Additional resources mean more support for you and your family, and we’ve found over the years that two heads really are better than one.
I ngredients
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1/4 cup brown sugar
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2 bay leaves
1 tbsp paprika
4 thyme sprigs
2 tsp black pepper
2 rosemary sprigs 1/2 cup beef broth
2 tsp salt
3 tbsp olive oil
1 12-oz bottle of stout beer 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes (with liquid)
1 5-lb bone-in rib-eye roast
3 tbsp butter
2 heads of garlic, halved
D irections 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, pepper, salt, and olive oil. 3. Place roast in a baking pan and coat with spice mixture. Let marinate uncovered in refrigerator for 1 hour. 4. Place pan on stove over high heat. Brown the roast on all sides, then add butter, garlic, and herbs. 5. When butter melts, add broth, beer, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. 6. Transfer pan to oven. Braise until meat is tender, up to 2 hours. 7. Remove roast from pan and let rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, strain pan juices and put back into pan and boil until reduced by half. When finished, slice roast and serve with pan sauce.
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211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com
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Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?
How to Impress Visitors This Holiday Season Meet Attorney Luke Tobis! The Manely Firm’s Secret Weapon: Teamwork Whoville Roast Beast
Best Christmas Tree Attractions to Visit This Holiday Season
L ighting U p L ife O ne P ine N eedle at a T ime T ravel -W orthy C hristmas T rees
The National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. This American favorite has long been a tradition. Every year, the ceremony begins with live performances by musical artists, and an annual highlight is when the president delivers a message of peace. President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to light the National Christmas Tree in 1923. The tree was 48 feet high and decorated with 2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs. A local choir and a quartet from the U.S. Marine Band performed as the tree was lit. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Tree in Idaho Also known as the World’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree, this grand fir holds the record at 162 feet tall. It is festively decorated with more than 40,000 lights that twinkle in time to the music of “Jingle Bells,” and the tree is crowned with a 10-foot-wide star! The Biltmore Christmas Tree in North Carolina This majestic 55-foot Norway spruce tree is in front of the Biltmore Estate and lit as guests make their way down the path of luminaries. With ornaments and miles of garland, this tree is selected for the Banquet Hall each year for guests from all over to see. Some are lucky enough to live near or in a city with a magnificent tree, but if you don’t, consider traveling to one of these locations to enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.
As the holiday season approaches, the twinkling lights and spectacular Christmas tree attractions are always a must-see! Here are the best travel destinations to catch a glimpse of one of the pillars of the holidays. The Rockefeller Center Tree in New York City The Rockefeller Center tree is located just west of 5th Avenue from 47th through 51st streets in New York City and dates back to the Depression era, with the first tree placed there in 1931. This beloved tourist attraction draws thousands yearly with its dazzling lights and grand scale. To even be considered a contender for this role, a tree must be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide!
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