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For The Ambitious Advocate BRIEF RECESS
NOVEMBER 2025
FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF J. PRICE MCNAMARA
FREEDOM TO SHAPE LIFE AND PRACTICE Break Free From Feeling Stuck
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A tasks: These tasks give you energy, you enjoy them, and they’re high-value, high-leverage activities. B tasks: These tasks are fine. They add value to the business, but they don’t match your unique skills or interests. C tasks: These drain your energy. They still need to be done, but they’re low-value and you dislike them. If you look at your day, you probably have tasks that fall into all three buckets. The entire goal of the Strategic Coach program is to do absolutely everything you can to maximize the amount of time doing work in the “A” bucket while getting everything else off your plate. How? By hiring and delegating. There is always someone out there who would put your “B” and “C” tasks into their “A” bucket. And they’re probably better at those tasks than you are.
We live in a country that offers incredible freedom of opportunity, especially for attorneys. Even after spending years mastering a given practice area, we can pivot at any age. In fact, you should pivot if you don’t like what you’re doing day in and day out. If you're even a little unhappy with the work you do each day, that feeling will inevitably spill into your home life. And too often, it leaves you feeling stuck. Coaching programs can change everything. What many attorneys (probably most attorneys) don't realize is that there are coaching programs out there to help you think differently. They start not with your practice, but with your life. You imagine what a perfect life would look like in 3, 5, or 10 years. How much time each week do you want to spend working? Of that time, how much should be spent handling cases versus leading as CEO while others take on the legal work? From there, you can begin deliberately shaping your practice and your life to match that vision. The results are real. Believe it or not, this approach works. I’ve been part of several such programs, and they’ve been life-changing. One example is Strategic Coach , founded by Dan Sullivan. It’s one of the most well-known entrepreneurial coaching programs in the world. Small groups of about 20 business owners from different industries across the country come together to meet quarterly in Chicago to set their focus for the next 90 days. The goal is to pinpoint what will move the needle toward their business and life visions. If you’re curious, I highly recommend checking out Dan’s content on YouTube. Do what you love and delegate. Dan teaches a lot of great concepts, but anchoring them all is his simple “ABC” framework. The idea is to look at every task you handle daily and put each in one of three buckets:
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The Payoff Is it easy? No. Does it take thought and work? Yes. Is it doable? Very much so. And the payoff is a practice (and a life) you enjoy.
Nobody’s paying me to promote their programs, so why do I bring them up so often? It’s because I wish I had discovered these groups
and concepts earlier in my career. If you don’t love what you’re doing, find the right room full of people eager to help you figure it out. They’re out there.
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1621 AND THE LONG ROAD TO A Deeper Look at Tha When most of us imagine the “first Thanksgiving,” we picture Pilgrims and Native Americans crowded around a long table with turkey and pumpkin pie. The scene people hold in their minds is neat and familiar, but the reality was rougher and, in many ways, more interesting. That 1621 harvest wasn’t even called Thanksgiving; it stretched for three days instead of one. About 50 Pilgrims who made it through the brutal first year joined roughly 90 Wampanoag men to mark the season. The food on hand was what the land and sea offered: venison, corn, mussels, and other staples of the region. Wampanoag hunters supplied much of the meat, while the Pilgrims shared from their meager harvest. One figure often left out of the story is Squanto, a Patuxet man kidnapped by traders years earlier. By the time he returned to his people, he had learned to speak English, which enabled him to become the bridge between cultures. He acted as a translator and taught the Pilgrims how to grow the crops they depended on for survival.
For one special soldier, the mission is clear: Provide comfort, lift spirits, and stand by his crew, four paws at a time. Raider, a 1-year-old Lab mix from an animal rescue in San Diego, isn’t your typical recruit. He’s about to make waves as the first full-time morale dog on a Navy ship, and he could transform life at sea for hundreds of sailors. With a wagging tail and unwavering loyalty, this pup is ready to serve his country in the most heartwarming way. The nonprofit Shelter to Soldier has been training shelter dogs as service animals for veterans since 2012, with a mission to “save lives, two at a time.” Though the organization partners dogs with individual veterans, it began bringing therapy dogs to Navy ships for special training outings and made a discovery. Crew members felt a special connection with the pups and kept asking, “Can we take this dog on deployment with us?” Raider is the first canine cadet for the job. He was adopted from Labs and More Rescue and has been deep in training since April. This new furry crew member has been working hard on learning to use a “potty patch” on board and special safety gear like booties for his paws and eye protection. Along with getting his sea legs, he’s learning various commands that will help in his role, which is “designed to support the emotional wellness, morale, and mental health of sailors and Marines,” according to the nonprofit. Raider will join a team of five handlers and live MEET THE NAVY’S FIRST FULL-TIME MORALE DOG Anchors Aweigh, Belly Rubs Ahead
After that first gathering, it would be another 200 years before the country embraced Thanksgiving as a national tradition. Persuaded
Does your office turn away calls about “long-term disability insurance” claim denials because you don’t handle administrative appeals or “ERISA litigation” in federal court? We want to hear from you! We happily share fees on referred ERISA long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death insurance denial cases. Send us an email at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com or call (225) 201-8311 to start the referral process! WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS!
full time on the USS Makin Island in his own room. Crew members will get their wish, and any time the base deploys, he’ll be along for the ride. Known for his goofy personality and affinity for belly rubs, he’s already bringing cheer to the base and inspiring others to follow in his pawprints. The nonprofit is busy training morale dogs for other ships.
“Everyone is just really excited to have a furry
companion to go with them when they’re underway,” Director of Operations and Training Nicky Moore said, adding, “What makes you happier than a dog?”
ERISA is all we do!
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anksgiving
National Union Fire Insurance Company (NUFIC) attempted to exploit our client Dan’s (not his real name) commendable but unsuccessful attempt to return to work while totally disabled. Dan, 60, was a Process Technician at Dow Chemical Company. While on a fishing trip, he fell and severely injured his shoulder. After multiple surgeries, his arm remained useless. Dow had an ERISA- governed permanent and total disability plan insured by NUFIC. Benefits were payable if he became “permanently and totally” disabled within 365 days of the accident. Insurance companies exploit good-faith work attempts. At Dan’s insistence, his surgeon reluctantly released him to attempt “light duty” desk work before the 365 days were up. The surgeon told Dan he would never succeed, as he believed he was permanently and totally disabled. Dow let him try, but Dan could not perform basic tasks due to shoulder pain. Within that 365-day window, his surgeon reaffirmed his total disability, and even the Social Security Administration declared Dan fully disabled. NUFIC, however, denied the claim. Their reasoning? The surgeon’s declaration of disability did not use the word “permanent.” Based on that technicality, NUFIC argued that Dan did not meet the plan’s requirement of being “permanently and totally” disabled within 365 days after the accident. Technicalities can make or break an ERISA case. On paper, NUFIC’s position looked defensible. Dan came to us after his own administrative appeal failed. Under ERISA, the court cannot consider any evidence outside the official administrative record, making it crucial to complete the record before a lawsuit is filed. We got with his surgeon to clarify the record. The surgeon issued a letter confirming that Dan had been “permanently and totally” disabled within the required 365 days. We submitted that letter to NUFIC before filing suit to make it part of the record. NUFIC still rejected it, so we filed suit seeking full benefits and attorney fees. NUFIC later saw the light and settled the case at mediation for a confidential sum. Dan had paid premiums for years for disability coverage. He never should have been forced to sue for the benefits he was entitled to. Thanks to persistence and the right legal strategy, he finally got justice. Justice After a Bogus Claim Denial OUR CLIENT FINALLY GETS THE BENEFITS HE EARNED
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by magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale, President Abraham Lincoln established the holiday in 1863, right in the middle of the Civil War. Hale had been pushing for an official day of thanks for decades, and both she and Lincoln believed it was the perfect time to give American families a reason to gather and feel united. Turkey was an early Thanksgiving tradition, but many other things associated with the holiday came much later. Macy’s held its first parade in 1924, and football became a regular part of the day in the mid- 1900s. Over time, television and advertising played a major role in creating the modern version of Thanksgiving we all know today. What began as a rough harvest gathering slowly turned into parades, football, and family traditions. But even with all the changes, sitting down to a meal together is still at the heart of Thanksgiving.
HAVE A LAUGH
We thank our referral counsel for the opportunity to help fight for Dan. Referral counsel received a fee of $16,550.
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ERISA INSURANCE J. PRICE MCNAMARA Claim Attorney
9431 Common St. Baton Rouge, LA 70809
(225) 201-8311 WinMyBenefits.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Strategic Coach and the ABC Method
How a Rescue Dog Is Lifting Spirits at Sea
Thanksgiving’s Real Beginnings
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Beating a Wrongful Disability Denial
Have a Laugh
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Paradise Found
Bungalows and Bliss: Tropical Escapes to Savor
Whether you’re looking to book a tropical trip this winter or want to live vicariously through descriptions of dream destinations, this article is for you! From overwater bungalows to swim-up bars, these resorts redefine relaxation in some of the world’s most glamorous getaways. A Spectacular South Asian Sojourn If you want to add flavor to your wintertime festivities with an international jaunt, the Maldives, just southwest of India, is home to some of the world’s most renowned resorts. Celebrated for its spacious rooms, private pools, and “floating breakfasts,” The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, boasts seven restaurants offering a vast array of global delicacies. Another Maldives mainstay, Soneva Fushi, offers some of the largest overwater villas in the world, perfect for viewing the area’s breathtakingly clear waters. And if you’re a fan of exploring tropical travel via social media, you’ve likely caught an eyeful of Instagram favorite Soneva Jani. This Maldives destination provides guests plenty of playful options, ranging from a waterslide to a trip on one of the resort’s seaplanes.
Of course, an extraordinary vacation doesn’t necessarily mean spending time in an expansive environment. Those looking to balance luxury with a low-key vibe should check out Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, a boutique resort that invites guests to lounge on a private water hammock as their worries wash away. Fresh Perks in French Polynesia Outdoor bungalows are also a big hit in Bora Bora. In addition to in-room pools, the Four Seasons Bora Bora resort offers guests a view of Mount Otemanu that all intrepid travelers should experience at least once. Over at the Westin Bora Bora, vacationers can take in the locale’s modern aesthetics while sipping cocktails at its swim-up bar. If you plan to travel with a large group, the two-story Presidential Suites and overwater villas at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui are outstanding options. Not surprisingly, Bora Bora isn't the only place to visit in French Polynesia. Although the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa tends to book up quickly due to its smaller size, it’s worth trying to get a room for this vacation spot’s famous snorkeling sites alone.
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