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BRAUNSLAW.COM 404-418-8244 Failure Fuels Mastery
A PRESIDENTIAL GUIDE TO PERSEVERANCE From celebrating love to commemorating America’s greatest civil rights leaders, February is full of memorable holidays and events that highlight our nation’s spirit of perseverance. It is also the month when one of our most inspiring citizens, President Abraham Lincoln, was born in 1809. In many ways, Brauns Law would not exist without him. Allow me to explain. taking tests nonstop the entire time. By then, I had been an active workforce member for over a decade and hadn’t taken a test or studied in years. but there’s absolutely zero education on how to run a firm. I failed at hiring the right people, handling profit and loss statements, and managing expenses and budgets — basically, everything I wasn’t taught in law school. I hadn’t operated my firm as a professional services business and paid the price for that misstep.
One day, I met up with a friend at Emory University, where he was studying business. We borrowed a conference room to have a quiet place to study. We later visited a break bar on campus that had sodas and water. The walls in that area were covered with various inspirational posters, including one featuring President Lincoln. Now, this wasn’t your typical inspirational poster; rather, it listed several of his failures before becoming president in 1961. His many stumbles included two failed attempts at business, two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress, two lost Senate races, and an unsuccessful run for the vice presidency. I was completely unaware of his various trials and tribulations and didn’t realize how hard he had to work to achieve greatness and his place in American history. Looking at that poster as I pondered my standing as an older student, I thought, “Just because I’m older doesn’t mean I’ve given up any sort of advantage.” I was impressed that President Lincoln could push through defeat after defeat and keep going. I’ve been reminded of that poster many times over the years, especially as my career began to take shape. After earning my law degree, I started out doing insurance defense for about three years before opening my own law firm. Unfortunately, I was forced to close the original Brauns Law after only two years. In law school, you’re taught how to be a lawyer,
I returned to working with insurance companies for another 18 months or so before thinking, “Enough is enough. I can’t do this anymore.” I reopened my practice and committed myself to making it work this time. The second version of Brauns Law continues to prosper, and I’m fortunate to work alongside 10 great employees (including case managers who’ve all been with me for at least nine years). If my initial failure had dissuaded me from following my path, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Staying hungry remains one of my firm’s core values. To me, complacency is the most dangerous habit of all. I’m always curious and open to learning and trying new things. I work as if my firm could go away tomorrow, which gives me a sense of urgency that keeps me on the cutting edge and helps me avoid being left behind. Thank you, President Lincoln, for teaching me the value of never letting failure prevent future success — and a thank you to my clients for showing me the value of going the distance. I couldn’t have done it without you.
The current incarnation of Brauns Law has been in business for 14 years, but the road to my success was much longer. For one thing, I didn’t start attending the Georgia State University College of Law until I was 32 years old. Honestly, I felt stressed competing with all the younger students who went straight to grad school after college and had been
Lincoln’s Failures 1832 — Lost job 1832 — Defeated for legislature 1833 — Failed in business 1834 — Elected to legislature 1835 — Sweetheart (Ann Rutledge) died 1836 — Had a nervous breakdown 1838 — Defeated for speaker 1843 — Defeated for nomination for Congress 1846 — Elected to Congress 1848 — Lost renomination 1849 — Rejected for land officer 1854 — Defeated for Senate 1856 — Defeated for nomination for vice president 1858 — Again defeated for Senate
1860 — Elected president
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GET IN THE GAME
The Teenage Transition
Watching your children transition into teenagers is a challenging experience for any parent. Your little girl has traded in her dolls for makeup, and your son would rather spend time with friends than throw a ball around the yard with you. As teens grow, parents have to adapt and adjust to the changes. It won’t always be easy, especially as arguments and disagreements may become more common. Still, you can make this situation easier on yourself by preparing for the changes and adopting helpful strategies. Here are three ways to maintain your relationship with your children as they progress through their teenage years. Provide your children with new opportunities to find their passions. Your children are in the self-discovery stage of their lives, so it’s vital they
get a chance to explore hobbies and activities that interest them. Ask them what they want to do with their free time, and enroll them in extracurricular activities that align with their interests. Be encouraging and supportive, and you’ll quickly see improvements in their mood and your relationship. Be open-minded. Our children’s hobbies, interests, and even some personality traits can change as they progress through their teenage years. Be curious about their developing habits and try to involve yourself in activities they enjoy. This extends to discussions about their future. As adulthood approaches, talk with your kids about their career prospects and interests. They might have a different plan than you imagined, but this is when you need to be open-minded and supportive — it will strengthen your relationship immensely.
Understand that you won’t see them as often. The teenage years are when our kids start yearning for independence. As long as they’re staying out of trouble, let them explore the world around them. They’ll want to spend more time with their friends, visit places like the mall or movie theater without you, and explore romantic relationships. This is a normal part of growing up, and as parents, we should expect and respect the change.
Need Help? Call Brauns “Brauns Law was very responsive and prompt from the start to the finish of my case. Haley in particular checked in with me monthly and ensured all my questions were addressed. She also reached out to the insurance company at the start of my case and assisted with making sure I was set up with a rental car. David is very knowledgeable and I would recommend this firm to others.” — My L. Everyone at Brauns has been SO incredibly helpful from day one of opening my case! I’ve never had to seek clarification or answers — they always explain everything thoroughly along every step of the process. Haley has been THE most helpful and has alleviated so much of the stress that comes after being in an accident. I couldn’t ask for a better team of representation to get through these difficult times, and would recommend their services to anyone! — Whitney B.
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Keep on Track
From Prison, With Love THE SURPRISING ORIGIN OF VALENTINES
Valentine’s Day is a time of chocolates, flowers, romantic dinners, and honoring our significant others. Every Feb. 14, we’re reminded of the power of having a companion by our side, especially when that love has helped us stay strong in the face of adversity. This mindset led to the development of the cards and love letters that define the day for couples around the globe — and we owe it all to a prisoner of war. Our tradition of expressing our deepest love through Valentine’s Day notes dates back to at least 1415 when an imprisoned French aristocrat penned what is largely believed to be the first use of “Valentine” in a love letter. That year, the British defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt. The spoils of this victory included the capture of Charles, Duke of Orléans, who was subsequently held prisoner in the Tower of London for the next quarter century. Just 21 years old at the time of his capture, Charles longed to
be reunited with his second wife, Bonne of Armagnac. To pass the time and ease his heartsickness, he penned poems and letters to his beloved, hoping to be with her again someday. One particular poem, written more than two decades before he was finally set free, included the following passage: God forgives him who has estranged Me from you for the whole year. Tragically, the two would never hold one another again. Bonne passed away before Charles’s release, depriving them of years of love and the opportunity to have children together. Charles would later remarry and father three children before he died in 1465. Credited for inadvertently kickstarting the modern Valentine’s Day card industry, he remains one of France’s most studied and celebrated poets. I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine.
Take a Break
FABULOUS FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE
Inspired by EasyDessertRecipes.com
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS 1.
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1 cup chopped dark chocolate 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup almond flour 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 4 large eggs, separated 2 tbsp cocoa powder
Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a springform pan with butter or nonstick spray. 2. Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour warm, melted butter over it, wait for 2 minutes, then stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. 3. Add sugar, almond flour, and walnuts and stir to incorporate. Stir in the egg yolks and set mixture aside. 4. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites on medium until stiff peaks form. 5. Fold 1/4 of the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter. Repeat, 1/4 at a time, until egg whites are incorporated. 6. Pour batter into springform pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and let it cool
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CHOCOLATE DREAM EQUALITY GROUNDHOG
GRAMMY KING LINCOLN PIZZA
ROSES SUPER BOWL VALENTINE WOMEN
completely before removing from the pan. Dust with cocoa powder before serving.
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Inside This Issue 1 Strength in Setbacks Support Your Teenager’s
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Growth Without Losing Touch What Our Clients Are Saying Love Woven With Words Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake Take a Break Tasty Alternatives to Probiotic Supplements Get Proactive About Your Probiotics Taking Charge of Your Gut Health Can Be Delicious! If “health is wealth,” then maintaining optimal gut health is the road map to riches! All too often, we only think of gut health as keeping stomach issues at bay. While that belief has some truth, improving your gut health is crucial in regulating and supporting your body’s overall functions. So, how can you achieve optimal gut health? Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is the all-star of all gut-friendly foods simply because it can be used in many different ways. You can eat it plain, add fruit, or create salad dressings, sauces, and smoothies! The key is to check the label to ensure it says “Live and Active Cultures.” That means it likely contains friendly species like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei . Kimchi: This healthy, bacteria-driven food is a cornerstone of Korean cuisine, made with fermented cabbage and gochujang, a Korean chili paste. It also contains vegetables like daikon radish, ginger, and carrots. The fermentation process makes it a probiotic. Kimchi can be found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store and sometimes in the produce department.
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The answer is simple: probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria housed in your gut to help your body’s natural processes, and adding them to your daily diet can do wonders for your overall gut health. Of course, you can take various tablets, capsules, gummies, and now even sodas to get your daily dose. However, supplements in those forms can get pricey, especially when certain foods are naturally packed with the probiotics your body needs. Here are three delicious foods you can eat to get your daily dose of gut health. Pickles: Pickles aren’t only the perfect addition to your burger or salad! Naturally fermented pickles and their juice are actually saturated with helpful probiotics, vitamins, and minerals your body needs.
It’s never too late or too early to start getting proactive about probiotics. Incorporating these “easy on the gut” foods into your daily diet will change the makeup of the bacteria in your gut, which, in turn, will keep your body’s overall functioning in tip-top shape.
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