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November 2017
GIVING THANKS FOR A YEAR IN BUSINESS
Bruce Law Turns 1
Halloween’s over, but at this time last year, I was embarking on a different scary exploit: starting my own law firm. Venturing out on our own is scary, whether it’s starting a business, ending a relationship, or changing careers. Deciding to go it on my own was hard primarily because I was working with two outstanding attorneys. But my family was expanding, and I realized it was time to make the change. Right before the birth of my second child, and right around Thanksgiving, I told my law partners what I was going to do. Thankfully, they had only congratulatory words for me, and I am grateful to still call them my friends.
over whether or not I could be successful. Each day was nerve wracking, but I was able to work with incredible clients and see the business grow as people heard about our services. When did things really start going well? When I stopped worrying about them. Instead of worrying I focused on getting things done. What followed was my confidence grew, and I started each day knowing it was going to work out. Reflecting on a year in business, the most important lesson I’ve learned is one that has guided me since the beginning: You can’t do everything yourself. I would not be able to do what I do without Ashley’s support and the support of my parents and her parents. My business wouldn’t run without the help of my paralegal, Nicole (who I’ll introduce you to on the next page). Even though I had an amazing team before, taking the step out of my comfort zone to start Bruce Law has brought home the lesson that it takes a team to be successful — at anything. Like any good business, marriage relies on a team. I may be a divorce attorney, but I’m the biggest advocate for nurturing a healthy marriage. When you choose someone to be your life partner, it’s a bond worth maintaining. I’ve started the website staymarriedflorida.com because I want to give you the tools to strengthen and nurture your marriage. It was this time last year that I ventured out on my own in law. You know what else I’ve noticed about this time of year? Around Thanksgiving, business slows down. People are spending time with their families and putting thoughts of divorce on hold. While this can be positive, if there are struggles in your marriages, those won’t just pass with the holidays. As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to tell you all how grateful I am for the opportunity to advise and work with you. Thank you to Ashley, my parents and in-laws, my former law partners, and everyone who has been part of Bruce Law. It takes a team, and I’m lucky and thankful to have a great one.
Fortunately, I wasn’t making this step on my own. Even after we’d just had a baby, Ashley was supportive of my decision to embark on this new adventure. Not only did I have the support of my spouse, but the lawyers at my previous practice were supportive, and having their vote of confidence made me realize I was ready to take the step.
– Chris Bruce
When you take a leap of faith, you realize just how much you depend on your team. I had a lot of fears when I started Bruce Law. I was concerned
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3 CLEANING ‘RIP OFFS’ ACTUALLY WORK THAT
Meet the Bruce Team I’m so pleased to introduce you to my paralegal Nicole, who has been a wonderful addition to our office since starting in April. She has been doing an incredible job, and I deeply appreciate her support. “I’ve always been fascinated by the law, and it turns out, my personality is well-suited to it. I am detail-oriented, and I like to read a lot. Working for Chris has provided me with a way to use my skills and interests to interact with the law every day. I’ve already learned so much. “Before I worked here, I took paralegal classes, but they don’t really do it justice. You can’t learn as much in classes as you can doing the work every day. Chris is a great mentor who encourages me to ask questions.” Nicole enjoys working with clients because each person is unique. She enjoys meeting new people and finding new opportunities to help you. Nicole wants you to feel supported when you come to our office. “We are working with people who are going through some of the worst times of their lives. It’s important to make sure they know the process and feel taken care of. It is the most important part of what I do because it’s someone’s life and a major life event they are going through.” Nicole shared a bit about why she decided to pursue a career in law.
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But sometimes we stumble across a few hidden gems that make our lives easier. And, when it comes to cleaning house, we can all use a little “easier.” Check out these products you may have already written off and let them surprise you. Dollar Store Cleaning Products If you’ve ever ducked into the local dollar store to buy some Mylar balloons for your niece’s birthday party, you might have noticed the jugs and spray bottles plastered with the word “Awesome.” Surely, this knock-off soap can’t work as well as your brand-name products, right? You’d be surprised. Online reviewers sing Awesome’s praises, suggesting it should really be a higher price for how well it works. Just make sure you wear gloves when you use it. Detergent Pods You use too much soap in your washing machine and dishwasher. At least, that’s what the New York Times reported as the No. 1 complaint from repair people and appliance experts. Modern appliances are designed to use less water, and as soap becomes more concentrated, using too much can damage your machine. That’s what makes detergent pods so handy. They don’t look like they can clean all your dishes or an entire load of clothes, but they actually provide the perfect amount for modern machines. You save money on detergent and machine repair! Foam Cleaning Blocks Anything with “magic” in the title sounds like a scam. For this reason, you may have avoided the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and similar melamine foam products. But this is one case where the product lives up to its wild claims. Melamine foam is abrasive and can break down and remove material from fine cracks and textures, making it an effective cleaner. It can be used to whiten sneakers, clean tub scum, and remove permanent marker from your fridge. Since the snake oil salesmen in the days of old first tricked trusting folks out of their hard-earned cash, consumers have wised up and are quick to write off perceived scams. Still, every now then you get lucky, and the cheap white sponge really does make the stove look like new. But you should still think twice before you say yes to gas station sushi.
After work, Nicole appreciates getting to go home to a “very silly” firecracker of a daughter, who is the perfect bright spot after a day of serious work. Nicole loves that after a challenging day, she can go home and “just deal with happiness.”
I’m grateful to have such a talented person as part of my team.
Does a friend or client have divorce questions?
our divorce strategy book can help!
The book can be downloaded for FREE at BrucePA.com/free- divorce-book . If your friend or client lives in the South Florida area we will mail them a hard copy of the book upon request.
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With ‘Boundaries for Leaders’ Redefining Leadership
of others who can take your ideas and make them actionable. Plus, they tend to make the journey more enjoyable if you hire the right people and set the right boundaries.
That’s why leaders need to invest time and energy into creating teams and workplace cultures that support productivity while maintaining employee satisfaction. It doesn’t take a clinical psychologist to tell you that unhappy people don’t stay productive for long. Without a sense of ownership — with you stepping over boundaries onto projects they should own for themselves — they won’t have that motivation.
Have you been approaching leadership all wrong? Whether you’re an executive or an aspiring leader, Dr. Henry Cloud, author of the groundbreaking book “Boundaries for Leaders,” might have something to say about it. Marrying the fields of clinical psychology and leadership consulting, Dr. Cloud delves deep into the mind to find rich insights into the psychology of leadership. In fact, he literally redefines the word in the process. Redefining Leadership Dr. Cloud defines leadership as simply “the process of turning a vision into a reality.” Sounds simple, right? It’s also completely accurate. Whether your vision is a successful business or a successful family, you need leadership skills to achieve your goals. But you can’t do it alone.You need to achieve your dreams with people and through people.The most worthwhile dreams are only possible with the help
Believe it or not, you can maintain that culture while remaining, as Dr. Cloud puts it, “ridiculously in charge.”
What to Do The best leaders set boundaries that empower people and teams to reach goals, while rooting out bad behavior proactively. They have to do this in a way that works with people’s brain functions of attention, inhibition, and working memory.
If you’ve never approached leadership from this psychological point of view, it’s a refreshing take that can work wonders on the efficiency and effectiveness of any team.
Ultimately, the book encourages you to view leadership as creating the conditions that allow people to use their brains to realize visions in the absence of distraction.That means creating the right boundaries — boundaries that produce freedom without control.
have a LAUGH
with Sausage Brussels Sprouts
Looking for an easy, delicious Thanksgiving side dish? This gem requires only a few ingredients.
ingredients
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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½ cup water
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3.3 ounces fresh, hot Italian sausage
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Salt and pepper
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1½ pounds Brussels sprouts
Directions
1.
Trim sprouts and cut in half.
4.
When sprouts are just about done, remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring just once or twice, for a couple more minutes. The liquid should evaporate, and the sprouts should start to brown. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or warm. Serves 4.
2.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, 3–5 minutes. Add sprouts to skillet. Add ½ cup water. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until just tender. Check them periodically and add a bit more water, if necessary.
3.
5.
Recipe courtesy of InTheKitchenWithKath.com.
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Giving Thanks for a Year in Business page 1
These Products Make Housework Easier Meet the Bruce Team page 2
Redefining LeadershipWith ‘Boundaries for Leaders’ Brussels Sprouts With Sausage page 3 Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons page 4
Iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons
Thanksgivingisaholidayfulloftraditions, from turkey and stuffing to football and naps. Since 1924, the Macy’s Parade has grown to become not only a Thanksgiving staple but also the world’s largest parade. Over 3.5 million people attended the parade last year, with another 20 million tuning in from home.The main attraction is always the massive character balloons, which first graced the skies in 1927. Over the decades, some of these balloons have become nearly as famous as the character they depict. FelixtheCat When the Felix the Cat balloon appeared in 1931, it set the standard for all characters to follow. Sadly, the original balloon got tangled in wires and caught on fire, so it has been lost to history. Felix’s influence on the parade is so immense, however, that when Macy’s brought him back in 2016 for the parade’s 90th anniversary, they recreated his original design.Without Felix’s influence, that parade might look a lot different today.
Snoopy When it comes to balloon characters, none is more famous than the classic “Peanuts” beagle. His first balloon floated through the sky in 1968, and he’s been a regular fixture ever since. Charles Schultz’s famous pooch holds the record for most variations in a parade (eight) and most total appearances (40). Though Snoopy doesn’t come out every year, he usually closes the show when he does. Pikachu The Pokémon mascot didn’t appear until 2001, but he’s become a star attraction, showing up every year since. Bright, expressive, and impossible to miss, Pikachu checks off all the boxes for a successful balloon character. For 16 years, those who predicted that Pokémon was just a fad have gotten a big, yellow reminder of just how wrong they were.
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