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July 2022
THE TRUSTED ADVISOR You’ve Got to Earn It
LESSONS FROM OUR SUMMER JOBS
A summer job is a rite of passage for American teenagers, and many high schoolers are knee-deep in this journey right now. Those first jobs are rarely glamorous or well-paid, but they still teach many of us a lot about ourselves and our lives. We wanted to take a moment to reflect on our earliest experiences with employment and how they helped shape who we are today. Zac: I began working earlier than most kids, and I started out as a paperboy. I was about 12, and my dad would drive me around while I threw the papers at doors. It was also my job to go from door to door and collect the subscription money. I started working without parental assistance a little later when I got a job as a busboy at a barbecue restaurant in Denver. I also worked as a valet
Nick: I got my first job when I was 15 or 16 because my dad told me I’d have to buy my own car. I worked at Albertsons, and I believe they called me a “courtesy clerk.” My job involved a little bit of everything; I bagged groceries, mopped floors, and helped customers take their groceries out to vehicles. I worked there for a while before leaving for McDonald’s. I worked my way up the chain of command there while also taking a job selling computers at Sears and working as a busser at Gator’s Dockside. I worked three jobs that
at a country club for a while, and I spent a brief period doing construction. I have a lot of respect for people who do physical labor every day, but I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me. You could say I had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit because I also owned a vending machine business for a while as a teenager. I bought it from someone else, and I’d drive around Denver filling up the machines and collecting the money. My friends naturally loved it because I always had the best snacks! I learned a lot then
summer and clocked 80–90 hours a week. Whenever I did have any time off, I’d spend it at the beach. So, I managed to stash away a bunch of money for college. It’s certainly not a typical teenager’s summer, but my dad had taught me to work hard so I could play hard later. He was gone for 12 hours every day unless he traveled, in which case he’d work even more. He instilled my work ethic in me and taught me to make money early so it would pay off later. I learned that you won’t always be the best at a job, but the people who work the hardest always rise to the top. In all of those early jobs, the managers came to rely on me as one of their top workers. I was proud of that. As a result of those youthful experiences, I have tremendous respect for anyone who works in the service industry. And in a way, service is still our business. It’s our job to make our clients happy, and each one should feel like they must be our most important case. I wouldn’t ever want to work three jobs again, but I’m glad I went through the experience. Summer jobs are how we gain independence, discover our passions, and learn who we want to become. If you or anyone you know is working one this year, we wish you good luck and many life lessons — just like we were fortunate enough to have.
about keeping my customers happy. If people didn’t like the selection I gave them, they wouldn’t buy. And if the owner of the property where the vending machine sat wasn’t happy with me, they could have pulled the plug. I realized that how well I did was up to me. Later in college, I worked for several companies and law firms. I enjoyed trying out different things and figuring out what I did and didn’t enjoy. No one ever really told me I had to get a job as a kid, but my parents and grandparents were all hardworking people and likely passed their work ethic onto me. Back then, it was nice to have the money. Looking back, what I appreciate most is how I learned that there’s no substitution for hard work.
NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000 1 –Zac Leacox & Nick Norden
‘MOM, DAD, THERE’S NOTHING TO DO!’ Keeping Kids Entertained Through Summer Kids look forward to summer vacation all year long, but it often only takes a few days before the “I’m bored” whines begin. It gets worse; many kids will happily spend months staring at their devices, wasting time
they’ll never get back. So, how do you get children active and keep them entertained? Make a summer bucket list. It even happens to adults: We blink, and the season is over. All those things
He’s So Fined George Harrison’s Plagiarism Saga
In November 1970, George Harrison released his first solo single and biggest hit, “My Sweet Lord.” The song shot to No. 1 internationally and achieved the rare feat of bringing religious devotion to the pop charts. Only one problem arose — despite what the record label said, George Harrison didn’t write it. “He’s So Fine” was written by Ronnie Mack and recorded by The Chiffons only seven years earlier. It became a hit in its own right, with Billboard ranking it as the fifth-biggest single of 1963. Though Harrison had dramatically rearranged the song and written new lyrics, the similarities between “He’s So Fine” and “My Sweet Lord” were undeniable to even the casual listener. Despite Harrison’s lyric that “it takes so long,” the song’s owner, Bright Tunes, wasted no time filing a plagiarism lawsuit in February 1971. It also didn’t take Harrison long to realize his mistake. In fact, the “quiet Beatle” later confessed to the similarities in his book “I Me Mine,” asking, “Why didn’t I realize?” Harrison’s manager, Allen Klein, thought he could make the matter go away by throwing money at it. He suggested that the wealthy Harrison buy Bright Tunes so that he would own the rights to both songs. Bright Tunes rejected the offer, and the case went to court. The judge found Harrison guilty of “subconscious plagiarism” in 1976 and ordered him to pay lost royalties. But Klein had a ruthless reputation and made an unexpected move. Having been fired by Harrison in 1973, Klein began pursuing a purchase of Bright Tunes on his own starting around 1975. By 1978, Klein owned the catalog and had effectively switched sides in the case, leaving Harrison stunned. It took several more years of legal wrangling (the case was finally resolved in 1998!), but in 1981, Klein sold Harrison “He’s So Fine” for $587,000. Many experts declared that price to be a steal. Despite the public spectacle, Harrison had few regrets about his copycat hit. “I don’t feel bad or guilty about it,” he wrote in his autobiography. “It saved many a heroin addict’s life. I know the motive behind writing the song in the first place far exceeds the legal hassle.” In fact, the ordeal served as inspiration for his tongue-in-cheek single, “This Song,” released in 1976 — proving that a good artist can find inspiration anywhere.
we “meant” to do somehow end up having to wait another year (or more). Don’t let that happen to you or your kids this year. Make sure everyone gets their fill of summer fun by making a list of can’t-miss activities. Include staples like visiting the pool or the zoo — but also entertain ideas about backyard crafts and water balloon fights. Don’t forget to incorporate plenty of things the kids can do at or near home. The next time they’re bored, point them to the list and urge them to complete one of their activities. Learn something new. Hear us out — this is designed to be fun. The goal here isn’t to make your kid memorize multiplication tables over summer break. (Though, if you suggest it, they might find something else to do very quickly!) What interests do your kids have? Whether it’s firetrucks, dinosaurs, fashion, or something else entirely, they have countless opportunities to learn more through your local library or the World Wide Web. You don’t have to restrict them to book learning, either. Your kid might love the opportunity to try countless hobbies like sewing, sculpting, or even gardening. Camp close to home. Most kids love the outdoors, and they’re easily distracted by a bit of novelty. You don’t have to travel far to enjoy nature — you just need a backyard, a tent, and some sleeping bags. The prospect of spending the night outside will sound thrilling to most kids. If you have young children, make it a family affair with a campfire, roasted marshmallows, and songs. Let older kids invite some friends for a unique sleepover, complete with flashlight tag and scary stories. Summer will be over before you know it, but you and your kids can have more to show for those months — and great memories, too! Forget about “I’m bored,” and prepare yourself for a new mantra: “When can we do that again?”
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OVERCOMING INATTENTION Strategies to Fight Distraction
With our phones always on standby, we’re more easily distracted than ever. Then there are also interruptions by coworkers or family members, emails or instant messages that divert our attention, household chores that will “only take a minute,” coffee breaks, and daydreams. Constant distraction hurts us more than we realize, creating a feedback loop of inattention. It’s time we understand what all this multitasking is doing to our minds and figure out how to break the cycle. No matter how good you think you are at it, multitasking doesn’t exist. What we’re really doing is called task-switching. Our brains can concentrate on only one thing at a time, and the quicker we go back and forth between tasks, the less we pay attention, and the more likely we are to make mistakes. Even worse, research says it takes us a whopping 23 minutes to regain our concentration after being interrupted. But what can you do? If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that willpower has its limits. Simply promising you won’t check your email or phone rarely results in long-term success. But if technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution. Try putting your email or phone notifications on silent. Or, consider a website blocker to keep you off distracting websites and an app that will lock distracting features on your phone. Low-tech solutions like a “do not disturb” sign and putting your phone in another room can also help.
And mental tricks can still have their place. You probably tend to become productive when you’ve got a deadline crunch, and there’s a reason for that. Tasks have a way of stretching out unnecessarily when we don’t have to follow any restrictions. So, make some! Determine how much time you need to complete a task, and then don’t allow yourself anymore. Ask a colleague for help staying
accountable. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done.
Though we each have to fight our own battles, this isn’t entirely our fault. Popular apps make billions of dollars by sucking our attention away from everything else, so we’re automatically at a disadvantage. And there may be even more than meets the eye. If you have difficulty concentrating, stress could be the underlying culprit. Get that under control, and distractions might suddenly lose some of their allure.
Have a
Laugh
Summer Crab and Lemon Carbonara
Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
Ingredients
• 12 oz bucatini pasta • 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3 oz Pecorino Romano cheese, grated • 1/2 cup fresh chives, thinly sliced • 8 oz fresh crabmeat • 1 tbsp grated lemon zest • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • Sea salt or kosher salt, to taste
• 2 tbsp garlic, finely chopped • 1/4 cup drained and rinsed capers, chopped • 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper • 6 large egg yolks, beaten
Directions
1. In a pot of boiling water, cook pasta until not yet al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup cooking liquid. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook oil and garlic until lightly toasted. Add capers and black pepper, then stir for 2 minutes. 3. Add reserved cooking liquid to skillet and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in pasta and cook until al dente. Remove from heat. 4. Stirring constantly, pour egg yolks quickly into the mixture. Add cheese and chives, stirring well until sauce is creamy. Add crab, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss together and season with salt.
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Inside This Edition
2 1 What Summer Jobs Taught Zac and Nick Beating Summer Vacation Boredom
Ex-Beatle Sued for Plagiarism How Distractions Are Hurting Us Summer Crab and Lemon Carbonara ‘The Repair Shop’: Relaxing and Heartwarming Television
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Cozy Up With ‘The Repair Shop’ A Slower, Kinder Type of TV
Reality television can be a great way to turn off your mind, but most options are full of petty drama and sarcastic remarks. For some of us, it can get a little tiring. One show out of the U.K. is taking a refreshingly gentler approach. “The Repair Shop” follows passionate craftspeople as they fix antiques, and every object they work on has a story behind it. There are no high-stakes prizes or biting comments in “The Repair Shop.” Instead, viewers peek inside a warm and inviting workshop filled with collaboration and sentimental stories. In each episode, you watch the experts perform amazing transformations and hear heartwarming tales about the connections people build with family heirlooms. The main cast includes upholsterer Jay Blades, woodworker Will Kirk, clock repairer Steve Fletcher, leatherworker Suzie Fletcher, ceramicist Kirsten Ramsay, and metalworker Dom Chinea. They are joined by a painting restorationist, stuffed animal repairers, and experts in glass, jewelry, and musical instruments as needed. The eclectic mix means viewers are in for a new treat every episode. The cast may
work on a grandfather clock and rocking horse in one episode, only to restore a beloved teddy bear and repair a pinball machine in another. Some of the best moments happen when the craftspeople work together. When an old writing desk has a leather inlay or an antique clock needs a newly painted face, everyone in the shop is glad to pitch in and help restore any object. They do so with good humor, a collaborative spirit, and dedication to their craft. But the show’s real heroes are the guests who bring in their beloved keepsakes. From war mementos to antique furniture and favorite toys passed down from parents, each person who visits has a deep connection with the object that needs repairing. They tell their stories, and we see their emotional reactions to their items receiving new life. U.S. viewers can catch “The Repair Shop” on BBC One or stream it on Discovery+. Cozy up with a cup of tea — plus a box of tissues, if you’re the sentimental type — and prepare to be moved.
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