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JUNE 2023
Just the Ticket My Upcoming Greece Getaway
We all need time to step away from work, recharge, and spend time with the people we love. I can’t wait to do exactly that in a few weeks when my wife and I embark on a trip to Greece at the end of June. I love wandering through unfamiliar places, immersing myself in a different culture, and eating lots of good food. My wife Jodi and I have traveled pretty consistently throughout our marriage, visiting international destinations like Amsterdam, Paris, London, Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. But the pandemic delayed some of our travel plans over the last few years. Our last major vacation was to Portugal in 2018, and this Greece trip will be our first time leaving the country since the word “Covid” entered all of our lexicons. There’s something special about leaving the U.S.’s borders to explore different countries. I love being an American and think we live in the best country in the world. But there’s a lot of value in getting outside our comfort zones and seeing
what else the world has to offer. Many Americans often think their way of doing things is universal, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I love experiencing all the differences for myself. International destinations have another benefit: It’s much easier to disconnect. When I travel within the U.S., the time zone hasn’t changed much, and it doesn’t take much to suck me back into a professional mindset. If I’m only a phone call away, I can lose the more relaxing aspects of travel. Leaving the country allows me to fully step away and recharge. We’ve had so many incredible adventures abroad that it would be difficult to share them all, but one of my favorite trips was to Portugal and Spain. We drove from Porto in the northern part of Portugal down to the capital of Lisbon and continued to the Algarve region in the south with its beautiful beaches and picturesque cliffs. Then we carried on to Spain, where we watched a live bullfight in Seville and explored all that Barcelona had to offer. I don’t know for sure what we’ll encounter in Greece, but I’m excited to find out. The trip will last 12 days, with two designated for travel, and we are flying into Athens, then traveling to Santorini, an island in the Aegean Sea for several days. From Santorini, we’ll head to the island of Mykonos and finally close out our journey on the mainland in Athens. We don’t plan our days very stringently and like to have some flexibility in spending our time, but we’re looking forward to the beautiful water, incredible views, and ancient architecture. Wandering through little towns, soaking in the atmosphere, and trying to local cuisine are some of my favorite parts of traveling. It feels like stepping off a hamster wheel and putting your feet back firmly on the ground. I’m fortunate to have an incredible staff who will keep things running in my absence and allow me to reclaim a bit of work-life balance. I look forward to returning refreshed with a new perspective — and plenty of gorgeous photographs.
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NONCOMPETITIVE KIDS CAN STILL BE SPORTY!
LESS INTIMIDATING AND JUST AS REWARDING
While you may have enjoyed competitive sports as a child, that doesn’t necessarily mean your child will feel the same. Not every personality matches well with team sports and high-pressure competitive matches. Whether your child is shy or less competitive, there are still sports they can participate in and enjoy!
personal goals. Martial arts can help your children develop their focus and concentration while practicing self-defense skills. Some other martial arts styles your child might enjoy include kung fu, jiujitsu, capoeira, judo, and aikido. SWIMMING For kids who love diving into the water, swimming should be a sport to try. Like the rest of the listed individualized sports, the choice of joining competitions or a team is entirely up to your child. As they progress in their swimming journey, they may decide to start participating in competitive swim meets at the local YWCA/YMCA. HORSEBACK RIDING This equestrian sport is perfect if your kid loves animals! While it may be more pricey, many equestrian centers offer discounts or even free lessons in exchange for stable work. Your child may thoroughly enjoy caring for the horses
when working in the stables, and in return, they can also take horseback riding lessons.
ROCK CLIMBING Climbing, which debuted as a sport in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, can be done indoors or outdoors. Many rock climbing studios offer lessons for kids and ensure sufficient safety regulations. Rock climbing can lead to a lifelong passion for the sport and opportunities to compete in various events if desired later.
GYMNASTICS Yes, gymnastics can be competitive ( think
Olympic intensity ), but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Your kids can start gymnastics without having to compete. Beginning gymnastics often focuses on basic movements and stretches to gain flexibility. If your child develops a passion for the sport, they can choose to go competitive later at their own speed! MARTIAL ARTS Martial arts, such as karate and taekwondo, help kids improve their self-confidence and achieve
Create a Stable Foundation
4 DOCUMENTS THAT BUILD A BETTER TEAM
In the early days of running a business, entrepreneurs tend to move fast and loose, hiring on gut instincts. But as time goes on, that method becomes less sustainable. Recruiting the best people and reducing turnover requires intentionality. It all starts with the following foundational documents that will ensure the entire team is on the same page. WELL-DEFINED JOB DESCRIPTIONS Unclear expectations constantly disrupt workplaces. Correcting that problem starts
before you extend a job offer to a candidate. Job descriptions for every role help match people with positions and reduce the likelihood of disputes over who is responsible for what. When needed, job descriptions can also help you enforce accountability when employees fall short. AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK Don’t assume everyone knows how to act in a professional environment — put the non-negotiables in writing. An employee handbook should contain essentials like time off policies, dress codes, conduct standards, and dispute resolution processes. An employee handbook sets expectations for staff while reducing potential conflict. Simultaneously, it provides you with a roadmap for fair and effective team management. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS How do you know who is performing well and who isn’t meeting standards? Don’t count on subjective judgment calls. Instituting key performance indicators (KPIs) that make sense for your line of business and your employees’ work will help keep them on the right track.
Accuracy and productivity KPIs give employees the gift of knowing what you expect and provide you with a way to evaluate performance fairly. Those already doing well will enjoy seeing their hard work recognized, and those who need improvement will better know where they stand. CORE VALUES It doesn’t take many business owners long to learn that someone can have high proficiency while being a bad fit for the team. To build the company culture you want, you must first define it. Determine what core values you want your employees to uphold, put them in writing, and emphasize them often. Core values check bad behavior, help you weed out the poor team players, and align your team on common goals. These foundational documents will help you hire better team members and reduce turnover. With everything in writing and signed off on by your employees, these policies also protect your business from potential employment lawsuits. If your small business doesn’t have any of these essentials, it’s time they go to the top of your to-do list.
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The Rise of LLCs Pros and Cons of the Popular Business Structure Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are increasingly popular with business owners in Tennessee. This type of business entity provides many of the same benefits afforded to corporations while retaining some of the rights given to sole proprietors and partnerships. It’s an attractive option but one that might not be right for everyone. The primary benefit of an LLC is in its name: An LLC creates limited liability. The business owners or LLC members are not personally liable for any debts the company incurs, with few exceptions (e.g., members who commit fraud). Many entrepreneurs love the security of knowing their risk is limited if their business fails. They can safely invest in a company without risking their family’s future. While limited liability is the most attractive feature of an LLC, there are other benefits. Adding LLC to a company’s name gives it an air of professionalism that can create legitimacy in customers’ minds. LLCs also have flexible management agreements so business owners can choose the best structure for their circumstances. Further, forming an LLC is usually less expensive and time-consuming than turning a business into a corporation. Forming an LLC is advantageous for many businesses, but it’s not the best path forward for all. Most LLCs are pass-through entities, meaning profits and losses are taxed through the owners, not the business. Whether this is advantageous depends on the business owners’ specific tax situation. While some will see savings, an LLC may result in fewer tax benefits and a higher tax rate for others.
Homemade Dole Whip
Inspired by ThePioneerWoman.com
The summer heat is on! And what better way to cool off after a long day in the sun than a refreshing bowl of Dole whip? This frozen treat has everything you need in a summer dessert: the tangy sweetness of pineapple and the creamy taste of vanilla ice cream.
INGREDIENTS • 3/4 cup pineapple juice
• 2 cups frozen pineapple
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• Pinch of sea salt
DIRECTIONS 1. In a high-powered blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth, stopping to push the pineapple chunks down into the blender as needed.
2. Transfer to a bowl; cover and freeze for 30 minutes.
3. Scoop and serve. Alternatively, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, then pipe into small serving bowls. (This method will make it look like it came out of a soft serve machine.)
INSPIRATION
The management flexibility provided by LLCs can also be a disadvantage in some circumstances. While owners have more options, there are also more opportunities for confusion around proper roles in the business. Therefore, some entrepreneurs would be better off forming a corporation or partnership. If forming an LLC is right for your business, it pays to have professional help with the process. An improperly formed LLC can lead to many unanticipated headaches and heartaches. Douglass & Runger’s business attorneys have years of experience creating LLCs that comply with statutory requirements and protect entrepreneurs’ interests. Call us to schedule a consultation at 901-388-5805.
“Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.” —Anthony Brandt
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2820 Summer Oaks Drive Bartlett, TN 38134 901-388-5805 www.DouglassRunger.com
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Inside This Issue
1 Curt Caught the Travel Bug 2 The Best Sports for Your Shy Child
4 Foundational Documents Every Business Needs
3 Should You Form an LLC?
Homemade Dole Whip 4 Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Monkey Around This Summer CHECK OUT SOME OF AMERICA’S BEST ZOOS
Summer is one of the best times of the year to travel. Kids are out of school and
rare, endangered animals you can’t see elsewhere. It has the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit, and one of the major highlights is the Desert Dome, an 84,000-square-foot indoor desert that maintains an authentic desert ecosystem. This is a must-visit for any animal lover in your family. THE BRONX ZOO You don’t usually think about seeing exotic animals when you visit New York City, but the Bronx Zoo is one of the best places to view animals in America. Opened in 1899, the Bronx Zoo is responsible for many of the advancements relating to animal captivity. This was one of the first zoos to ditch cages for natural environments and create an animal hospital. With over 6,000 species, there’s an animal for everyone at the Bronx Zoo. THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS While the San Diego Zoo is often boasted as California’s largest and best zoo, another zoo is worth checking out. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens outside Palm Springs has entertained visitors for decades. There are events at this zoo every day, one of the most popular being the keeper connections and animal encounters, where you get up close and personal with the animals while learning more about their habitats and lifestyles.
want to do something fun every weekend, which can be difficult to accommodate if you’ve already exhausted your local options. If you’re looking to travel, you can visit a beach, take in the sights and sounds of an amusement park, or spend some time with animals while visiting a zoo. Nearly every state in our country has a handful of zoos or aquariums, but some stand above the rest.
Here are three of the best zoos you can visit in the U.S.
OMAHA’S HENRY DOORLY ZOO AND AQUARIUM The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, is consistently ranked as one of the top five zoos in the world. It prides itself on hosting
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