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Justice MONTHLY
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DECEMBER 2019
10 Years Later CELEBRATING A DECADE OF FILLING MY DAD’S SHOES AND FORGING MY OWN PATH
I started practicing law with my dad in March 2009. I had been with the district attorney’s office for two years at that point, and I was ready to join the practice my dad had been building since beginning his law career in 1974. But on July 22, 2010, my dad passed away. I always say that we crammed a lot of experience into that short time frame, nearly a year and a half. I didn’t have my own full caseload, but I would attend hearings with him, shadow mediations, and take in every ounce of his expertise within that year. By the time he passed, I had been practicing law for more than three years, and though I was still shocked, I felt prepared to step into his role. Work gave me something to focus on, so I dove into it wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, I had to let one of my father’s employees go, but I kept Glenda, who had been working as a paralegal for 30 years, 10 of those years being with my dad. I closed the office my dad owned for decades, and I moved into the storage closet of my dad’s old law partner, Billy Mathis. At my dad’s funeral, Billy told me if there was ever anything I needed, he would be there for me. Luckily, he meant it and made do without a storage closet in his 800-square-foot office.
After I found my new work home, I doubled down on making sure I kept the reputation my dad built. Thanks to my father and Glenda’s guidance, I had a good blueprint for what to do. I may have had extensive training from my dad, but Glenda helped me so much in those early days. She caught any mistakes I made, and she always knew how to fix something. I contacted the 16 or so attorneys my dad had good relationships with to let them know I was available for any clients who could use my expertise. I reached out to chiropractors and medical professionals, advising them that I could help patients who were injured, struggling to find compensation, and in need of legal help. Soon, I developed
So, there was Billy, his assistant Sue, Glenda, and me — two practices crammed into 800 square feet.
While I got to work in that tiny space, Glenda worked Tuesday through Thursday in the hallway next to the closet. So, on Mondays and Fridays, I would answer my phones and make my own copies. Soon, the attorneys who shared the office space next to Billy moved out, and Glenda and I expanded the operation to next door. (Honestly, that was one of the coolest spaces I worked in.)
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LESSONS FAMILIES CAN LEARN FROM ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’ MORE THAN JUST ‘YOU’LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!’
HOBBLING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS? Magical stories about Santa or even “Little Orphan Annie’s” Secret Society fill children’s hearts with wonder but won’t enchant them forever. Belief in certain parts of the Christmas season can fade slowly or die as quickly as the spin of a decoder pin, but parents Manage Holiday Stress While You Recover From an Injury In 1983, one movie introduced Red Ryder BB guns, fishnet-clad leg lamps, and bright red bars of soap into America’s everlasting Christmas mythos. Now, over 35 years later, “A Christmas Story” continues to delight audiences every holiday season with timeless lessons for viewers of all ages. In a story where kids are clever and kind, and parents are bumbling and wise, “A Christmas Story” has more lessons to offer families than just, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” They aren’t always obedient, but that doesn't mean they’re not listening. After Ralphie lets slip the “queen mother of dirty words” in front of his father, the narrator reminisces about first hearing that word from his old man — possibly when he was trying to get their furnace to work. He doesn’t admit this to his mother, but it’s a lesson for parents everywhere that kids may hear more than they let on. Your kids are listening to you (oh, fudge!). Kids won’t believe in magic forever. The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but when you are recovering from an accident and injury, managing your bills and combing through legal dilemmas — on top of holiday stress — this season can feel overwhelming. While our experts at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. can guide you through the legal arena, we also know you deserve support elsewhere. Manage the holidays and your injury with this guide. Rely on Others Your injury may have impaired your ability to cut down the perfect Christmas tree or maneuver around the kitchen, but it doesn’t have to limit your ability to do what you love most this holiday
can always be there to remind children about what’s really important during the Christmas season. Sometimes ‘disasters’ lead to new adventures. Christmas Day can be hectic, and, in the hubbub of it all, sometimes disaster can feel inevitable.
Ralphie’s parents certainly experience their fair share of disaster in hilarious fashion when the Bumpus Hounds destroy their holiday turkey and leave nothing but the heavenly aroma. But, when Ralphie’s father takes them out to eat at a local Chinese restaurant, it creates a whole new Christmas tradition for the Parker family. Our holiday mishaps, no matter how tragic, are rarely the end of the world.
Consider one final tip: Do not stick your tongue to any flagpoles this winter! Happy holidays!
season. Ask for help selecting the perfect tree and getting it secured in your home, and turn to your kids to be tiny helpers in the kitchen. Or rig up a system that allows you to do all this work independently. Everything is manageable with a little help. Stick to a Budget The holidays are infamous for stretching bank accounts pretty thin, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Instead, set a budget and stick to it! Your healing is more important than any gift you could put under the tree, and you don’t have to spend exorbitant amounts of money to make the holidays memorable for your family. Instead, create homemade gifts, opt for experiences rather than items, or bake goodies for your loved ones. Your family and friends only care about the sentiment, not what’s under the wrapping. Seek Guidance If you have a good support system with your friends and family, rely on them for additional support this holiday season. But don’t be afraid to seek professional help, too. There are all sorts of dedicated support groups filled with people experiencing the same trauma you are, and sometimes, all you need is the ear of a person who has been there. Search for support groups and experienced therapists through your local hospital, community center, or university. The holidays become less stressful when you have a community supporting you. Our experts have more than a decade of experience helping those who are injured find peace. Call us today at 229-888-0888.
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100 YEARS LATER How Was Georgia Preparing to Enter the 1920s?
... CONTINUED FROM COVER One hundred years ago, the world was preparing to say goodbye to the bloody, turbulent decade that was 1910–1920, and the U.S. was on the cusp of experiencing an economic boom and discovering jazz legends. Today, who knows what awaits you in 2020, but as you look back on the decade that was 2010–2020, consider what Albany, Georgia, and the rest of our state experienced just one century ago. Defiance Turns to Patriotism In the years leading up to World War I, Georgians and the Georgia media were steadfast in their opposition of joining the conflict overseas. In fact, after U.S. citizens aboard the ship Lusitania were killed by forces in the war effort, one Georgia senator claimed there was no need for conflict over a few “rich Americans.” But when the U.S. declared war on Germany on April 5, 1917, support blossomed. In fact, Georgia had the highest number of training camps and bases of any state in the U.S., and today, that military support is stronger than ever. Georgia is home to more than a dozen military bases, including the Marine Corps logistics base in Albany. A Dry Georgia For more than a century leading up to nationwide prohibition in 1920, Georgia had leaders in the temperance and prohibition movements. The state government gave counties the right to my own relationships, and the practice continued to grow from there. I hired my first employee not long after that, and today, I have a handful of people who help this practice serve the community each day. So much has changed since I was thrust into this position 10 years ago. Glenda couldn’t even use email at the beginning, and now we’re on the verge of going paperless. Everyone in our office communicates via email and has a scanner at their desks. My dad’s office didn’t even have a case management system. Today, we thrive off of it. As we prepare for another decade, no one can know what the future will hold. For now, I’m grateful the practice remains busy and things are good. Thank you to everyone who has supported us for the past 10 years. Here’s to a new decade!
become “dry counties,” and by 1908, the state enacted a ban on alcohol with a few minor exceptions. These included the sale of low alcohol content beer and drinks at sporting clubs. Despite its history of supporting dry causes, many Georgians still used their ingenuity to create homemade moonshine. Georgia didn’t repeal its statewide prohibition until 1935, two years after the nation’s alcohol “drought” ended.
A Population Boom Between 1910 to 1920, the U.S. population swelled from 90 million to 100 million residents, and Albany, Georgia, was no stranger to that boom. In 1910, the population of Albany hovered just above 8,000 people. By 1920, that number jumped to just over 11,500. Today, more than 75,000 people call Albany home, and as the city continues to grow, who knows how many more will filter in. We Value You! At the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., the trust we build with our clients is our most valuable asset. To show our appreciation, we would like to thank the following clients who have referred others to us since our November newsletter: Your recommendation is greatly treasured by everyone at our office. Clients can also leave their comments on our services through Google reviews ! These statements give us critical feedback and help other clients facing stressful life situations find dependable lawyers. Previous and current clients can also receive free notary services at our office. Learn more about this service by giving us a call at 229-888-0888. Jerry Harrison, James Wise, Geraldine Butler, and Destiny Jackson
Thank you for trusting us to serve you!
-William F. “Trey” Underwood, III
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inside Trey Celebrates 10 Years of Practicing on His Own PAGE 1 Lessons Families Can Learn From ‘A Christmas Story’ PAGE 2 Surviving the Holidays With an Injury PAGE 2 A Journey Back 100 Years PAGE 3 A Better Way to Think About Motivation PAGE 4
A Science-Based Approach to Achieving More Susan Fowler’s ‘Master Your Motivation’
“You have the power to change your behaviors,” says Susan Fowler, “but to be successful in changing, you need an evidenced-based framework for motivation and techniques for applying it.” In her new book, “Master
Thankfully for the reader, Fowler defines an alternative framework for motivation. In what amounts to the book’s thesis, she states, “To master your motivation, create choice, connection, and competence.” When you measure motivation across these three factors, which are the result of rigorous academic research rather than folksy conventional wisdom, you unlock the power of motivation. It’s not hard to see how Fowler’s framework is much more actionable than traditional motivational techniques. Creating intrinsic motivation, especially for others, is a mug’s game, but defining choice, connection, and competence is much less ambiguous. If you have team members who you feel lack motivation, ask yourself if their jobs have these three essential traits. Do they have agency (choice) in their work? Do they generate meaning (connection) from what they do? Do they get a sense of accomplishment (competence) from doing something well? If you can’t answer all three of these in the affirmative, you can create a plan for increasing motivation that doesn’t involve empty metrics or meaningless rewards. If you or your team could use a proverbial kick in the pants, the solution might be to ignore those proverbs entirely. “Master Your Motivation” takes a refreshing look at what makes us strive for more. It’s a great addition to any leadership library.
Your Motivation: Three Scientific Truths for Achieving Your Goals,” Fowler synthesizes her decades of research into a guide that provides such a framework. In the process, she overturns countless widely held myths about what motivates us. Fowler believes the traditional carrot-and-stick approach to motivation (a combination of reward and punishment to induce a desired behavior) results from our perception of motivation as being either intrinsic or extrinsic. “Simplifying motivations into two types presents a conundrum when you aren’t intrinsically motivated,” she writes. “Your only fallback position is extrinsic motivation.” In other words, just by thinking about motivation as intrinsic versus extrinsic, you’ve already set yourself up to fail. To really motivate yourself and others, she argues, you need to think about motivation in different terms.
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