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THE LEGAL NAVIGATOR DECEMBER 2021
Small businesses did not stand a chance midyear in 2020 and running into 2021. Although many businesses have reopened, losses are still substantial, and many are not seeing the same return on investment they had pre-pandemic. Now, learning to regrow is both essential and challenging. When taking a short-term approach as you remaster your business, you may not know what the path to recovery will look like. Once the economy returns to normal, or a new normal, putting a few strategies in place can help you hit the ground running. Refreshing Your Small Business in 2022 From the Ashes
By the time you read this newsletter, I hope you have enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with your family. Now, the very busy part of the season continues as we prepare for the rest of the holidays. When spending time with your family, it is important to have conversations not only about estate planning, but also how to plan for the potential of long-term health care costs. As a newsletter recipient, you already know the estate planning techniques available to avoid probate and unnecessary guardianship costs. In addition, you understand that with Medicaid planning, you could still protect up to one-half or more of your assets from being spent down. Lastly, you are aware that if someone is a veteran or a widowed spouse of a veteran, they could receive between $14,934 and $27,549 in tax-free income each year to help pay for health care costs. If you have not talked about these incredible benefits, now is the time to discuss these with your family. Discover answers to all your questions by downloading my book as a gift for your loved ones this year at SWBWLawFirm.com/estate-medicaid-and-va- planning-an-ohio-guide/ . FROM THE DESK OF Mike Bryan
Assess Damages
“THESE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE TAUGHT US THE IMPORTANCE OF ADAPTING TO KEEP BUSINESSES AFLOAT.”
Your first plan of attack for refreshing your business is to assess the severity of the damages you suffered in 2020 and 2021. Taking a look at your numbers will help you determine the financial health of the company. Be sure to compare profits and losses
and look at your cash flow statements. These will give you a good idea of where you stand financially. You will also want to create a list of business debts you owe to help clarify your financial situation. Did you lose any employees throughout 2020 or 2021? Or did any clients leave? If so, you must factor in these losses when you begin to devise a plan to come back stronger.
Evaluate Your Business Plan
Merry Christmas and happy New Year! See you in 2022!
Next, it is time to revisit your business plan. Although your business plan is likely strong and solid, due to the changes 2020 and 2021 threw at us, you may need to adjust to the new normal. SCORE, a partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA), is a resource you can use to guide your efforts in the rebuilding process. Be sure to identify business factors that worked well before but may not work well now. Then, craft a plan to accommodate those changes in the new business environment.
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spend a few dollars before you can make money. You may need to hire some new employees to fill vacancies or even remarket to acquire more clientele. Take a look at both your business and patient credit to determine whether or not you will be eligible for a loan if you decide that funding is necessary.
Plan for the Future
Lastly, put a backup plan in place for future crises. If 2020 and 2021 have shown us something, it is that anything can happen. The difference is whether or not we are prepared. Proactivity is better than reactivity. These past few years have taught us the importance of adapting to keep businesses afloat.
Examine the Budget Go ahead and set a timeline for when you would like to make all of these changes. Immediate goals may just include securing funding and making the plans, while larger goals further down the line may include rehiring and advertising. Whatever you decide is needed, the time is now to come back even stronger! Meet Your New Favorite Winter Sport Snowshoeing Is a Fun, Easy Option for All Ages Next, you’ll want to redefine your budget and determine whether or not you will require funding. When refreshing, you may need to
When celebrities jet off to Aspen, Colorado, for their winter vacations, they might not all be going to ski. According to Forbes, Aspen is also a top snowshoeing destination — and that’s a sport that celebrities and ordinary people of all ages can enjoy. Snowshoeing is a simple activity that dates back at least 6,000 years. It involves strapping large flipper-like attachments called snowshoes to your boots. The attachments distribute your weight and let you walk over banks of powder without sinking. You can use them to navigate flat plains, rolling hills, or steep mountains depending on the type of shoe you invest in. On top of its unique history, these three major perks to snowshoeing just might make it your favorite winter sport. 1. If you can walk, you can snowshoe! Unlike other energy- intensive sports like skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing is safe and relatively easy for folks of all ages. Some outdoorsmen and women snowshoe into their 70s and beyond, so a snowshoe outing is a great way for grandparents and grandkids to bond while getting some aerobics in. 2. Speaking of aerobics, snowshoeing is also a great workout. When you strap on your snowshoes, you can burn up to 50% more calories than you would while hiking (depending on your pace and the type of terrain). Athletes who want to really amp up the exercise can even invest in jogging snowshoes! 3. Last but not least, snowshoeing is scenic! When you’re whizzing down a mountain on a snowboard or skis, you don’t
have time to take in the view. But on snowshoes, you can soak up all of the winter beauty around you. You can even bring your camera along on your trek to capture pictures of any flora and fauna you see. If you want to try snowshoeing this winter, make sure you start with an easy trail and consult your doctor and/or physical therapist before you go. Always bring along a backpack of emergency supplies like a blanket and first aid kit, too, and consider purchasing or renting hiking poles along with your snowshoes to boost your stability. For more insider tips, visit SnowshoeMag.com.
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Rudolph, You’ll Go Down in History Behind the Evergreen Christmas Special
You know Dasher and Dancer, and you definitely know Rudolph. Everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer was first born as a 1939 short story, but he truly shot to fame when his tale was adapted into a song by Gene Autry in 1949. Rivaling even the song’s fame is the Rankin/Bass stop-motion special that airs like clockwork every year around Christmas. Generations have now grown up with Rudolph, so it may be surprising to learn that his journey to the small screen started as a General Electric promotion. The company had a running television special on NBC called the “GE Fantasy Hour,” which they used to market their products directly to viewers. The better the story they told, the more viewers they got — and the more toasters they could sell. The script introduced crucial new characters like Hermey the elf, Yukon Cornelius the prospector, and of course, Bumble the abominable snowman. GE hired innovative Japanese animators to create the film using stop-motion techniques that were highly advanced for the time. GE invested the modern equivalent of $4.5 million into the production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and the special first aired in 1964.
Those who are familiar with the film know that it ends with Rudolph enlisting Santa to save the Misfit Toys from earlier in the movie — but it didn’t originally. The version that aired in 1964 concludes with Rudolph leading Santa’s sleigh but forgetting all about his homeless friends. The backlash was swift, and viewers wrote in to express displeasure at the heartless resolution. GE decided the special had to be corrected and played again with the proper ending in 1965. And so, a tradition of annual airings was born. Today, “Rudolph” is the longest-running Christmas special in history, and our favorite misfit deer shows no signs of slowing down after 57 years. The movie has transformed into a marketing bonanza, with new Christmas decorations, figurines, and toys being produced each year. Though it’s somewhat shocking to our modern sensibilities to see Santa bullying his reindeer employees and their children, fond childhood memories mean that parents continue to pass the special down to their kids. Even as we recognize its flaws, the dazzling animation and famous songs continue to bring joy and Christmas spirit to households around the country. Just as sure as Santa comes every year, so does Rudolph.
Take a Break!
Inspired by TastesBetterFromScratch.com
DIY Holiday Eggnog
Directions
1. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Set aside. 2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a simmer. 3. Add a spoonful of the milk mixture to the egg mixture. Whisk vigorously and repeat, one spoonful at a time. 4. When most of the milk is whisked in, add the egg mixture to the saucepan. 5. Whisk until the liquid thickens slightly or reaches 160 F. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. 6. Pour the eggnog into a glass container and cover. Refrigerate. 7. When the eggnog has thickened, pour it into glasses, garnish, and enjoy!
Making your own eggnog is easier than you think! This creamy, delicious drink will be a hit withyour holiday guests.
Ingredients
• 6 egg yolks • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 2 cups milk • 1/2 tsp nutmeg • 1 pinch salt • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract • Cinnamon and whipped cream, for garnish
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Mike Bryan PAGE 1 Refreshing Your Small Business in 2022 PAGE 1 Meet Your New Favorite Winter Sport PAGE 2 How Rudolph Became a TV Institution PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 DIY Holiday Eggnog PAGE 3 Facial Massage for Beginners PAGE 4
THE BENEFITS OF FACIAL MASSAGES And How to Perform One at Home
Prepare your skin. Before beginning your massage, make sure to wash your face and remove any makeup. You don’t want to rub dirt or debris into your skin. Next, choose a massaging agent, such as a gentle facial oil, serum, or moisturizer. Know the rules. When giving yourself a facial massage, there are a few no-nos. First of all, you should never massage over a breakout because bacteria can spread on your skin quickly. When massaging, ensure you are moving your skin but not stretching it. Lastly, always work against gravity and rub your skin upward, never downward. Get down to business. There are countless ways to massage your face. You can try rubbing your middle and ring fingers in circular motions, dragging and pressing your knuckles into your face, gently pinching your skin between two fingers, or tapping your fingers in “piano key” type motions. You can also try a face roller or a flat gua sha tool. As long as you’re not leaving marks on your face, experiment and see what feels good. With these tips, you can be on your way to a more relaxed and healthy face. Give facial massage a try today — the only thing you have to lose is stress.
Our faces are filled with muscles that we use every day to talk, eat, express our emotions, and more. It makes sense that these facial muscles could benefit from some relaxation and loosening up. Getting a facial massage may seem silly the first time you try it, but this practice has some surprising benefits. Facial massage is common in many skin care routines throughout the world but not used by most Americans. In addition to reducing stress, facial massage can make your skin look better by improving elasticity, relaxing wrinkles, preventing acne, and stimulating collagen production. It can also help with sinus and jaw pain.
So, how can you get these benefits without hiring a professional? We have some tips.
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