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Solving Problems — Before They Happen
September 2020
The Moment I Realized What I Wanted From My Law Career
When my son was just a few months old, I ended up in the hospital. Although I was fighting a pretty serious medical condition, it wasn’t life threatening (though I didn’t know that initially). Still, the thoughts lingered in
trying discrimination and harassment cases for employees and employers. Next, I did some commercial litigation and insurance defense, among other various litigated matters.
my mind: “Would my family be okay if I didn’t make it? Would they know what to do?”
problems before they happened? That’s when I realized I could use my expertise to help clients avoid litigation. That planted the seed for my idea to start the Zakrocki Law Firm and offer estate and business planning services. I spent the next year and a half building the courage to open my own firm, and in 2011, after a decade in private practice, I took the plunge — even with a young family to support. It’s been the most rewarding career change of my life. Every day I help business owners and families find peace of mind. Whether it’s by securing their legacy for the next generation or ensuring their wishes are met after they die, I’m creating solutions before the problems occur. Plus, all of the expertise I gained as a litigator can help my clients foresee potential problems and ways we can avoid them. In doing this work for the past decade, I’ve learned two things: No. 1: Estate planning and/or preparing your business for the future takes a lot less time than you would think. No. 2: The time it does take is well worth the peace of mind it brings.
Then, life changed.
After a particularly harsh winter, my wife and I decided to move to Florida to be closer to my family, who had migrated there from Indiana, our home state. Amanda and I were married in July of 2006, bought our house in Indiana in October of 2006, and sold it again in June of 2007 after she was offered a teaching job over the phone (Florida was heavily recruiting teachers from northern states at the time). Meanwhile, I decided to use this opportunity to do some soul searching. I didn’t know if I wanted to continue litigation. And I had some time to figure this out. I would have to take the Florida bar exam to be able to practice, and I figured this was my chance to find the hole missing in my practice. However, even after several months, I still wasn’t sure. So, I took the Florida bar in February 2008, passed, and continued my litigation practice shortly afterward. Then, in late June 2009, I found myself lying in that hospital bed, mortality staring me in the face. And I realized I couldn’t be a litigator for much longer. Sure, I solved problems every day, but was I really helping people the way I wanted to? While I helped people solve problems after they happened, couldn’t I create plans that mitigated
Luckily, just after Luke was born, I took out a life insurance policy, which gave me some peace of mind. But I still needed a complete plan. I needed to know my family could move forward if I was gone, and I knew that was a problem I could solve. I was an attorney, after all! I solved problems in the courtroom like the lawyers I grew up watching on “L.A. Law” (don’t judge me) and reading about in books and watching on the big screen. Their gritty antics (to seek justice) and the Street Law class I took in high school inspired me to seek a career in law when I was still a teenager. After graduating from high school, I went on to study public affairs and earned an undergraduate degree. I took some time off after that to gain some “real world” experience and take a break from studying. Eventually, I realized that if I didn’t go to law school right then, I would never do it. So, I enrolled at Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis. I wanted to be a courtroom lawyer since high school. So, I followed in the footsteps of those fictional lawyers I watched on television and the movies and read about in books. I began my career defending and
-Steve
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STEALING MISS HELEN ‘Ocean’s 3’ Attempt a High-Stakes Heist
On a hot summer day in late July 2018, three people entered Miss Helen’s home, forcibly removed her, put her in a stroller, and ran toward their getaway vehicle. This might sound like a typical kidnapping story, but Miss Helen is no ordinary person. She is a 16- inch horn shark living at the San Antonio Aquarium. Fortunately, their fishy behavior didn’t go unnoticed, and someone alerted the aquarium staff. One perpetrator drove away with Miss Helen in tow, but the other two were stopped by aquarium staff, later confessing to their involvement. Thanks to some observant witnesses and aquarium surveillance, police were able to identify the third thief and obtain a warrant to search his house. As it turned out, he had an extensive aquarium in his home and possibly hoped to
add Miss Helen to his collection. After being identified, Miss Helen was returned home safely.
The aquarium staff was grateful to have Miss Helen back unharmed, despite her ordeal. “She’s a tough little horn shark, I’ll tell you that,” affirmed Jamie Shank, the assistant husbandry director at the aquarium. No Minor Crime While many animal lovers might disagree, animals are considered personal property, so stealing them is a crime of theft, not kidnapping. The penalties for stealing animals vary depending on each state’s laws, and some states have specific laws regarding animal theft. In Texas, larceny law designates the theft of property valued between $1,500–$20,000 as a felony. In the case of Miss Helen, who’s valued by the aquarium at $2,000, the thieves committed a felony. Also, transporting certain animals requires special permits, which led to additional charges against the three thieves. The Animal Welfare Act, which was adopted in 1966, is the only federal law that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers. Interestingly, it only applies to warm-blooded animals, so if Miss Helen had needed further protection, she would be left out in the cold.
Is Stress Harming Your Memory? How to Cope With Daily Triggers
Stress can cause more than just a bad mood and low energy. Over time, mental exhaustion from stress can lead to forgetfulness and reduced cognition. This can hamper your ability to do your job and enjoy life. Though stress is unavoidable, there are steps you can take to mitigate some of the negative effects of mental exhaustion, including forgetfulness. First, consider the source of your stress. These days, a common stressor is social media. If your feeds are full of bad news and negativity, shut them down. Many researchers suggest that spending less time on the internet leads to better health. Several studies have found that constant internet use, including time spent on social media, is negatively impacting our memories. Research from Harvard, Oxford, King’s College London, and Western Sydney University all confirm this: Too much internet use is a bad thing. Of course, it can be easier to delete a social media app than it is to eliminate other types of stressors. Coping with a stressful coworker, for example, can be difficult. You have to figure out why they’re causing you stress and how the situation can be remedied. Dealing with a work-related confrontation can be hard, but having that difficult conversation and resolving the problem can ultimately lead to less long-term stress and improve your mental health.
Another thing you can do to reduce stress is avoid multitasking. Taking on multiple projects or doing too much in too little time can leave you feeling overworked. Plus, studies have found that multitasking is not effective. You cannot deliver the same results when your attention is scattered as you can when you are focused on one thing. To make matters worse, multitasking takes a major toll on memory and cognition, according to a study from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. If stress is impairing your memory, judgment, or cognition, take the above steps to reduce it. If you find your memory and cognition aren’t improving, consider speaking with a mental health professional to discuss your best next steps. Mental health and stress management are important, and the more we do to improve these areas of our lives, the healthier and happier we will be.
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TAKE A BREAK
For centuries, Europeans used the Julian calendar, created by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. It was based on the solar calendar, so most of Europe thought it was the most accurate calendar. However, over the centuries, dates had “drifted,” and many important days, like Easter and the spring equinox, were no longer falling on the dates they were supposed to. To compensate, the new Gregorian calendar was developed and put to use by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It helped put things back in order and eliminated the extra day every 128 years. However, not everyone adopted the Gregorian calendar right away, such as the British. That meant that Europeans were using two diverging calendars for over 200 years. Talk about confusing! People realized that as the world started to expand and as countries became more connected, having a single calendar system was critical. Finally, the British chose the year 1752 to make the change. But, in order to make it work, they had to “jump” forward. For instance, 1751 could only be 10 months long — starting with March and ending with Dec. 31, 1751. But even that adjustment didn’t quite bring the English up to speed in time to make the shift. They also had to cut 11 days from 1752. The unlucky dates that were cut were Sept. 2–14, 1752. The people were not happy. English historians found research that British citizens chanted “Give us our 11 days!” in the streets. The phrase became so popular that some politicians even campaigned with that as their slogan. Several other historical accounts state that many people were worried that by cutting the calendar, their own lives would be cut 11 days shorter. There was a lot of confusion and chaos, but over time, dates fell where they were supposed to, and everyone lived their full lives, those 11 days included. 11 DAYS DELETED FROM HISTORY How the British Changed Their Calendar System and Caused Chaos
DIY DOG-FRIENDLY DOUGHNUTS
Inspired by SunnyDayFamily.com
Want to show your dog that they’re a very good boy or girl? Try this recipe for a tasty treat your dog will go nuts for!
Ingredients
• 2 eggs For topping • Greek yogurt • Bacon bits Special equipment • Doughnut pan
For doughnuts • 1 cup flour • 1 cup oats
• 1/3 cup coconut oil • 1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly spray doughnut pan with cooking spray and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine all doughnut ingredients and mix well. 3. Transfer dough to doughnut pan. Use your hands to tightly pack each mold. 4. Bake doughnuts for 14 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. 5. To decorate your doughnut treats, place Greek yogurt in a small, wide bowl. Dip each doughnut in yogurt and sprinkle with bacon bits. 6. Place decorated doughnuts in the freezer for 10 minutes for the yogurt to harden. Serve straight from the freezer to your hungry dogs.
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Helping Families and Business Owners Find Piece of Mind
(904) 201-4149 ZakrockiLaw.com
3000 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite B St. Augustine, FL 32084
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
How I Got Here
A Slippery Crime Is Stress Making You Forgetful?
2
When You Give a Dog a Doughnut How 11 Days Were Deleted From History
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4
Did You Know Lucille Ball Saved ‘Star Trek’?
BEAM ME UP, LUCY How Lucille Ball Saved ‘Star Trek’ in the 1960s
Did you know that Lucille Ball — the iconic comedian best known for her 1950s show “I Love Lucy” — is the reason “Star Trek” exists today? Ball was a Hollywood force in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and she produced hit after hit with her production company. In fact, Desilu, co-founded by Ball and her then-husband, Desi Arnaz, was responsible for hits like “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” The two were partners in the company until their divorce in 1960, and in 1962, Ball took over Arnaz’s share. In that moment, Ball became one of the most powerful women in Hollywood, and Desilu, one of the biggest independent production companies at the time, had a lot of pull in the industry. In 1963, one of Desilu’s biggest hits was coming to an end. “The Untouchables” was a crime drama starring Robert Stack. Ball needed
a replacement, and two potential shows hit Ball’s desk: “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible.” In 1965, Ball took the pitches to her longtime network collaborator, CBS. They said no to “Star Trek” (but yes to “Mission: Impossible”), but Ball wasn’t about to give up on this new science fiction show, so she took it to NBC. The network was skeptical at first but ordered a pilot. The pilot starred Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. There was no James T. Kirk to be found — not yet, anyway. The pilot, titled “The Cage,” was a disappointment. NBC executives weren’t about to put it on air, but they decided to order a second pilot after Ball agreed to help finance it.
Leonard Nimoy as Spock. NBC executives liked what they saw. The new pilot, titled “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” was put on NBC’s fall schedule, though it wasn’t the first episode aired on NBC. That honor went to the episode titled “The Man Trap,” which aired on Sept. 8, 1966. While Gene Roddenberry’s original “Star Trek” only lasted three seasons, it went on to become a major TV and film franchise. One of its recent iterations, “Star Trek: Discovery,” is about to enter its third season on the streaming service CBS All Access — all because Lucille Ball saw potential in a little show back in 1965.
The second pilot starred William Shatner as Captain Kirk, and he was joined again by
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