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Tired of Starting Over Every January? Walk Into 2026 Already Winning
Create the plan. Now, this is where things get exciting. Once you write your goals down, you’ve got to make a plan. Ask yourself: “What will I do on Jan. 1 that gets me closer to that goal?” If you want to save money, how much per week? If you want to get healthier, what’s your workout plan? You must make it specific. The amazing part is that you can literally use AI now to help you with this. Tools like ChatGPT can help you design your plan, break it into steps, and even keep you accountable. It’s never been easier to plan and track your goals. Take action. Planning and writing are great. But if you never act, it’s all just theory. The real change happens in the doing. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to move. Stay consistent. This is the secret sauce. Once you start taking action, keep going. That’s how we build habits. And once it’s a habit, it’s no longer something you must do. It’s just who you are. Make the goal. Write it down. Plan it. Take action. Stay consistent. Then repeat. That’s the cycle that builds success. Instead of resolutions, think systems! Start now. Walk into January already knowing your game plan. That’s how you make 2026 your best year yet, financially, professionally,
Every December, I notice the same thing happening. People begin getting that “New Year, New Me” energy. The gym is packed, planners fly off the shelves, and everyone promises to finally hit that big goal. Like clockwork, by the second week of January, it all fades. The gym’s empty again, the planners collect dust, and the big dreams quietly drift into the background.
Does that sound familiar? Yeah, I’ve been there, too.
That’s why I stopped doing resolutions altogether. They don’t work, not because we don’t want to change, but because we wait too long to plan the change. So, instead of setting random goals in January, I start mapping my year out in October or possibly even September. (I cheat a little because being Jewish, our new year usually falls around then, so my head’s already in “goal mode.”) By the time December rolls around, I know exactly what I want out of the following year, and that’s the mindset I want you to have going into 2026. If you want real, extravagant change, not just wishful thinking, this is how you do it. Figure out what you actually want. Before you write anything down or start making lists and plans, get clear on what you actually want. I’m talking specifics. Do you want more money? A promotion? Do you want to meet your person? Save more? Get healthier? Eat better? Build muscle? Lose fat? Start a business? You can potentially focus on many areas: fitness, health, wealth, relationships, or personal growth. But, you have to pick! You can’t hit a target you haven’t defined. So, start there. That’s step one. Write it down. Once you know what you want, put it in writing. Don’t just think about it. Don’t say, “Yeah, I want to make a million dollars in 2026” or “I’m going to lose 50 pounds.” If it’s only in your head, it’s not real. Writing it down makes it real. If you don’t, here’s what happens: By Jan. 10, you’ve already forgotten what you said you wanted. Then suddenly, 2026 looks exactly like 2025. And 2025 looked just like 2024. It’s the same story, over and over, until you decide to change it.
health-wise, or personally. Whatever you want to achieve, it starts with this process. Don’t wait for the new year to change your life. Build your monster 2026 now!
-Louis Bernardo Berk
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DON’T SIGN THAT JOB OFFER BLINDLY Fine-Print Focus
In today’s competitive job market, landing new employment is the least of your worries.
Never disregard a seemingly minor typo as a slight variation in a job title (e.g., “managerr” or “supervisor” versus “manager”) could be enough to impact your anticipated compensation, workday obligations, and even your tax status. Even the most professional companies can make mistakes in drafting documentation, so never assume Human Resources has everything covered. Do the perks make sense as presented? In addition to confirming exactly what you’ll do and be paid, you must ensure any benefits outlined in the contract align with your expectations or with anything you may have been told during interview(s) and negotiation(s). Review all insurance benefits, paid vacations, PTO/sick leave structures, retirement plans, and bonuses detailed in the contract before signing, and immediately raise any questions or concerns with the appropriate parties. What is yours, and what is your employer’s? With remote work on the rise, your employer may be based in another state. Your employee contract should detail your remote status and any expectations for occasional “hybrid” work (e.g., working at the corporate office once a week) and work-related travel. Expense reimbursement is another factor to consider when reading your contract. Review any provisions regarding your responsibilities in using employer-supplied equipment (laptops, printers, scanners, etc.) required for your remote position. Sometimes, your work may entail creating intellectual property the employer owns. For example, if you make digital media for a company, you likely won’t be able to apply it to your personal use or bring it to a subsequent employer. The employee contract will likely include specific proprietary rights and intellectual property language. Before agreeing to an employer’s contract terms, you should address any verification needs. These questions are just the tip of the iceberg. No two employee contracts are exactly alike, so it’s essential to diligently review any documentation you receive, even if you need to bring in a legal professional for an extra pair of eyes.
Depending on your chosen industry, you may be required to review and sign an employment contract before starting a new position. Ideally, this document will clearly outline what your new employer offers you to work for them and the responsibilities they expect you to fulfill. While the concept is simple enough, a host of nuances and potential red flags in an employee contract may reveal that your new job is more (or less) than you expected. Considering that the average U.S. employee stays with a single employer for approximately four years before moving on, reviewing your employee contract carefully ensures the job of your dreams doesn’t devolve into a logistical, financial, or professional nightmare. Here are three key questions to consider before agreeing to the contract terms presented to you. Does the contract accurately describe your role? In many cases, an online job description is the employer’s wish list of duties that could fall under that role. Specific responsibilities related to a particular position may be refined during the interview and negotiation process, especially if the employer is in a transitional period of restructuring its workflow and employee roles. When reviewing your employee contract, confirm that your job title, duties, payment terms and methods, and length of service (if the position is temporary) are described accurately. “No two employee contracts are exactly alike, so it’s essential to diligently review any documentation you receive, even if you need to bring in a legal professional for an extra pair of eyes.”
Good luck with your job search, and happy reading!
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TAKE A BREAK
Syllables That Shape Society
The ‘Saxon Clincher’ Effect
The right selection of syllables can change the course of history.
As any English teacher or professional editor (or anyone who’s ever confused “they’re,” “there,” or “their”) will tell you, navigating modern English is often chaotic and confounding. In a 2020 blog, Ward Farnsworth of the University of Texas School of Law attempted to explain how it got this way. “English is a language built mostly out of two others. Much of it was created from the language of invaders who came to Britain around 450 AD from Anglia and Saxony (in what we’d now call northern Germany). About 600 years later, the French [Normans] invaded and brought their language with them, too, derived from Latin. The new French competed with Old English, and the eventual outcome was modern English, built out of both.” Farnsworth’s observation isn’t new. Various speeches by President Abraham Lincoln, largely considered one of the world’s greatest orators, made excellent use of this mix of languages by understanding that Anglo-Saxon words tend to be direct and words of French origin tend to be a bit more flowery. Lincoln applied these characteristics to create what some linguistic circles call a “Saxon clincher,” a straightforward conclusion to a more colorfully worded introduction. A Saxon clincher can be employed to gain attention with impactful opening words before driving the point home more simply. According to Farnsworth, Lincoln’s talent for perfecting this approach shines through in this passage from his “House Divided” speech in 1858: Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new, North as well as South. Did you notice how the first half includes colorful words such as “opponents” and “extinction,” and the final 14 words are simple with one syllable each? That’s the Saxon clincher, and the pathway to a perfect speech, in a nutshell.
BAKED FETA, TOMATO, AND WHITE BEAN SKILLET
Ingredients
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes • 2 (15-oz) cans no-salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed • 4 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped • 2 tsp Italian seasoning • 1/4 tsp salt • 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided • 6 oz feta cheese, packed in brine, cut into 4 pieces
• 1 tbsp hot honey • Basil leaves, for garnish • 4 slices toasted whole-wheat country bread, optional, for serving
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. 2. In a large, oven-safe skillet, combine tomatoes, beans, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt. 3. Drizzle with 5 tbsp of olive oil and stir gently. 4. Add feta pieces 2 inches apart in the mixture and drizzle with remaining olive oil. 5. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst. 6. Remove from oven and drizzle with hot honey. Garnish with basil leaves, and serve with toast if desired.
Inspired by EatingWell.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Start Building Your Monster 2026
1
The Weight of Written Words
2
3
Baked Feta, Tomato, and White Bean Skillet
President Lincoln’s Unique Speech Style
Terror Turns to Trial
4
A ‘Leatherface’ Lawsuit Leaves a Mark SLIPS, SCREAMS, AND SETTLEMENTS
If you’re a horror film fan, you know how common it is for a would-be victim to trip and fall long enough to allow the killer chasing them to catch up and carry out some nasty deed. While this scene is a classic cliché of the genre, it would strike genuine terror in anyone’s heart if it played out in the real world, especially when you’re a 57-year-old woman with her grandchild in tow. In the late 1990s, Cleanthi Peters accompanied her 10-year-old granddaughter to a Hell’s High haunted house attraction at Universal Studios in Florida. As their walk-through was about to end, an actor portraying the menacing character Leatherface from the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” film franchise began chasing them while wielding a fake chainsaw. As the frightened pair began running away from the grotesque antagonist, they slipped on a wet spot on the floor, just like in the movies. Instead of breaking character to help them, the actor playing the pretend psychopath continued to menace the two by standing above them with his torturous tool still in his hands.
Claiming the incident left her and her granddaughter “extremely fearful and in mental distress and anguish,” Peters later sued Universal Studios for emotional distress and other injuries. After numerous trials, the suit was decided in Peters’ favor, resulting in a $15,000 judgment against Universal Studios for failure to keep its haunted house safe for occupants. While this case occurred in Florida, legal experts have opined that the verdict may have been the same in other states, since an unsafe wet floor wouldn’t be a reasonable expectation for anyone attending a haunted house attraction. While Hell’s High may have succeeded in frightening Peters and her granddaughter, the suit proves that
horror-themed entertainment can sometimes be too scary, especially for the defendant’s
legal counsel, and Leatherface is best encountered from the comfort of a TV or movie theater screen.
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LouisBerkLaw.com 407-906-0500 Diciembre 2025
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¿Cansado de empezar de nuevo cada enero? Entra al 2026 ya ganando
Cada diciembre, noto que pasa lo mismo. La gente empieza con esa energía de “Año nuevo, yo nuevo”. El gimnasio está lleno, los planificadores se agotan, y todos prometen que este año sí lograrán esa gran meta. Pero, como un reloj, para la segunda semana de enero, todo se desvanece. El gimnasio vuelve a estar vacío, los planificadores acumulan polvo, y los grandes sueños se esfuman en silencio al fondo.
2025. Y 2025 se pareció a 2024. Es la misma historia, una y otra vez, hasta que decides cambiarla. Crea el plan. Aquí es donde se pone emocionante. Una vez que escribes tus metas, tienes que hacer un plan. Pregúntate: “¿Qué haré el 1 de enero que me acerque a esa meta”? Si quieres ahorrar dinero, ¿cuánto por semana? Si quieres mejorar tu salud, ¿cuál es tu plan de entrenamiento? Debes hacerlo específico. Lo increíble es que ahora puedes usar inteligencia artificial para ayudarte con esto. Herramientas como ChatGPT pueden ayudarte a diseñar tu plan, dividirlo en pasos e incluso mantenerte responsable. Nunca ha sido tan fácil planear y seguir tus objetivos. Toma acción. Planear y escribir está muy bien. Pero si nunca actúas, todo se queda en teoría. El cambio real ocurre en la acción. No tienes que ser perfecto. Solo tienes que moverte. Mantente constante. Este es el ingrediente secreto. Una vez que empiezas a actuar, sigue. Así es como se construyen los hábitos. Y una vez que se convierte en hábito, ya no es algo que “tienes que hacer”. Es simplemente quien eres. Haz la meta. Escríbela. Planea. Actúa. Sé constante. Luego repite. Ese es el ciclo que construye el éxito. En lugar de resoluciones, ¡piensa en sistemas! Empieza ahora. Entra a enero ya sabiendo cuál es tu plan de juego. Así es como haces que 2026 sea tu mejor año — financieramente, profesionalmente, en salud o a nivel personal. Lo que quieras lograr, empieza con este proceso.
¿Te suena familiar? Sí, yo también he estado ahí.
Por eso dejé de hacer resoluciones por completo. No funcionan, no porque no queramos cambiar, sino porque esperamos demasiado para planear el cambio. Así que, en lugar de establecer metas al azar en enero, empiezo a trazar mi año en octubre o incluso en septiembre. (Hago un poco de trampa, porque siendo judío, nuestro año nuevo suele caer por esas fechas, así que mi mente ya está en “modo objetivos”). Para cuando llega diciembre, ya sé exactamente lo que quiero del año siguiente, y esa es la mentalidad que quiero que tengas de cara al 2026. Si quieres un cambio real, extraordinario —no solo buenos deseos—, así es como se logra. Define lo que realmente quieres. Antes de escribir algo o empezar con listas y planes, aclara qué es lo que realmente deseas. Hablo de cosas específicas. ¿Quieres más dinero? ¿Un ascenso? ¿Encontrar a tu persona? ¿Ahorrar más? ¿Mejorar tu salud? ¿Comer mejor? ¿Ganar músculo? ¿Perder grasa? ¿Empezar un negocio? Puedes enfocarte en muchas áreas: condición física, salud, riqueza, relaciones o crecimiento personal. Pero tienes que elegir. No puedes acertar a un blanco que no has definido. Empieza por ahí. Ese es el paso uno. Escríbelo. Una vez que sabes lo que quieres, ponlo por escrito. No solo lo pienses. No digas “Sí, quiero ganar un millón de dólares en 2026” o “Voy a perder 50 libras”. Si solo está en tu cabeza, no es real. Escribirlo lo hace real. Si no lo haces, pasa esto: para el 10 de enero ya olvidaste lo que dijiste que querías. Y de repente, 2026 se ve exactamente como
No esperes al año nuevo para cambiar tu vida. ¡Construye tu monstruoso 2026 ahora! -Louis Bernardo Berk
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Una Demanda De ‘Leatherface’ Deja Huella TROPIEZOS, GRITOS Y ACUERDOS
Si eres fanático del cine de terror, sabes lo común que es que una posible víctima tropiece y caiga justo el tiempo suficiente para que el asesino que la persigue la alcance y cometa alguna atrocidad. Aunque esta escena es un cliché clásico del género, provocaría un terror genuino en el corazón de cualquiera si ocurriera en la vida real, especialmente cuando se trata de una mujer de 57 años acompañada de su nieta. A finales de la década de 1990, Cleanthi Peters llevó a su nieta de 10 años a una atracción de casa embrujada llamada Hell’s High en Universal Studios, Florida. Cuando su recorrido estaba por terminar, un actor que interpretaba al amenazante personaje Leatherface, de la franquicia cinematográfica The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (La masacre de Texas) , comenzó a perseguirlas blandiendo una motosierra falsa. Mientras la aterrorizada pareja corría para escapar del grotesco antagonista, resbalaron en una zona mojada del suelo, tal como sucede en las películas. En lugar de romper el personaje para auxiliarlas, el actor que encarnaba al falso psicópata continuó intimidándolas, de pie sobre ellas con su herramienta de tortura aún en las manos.
Alegando que el incidente les causó “miedo extremo, angustia mental y sufrimiento emocional”, Peters posteriormente demandó a Universal Studios por daños emocionales y otras lesiones. Tras varios juicios, la demanda se resolvió a favor de Peters, con un fallo de 15,000 dólares en su beneficio, al determinarse que Universal no mantuvo la casa embrujada en condiciones seguras para los visitantes. Aunque el caso ocurrió en Florida, expertos legales han opinado que el veredicto habría sido el mismo en otros estados, ya que un piso mojado e inseguro no es una expectativa razonable para quienes asisten a una atracción de terror.
Si bien Hell’s High logró asustar a Peters y a su nieta, la demanda demuestra que el
entretenimiento de terror a veces puede ser demasiado aterrador
— especialmente para los abogados defensores — y que es mejor encontrarse con Leatherface desde la comodidad de una pantalla de cine o televisión.
• 2 pintas de tomates cherry • 2 latas (de 15 oz) de frijoles cannellini sin sal añadida, enjuagados • 4 dientes de ajo medianos, finamente picados • 2 cucharaditas de condimento italiano • 1/4 cucharadita de sal Ingredientes
• 6 cucharadas de aceite de oliva extra virgen, divididas • 6 oz de queso feta en salmuera, cortado en 4 piezas • 1 cucharada de miel picante • Hojas de albahaca, para decorar • 4 rebanadas de pan rústico integral tostado (opcional, para servir)
Instrucciones 1. Precalienta el horno a 450 °F (230 °C). 2. En una sartén grande apta para horno, combina los tomates, los frijoles, el ajo, el condimento italiano y la sal. 3. Rocía con 5 cucharadas de aceite de oliva y mezcla suavemente. 4. Añade los trozos de feta separados entre sí por unos 5 cm (2 pulgadas) y rocía con el aceite restante. 5. Hornea durante 30–35 minutos, o hasta que los tomates revienten. 6. Retira del horno y rocía con la miel picante. 7. Decora con hojas de albahaca y sirve con pan tostado si lo deseas.
Sartén de Feta Horneado con Tomates y Frijoles Blancos
Inspirado en EatingWell.com
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