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SEPT 2024
Right People, Right Seats Why Being in the Right Role Is Critical
sometimes, that means moving to another company. I encourage my employees to make these moves, even if it means losing them. If someone wants to apply for their dream job, even if they don’t think they are qualified and end up landing it, I will be happy for them. That is not to say I want to lose talented members of my team. It can be difficult when people leave. However, it is also a learning experience that helps me better understand the needs of my employees. I remember being on my way back from a trip and getting a call from a leading team member. She told me she had accepted a job at her firm. I told her that while I was bummed out she was leaving, I was happy that she had made the proactive decision that was best for her. I had burnt her out, and since this was during COVID-19, it was harder for me to see our workload’s impact on the team. That reflection was sobering. LEADING LAWYERS When I first started this firm, I worked full time as a boots-on-the- ground divorce attorney. As the firm grew, it became evident that I was not in the right seat. It wasn’t until my work responsibilities naturally shifted to my being the CEO that I could deliver the best service possible. It is work a lot of people would find stressful, but I am naturally When I first started this firm, I worked full time as a boots-on-the-ground divorce attorney. As the firm grew, it became evident that I was not in the right seat. “ ”
The first Monday in September is Labor Day, a holiday celebrating the American worker. To me, this celebration is the perfect opportunity to discuss our approach to work-life balance. Our firm utilizes the Entrepreneurial Operation System (EOS), pioneered by Geno Wickman, author of bestselling business-centric books like “Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business” and “Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination.” EOS is a set of concepts and tools to establish focus, discipline, and accountability throughout your business built upon six components, but the one I would like to focus on today is people . EOS describes this component succinctly: “Right people; right seats.” Essentially, it refers to putting people in a position where they can thrive. I am not the most knowledgeable about sports, but even I understand that if you put a quarterback on the defensive line, chances are they will not succeed. But if you put them in command of your offense, they can lead your team to victory. ENCOURAGING BOLD DECISIONS Attaining a work-life balance that works for you is about taking life by the reins and making risky decisions that help you find the right seat . Sometimes, that means asking for a change in responsibilities;
comfortable doing it, and love my job. If you are the right person in the right seat, then working hard will still be enjoyable, and you can thrive in your role because you genuinely enjoy what you do.
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A Glimpse Into Stars’ Farming Hideaways Lights, Camera, Harvest
JENNIFER GARNER While most of Garner’s well-known work came in the early 2000s, she’s stayed busy on and off the screen. Her family has owned a farm in Oklahoma since the 1930s, and she regularly spends time there, riding tractors and picking pumpkins. She used her family farm as inspiration to launch the baby food company Once Upon a Farm, which Verywell Family named the best overall organic baby
Have you ever dreamed of leaving your busy life behind for the quiet farm life? A 2018 Gallup poll found that more than a quarter of Americans wish they could live in a rural area. A decent portion of our population wants nothing more than to grow their produce, raise farm animals, and spend their days doing everything possible to ensure their harvest succeeds. It’s not just those working 9-to-5 jobs who dream of the simple farm life, either. Many celebrities spend their free days on their farms whenever they’re not working on a film or tour. Here are a few celebrities — a list that may surprise you — who own farms.
it since she was 22. After a half-decade in the limelight, Seyfried began looking for a home away from Hollywood Hills to rest between her films. Against the wishes of her agent, she settled on an upstate New York farm where she currently resides with her family and plenty of animals. KELIS It’s no secret that Kelis’ milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, but does her produce do the same? In early 2020, Kelis left city life to live on a 24-acre farm in Southern California, where she grows fruits and vegetables and cares for a herd of livestock. Living on a farm proved to be very different from what Kelis initially thought. She stated, “You become farm people quickly,” during an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. Farm life seems to suit her well!
food brand in 2024. AMANDA SEYFRIED
Those who have seen 2004’s “Mean Girls” probably can’t picture Seyfried living the farm life, but she’s been doing
Fortunes Divided
What Happens to Wealthy Couples Without Prenups?
This August, actress and singer Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from actor Ben Affleck, her husband of two years, citing irreconcilable differences. According to the petition for divorce, while neither party requests spousal support, the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement in place when they got married in Las Vegas in July 2022 — which is likely a common occurrence for Vegas weddings in general . Without a prenup, divvying the couple’s massive fortunes and extensive property will begin. HOW COMMON ARE PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS? Lopez and Affleck are not alone in shirking a prenuptial agreement; as of 2022, only about 15% of American adults have signed one. However, signing a prenuptial agreement can improve financial security and protect assets from being disputed between divorcing spouses. Young, less affluent couples may excuse the lack of a prenup due to their lack of personal assets; for Lopez and Affleck, who each entered the marriage with their own vast personal fortunes, it can lead to many issues. A HOME DIVIDED The lack of a prenuptial agreement will likely prolong their divorce, which will inevitably lead to increased legal costs and a lengthier divorce. Lopez cites in her petition that the “extent of separate property assets
and obligations is unknown” at this time, meaning this will all have to be decided during this process. One piece of community property the couple shares is the 38,000-square-
foot mansion they jointly purchased in May 2023 for over $60 million in Beverly Hills,
California. They will be parting with their 12-bedroom, 24-bathroom estate, which they have put on the market for $68 million, hoping for a small return on their lavish investment. The sale proceeds will likely be split between the couple, but it is impossible to say how the property they share will be divided between them. They could have avoided this situation with proper agreements in place, and we recommend all couples consider a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot.
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led to women being trapped in abusive relationships and unhappy marriages against their will. As a response to this sad reality, in the 1970s, the government passed divorce laws that offered greater freedom and latitude for women. Divorce rates increased, and ending marriages became more common and socially acceptable in the succeeding years. This trend has continued, and those born in the ‘70s and earlier are reaping the benefits of the social normalization of divorce to get out of unsatisfactory marriages. LATER REALIZATIONS One of the key contributing factors to gray divorces is the so-called Empty Nest syndrome. When couples no longer have to care for children, they may realize they are no longer as close or compatible as they once believed. Some couples also pledge to stay with one another until their children leave home, which results in long-lasting, usually unsatisfactory relationships that come to an end when they are older. As people age, they also change. In some instances, this results in a lack of intimacy, spontaneity, and romantic connection. Gray divorces may be a response to these changes, as couples split to seek happier, better lives and more compatible connections elsewhere. Although the trend of gray divorces may seem troubling at a glance, it marks a positive development: unsatisfactory connections end as people seek better paths in life. Divorcing After 50 The Rise of the Gray Divorce
While Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s split is the latest in a long line of celebrity breakups, since they are both in their 50s, their divorce also coincides with an increase in so-called “gray divorces,” a term referring to adults aged 50 and older ending their marriages. Research published in The Journals of Gerontology shows that while divorce rates among young adults have decreased, the gray divorce rate doubled between 1990 and 2010. In fact, 36% of divorces in America are gray divorces. Here, we will explore a few factors that account for this increase and
why they may be positive. THE DIVORCE REVOLUTION
In the early 20th century, in many states across the country, it was drastically more difficult for couples to divorce, regardless of whether either or both parties had tangible reasons to justify a breakup. This
TAKE A BREAK
Baked Sausage With Apples and Fennel This comforting dish, packed with seasonal flavors, is perfect when the weather starts to get chilly.
Ingredients: • 2 apples • 1 fennel bulb • 8 raw, flavored sausages • 2 red onions cut into wedges • 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 2 tbsp fresh oregano leaves • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp honey • 2–3 oz dry white wine
Directions: 1.
Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. Cut apples into six wedges and slice off any core, leaving the skin on. Place in a roasting pan. 3. Slice fennel in half and remove the core. Chop and add to pan along with sausages and onion wedges. 4. Using a pestle and mortar, break up fennel seeds and sprinkle over the pan. Add oregano. 5. Next, drizzle oil, honey, and wine over the ingredients, then toss all together. 6. Roast for 40 minutes, tossing occasionally until sausages are golden and fruit and veggies are tender.
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161 N. Clark, Ste. 1700 Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 488-1938 rbbfirm.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
1.
The Perks of Being in the Right Role
2.
Famous Faces Finding Fulfillment in Farming
The Cost of No Prenup for Wealthy Couples
3.
Why Gray Divorces Are on the Rise
Baked Sausage With Apples and Fennel
4.
Completing Your Fall Bucket List
Autumn Awaits Ideas for Your Fall Bucket List
After a summer spent adventuring outdoors, you may feel like turning into a pumpkin come fall. But fall is full of uniquely enjoyable opportunities. From brewing cider to hanging up creepy Halloween decorations, here are three bucket- worthy activities that make the most of
and the reward is a delicious, ready-to-eat snack or an ingredient in a refreshing beverage. Ground-up apples are the base ingredient for apple cider, a delicious drink that epitomizes the greatness of fall! BLAZING BONFIRE Now that summer is spent, a good, old-fashioned bonfire is in order. Whether making s’mores or sharing ghost stories, a bonfire is a recipe for a good time with friends, family, and the occasional apparition. HORRIFYING HALLOWEEN HOME We have all seen the homes on the block with bare lawns and dark porches during Halloween. But what’s the fun in that? If that was your home last year, now is the perfect time to turn it around and embrace the most macabre, creative ideas for decking out your home — inside and out. From creatively posed skeletons to a front porch full of jack-o’-lanterns, there is no shortage of simple, scary props to adorn your home. If you have never carved a jack-o’-lantern, it should be on your bucket list — not just for fall. See how far you can take Halloween this year!
autumnal creativity and coziness.
APPLE PICKING FOR APPLE CIDER Apple picking season starts in the waning days of summer before ending in October, making September the best time to visit a local orchard. Whether you’re in Alaska, Wyoming, or almost any state in between alphabetically, pick-your-own apple orchards offer you and your friends the chance to get back out in nature, exercise, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Best of all? Apples are the easiest fruit to pick,
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