Take a look at our March newsletter!
Build It, Protect It, Preserve It.
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740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com
March 2022
KEEPING AN OPTIMISTIC PERSPECTIVE DURING GOOD AND BAD SITUATIONS
Throughout our lives, we come across people with varying outlooks on life. You’ll meet countless people with a pessimistic point of view, who often see the worst aspects of life or believe bad things are around every corner. You’ll also meet quite a few realists who accept any situation as it is and make preparations to deal with it. What seems to be much rarer than pessimists or realists, especially in today’s culture, are optimists. These people are hopeful and confident about the future. March is Optimism Month and I strongly believe we can all look at life from an optimistic point of view. We commonly use an old idiom in martial arts that relates to the optimist-pessimist dynamic. When you see a glass of water that is filled halfway, do you consider it half-full or half-empty? The optimist will see the glass as half-full since they can add more to it, whereas the pessimist sees the glass as half-empty and disappearing fast. Our perspective changes greatly depending on which lens we look through. As a parent and a business owner, I consider myself to be quite the optimist. When I run into an obstacle, I know it’s there to be overcome. Problems are like mountains, but mountains are meant to be climbed. No matter what challenge presents itself to me, I know I can overcome it and learn a valuable lesson in the process. I try my best to look at difficult opportunities as a learning point rather than developing a negative perspective about the situation. During our lifetime, we experience many hardships and trials; however, these obstacles are meant to make us stronger or teach us something. People who are not optimistic see the same challenges and use them as a reason for why they shouldn’t have done the task at hand in the first place. Optimists will view these challenges as an opportunity.
For example, this past January, we had a fairly intense snowstorm that shut down a lot of businesses in the area. I used this opportunity to head into the office and get even more work done due to the peace and quiet in the office. Additionally, being optimistic helps me to be a good parent because I can see opportunities for growth in my children. I can also add value to people’s lives through my business. For example, I recently got an email from an upset client who said our team prioritizes billable hours over quality of service. This isn’t true, but since we heard it from a client, we are using it as an opportunity to improve our system. I could have just said it was a disgruntled client, but I can use that feedback to provide a better quality of service in the future. Getting into a positive state of mind is easier said than done. I always try to keep in mind a quote from Bob Proctor: “Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose!” If I perceive something as negative, I think about how I can view it in a positive light. Whenever I face an obstacle, I ask myself two questions: Am I willing to allow the fear to be present? Will I walk with faith while the fear is still present? If I can answer yes to both of those questions, I can move forward. Since March is Optimism Month, I implore you all to try and view things more optimistically than you normally would. If you’re struggling, ask yourself the same two questions I ask myself. You may completely change your perspective, which will lead you to a happier, healthier, and more positive life.
740-314-4829 –Ed Littlejohn
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10 People to Thank 10 BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY BEHAVIORS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS
According to the latest data, scammers and telemarketers make 1,528 robocalls to Americans every single second . No wonder they’re driving us all crazy! Some of these calls are legitimate reminders about doctor’s appointments and payment plans, but around 55% of them are just nuisances — and we can’t rely on the government to stop them. If you’re sick of hearing about “your car’s extended warranty” or the “student loans” you paid off 40 years ago, try these five tips to cut down on robocalls and outwit scammers. 1. Explore your carrier’s free tools. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all offer services to cut down on scam calls. Some of them are free and/or come with your phone, but others you have to pay for or activate. If you have Verizon, for example, you can download the “Verizon Call Filter” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Visit your carrier’s website or call them to learn about the tools they offer. 2. Download an ad blocker. For extra protection, you can download a separate ad blocker from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Hiya is a free app that will give you caller ID and block spam calls, and Nomorobo is an award-winning option that’s free for landlines and costs $1.99 per month for cellphones. 3. When in doubt, let it ring out. If you don’t recognize the number calling, don’t answer. You can always call back if they leave a legitimate voicemail. 4. Suspect spam? Hang up. So, you accidentally answered a spam call. Whether it’s a person or a robot on the line, hang up immediately! Even saying your name or the word “yes” could set you up for identity theft. Protect Your Identity and Kick Scammers to the Curb 5 Ways to Deal With Annoying Robocalls
Are you looking for inspiration to make changes in your life? Books are a treasure trove of information and encouragement, and I’ve gleaned much from my own reading. Here are the 10 most influential books in my life these past 10 years. I recommend them all!
‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill Big takeaway: Most people don’t spend any time thinking, masterminding, and making decisions.
‘Move Your Bus’ by Ron Clark Big takeaway: Make sure the right person is in the right seat on your bus. ‘Selling the Invisible’ by Harry Beckwith Big takeaway: Selling services is more about the process than anything else. ‘No BS Time Management for Entrepreneurs’ by Dan Kennedy Big takeaway: Figure out how much you want to make, then build your activities around it. Cut everything that doesn’t support your goal. ‘Relentless’ by Tim S. Gover Big takeaway: The greats go through challenges just like everyone else, but they don’t let it stop them or derail them from their mission. ‘The Compound Effect’ by Darren Hardy Big takeaway: Once you build up momentum, things begin to change drastically. But a lot of people give up before the compound effect can take over. ‘Willpower Doesn’t Work’ by Benjamin Hardy Big takeaway: Environment plays a big role in your success. So, constantly put yourself in an environment that supports your success. ‘Founder & Force Multiplier’ by Adam Hergenrother and Hallie Warner Big takeaway: The right strategic partner can maximize productivity and effectiveness.
5. Handle voicemails with care. If you get a suspicious voicemail, never call the number or visit the website given by the caller. Instead, Google the company or agency they claimed to be with and call that number. If the real agency has no idea about the call, you’ve just escaped a trap. By taking all five of these steps, you can protect yourself and your wallet from Ponzi schemes, identity thieves, and annoying telemarketers. For even more specific advice, visit AARP.com and search “The Definitive Guide to Reducing Robocalls.”
‘Playleft Fullback’ by Ben Glass Big takeaway: Show up like no one else.
‘Born Rich’ by Bob Proctor Big takeaway: From the book: “Faith is seeing the invisible and believing in the incredible, and that’s what enables believers to achieve what the masses think is impossible.” 2 LittlejohnLawLLC.com
ESTATE ADMINISTRATION vs. TRUST ADMINISTRATION
When discussing estate planning, you hear a lot about trust administration, estate administration, and probate, but not everyone is familiar with these terms. The probate process is sometimes referred to as estate administration and takes place regardless of whether the deceased individual has a will or not. The process determines who receives various assets. Estate administration (probate) is a public process because the last will and testament as well as other pertinent documents in the court file are available to the public. This means that any estranged relatives, relatives you never knew existed, creditors, and scammers will gain legal access to all of the information in the court file. Even if there isn’t a will, the court documents explaining what the heirs will inherit according to state law are available to the public. However, when someone passes away and they have a trust, their estate does not go through probate, but their trust has to be fulfilled. In trust administration, only people who are heirs or WHAT’S NEW WITH ME AND MY OWN?
beneficiaries can see trust documents. That means scammers or unknown relatives won’t come out of the woodwork trying to get a piece of the estate. Trusts are popular because they minimize taxes, and it’s easier to plan for assets to be distributed to future generations in a private fashion. They help reduce or avoid probate or estate administration. Both estate and trust administration fall under probate because probate court has jurisdiction over both. This means that if something goes wrong with either, the probate court will step in and handle it. Our team is focused on both administrations, and our process is streamlined so we can minimize any hardships on our clients. We will be your guide and will help you through any challenges or difficulties that may arise. We want to make the situation as easy as possible for you. If you’re ready to start the estate planning process or need to make some updates or changes, give our office a call. We would be glad to help you with whatever you need. Little Snack Shack 740-314-9019 Local Business Profile
Hanging out with Kyzlee and Zade
And enjoying a celebratory
slice of pie with Jeff. He won a free slice of pie from the Little Snack Shack.
The Little Snack Shack is run by my brother, Jonathan Littlejohn. He uses our grandma’s top-secret recipes. Be sure to come try the fresh hand-cut, hand-breaded fish chunks, coleslaw, and baked mac ‘n’ cheese. Tell them you heard about it from the Littlejohn Law newsletter!
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740-314-4829
352 Frank Layman Blvd. • Wintersville, OH 43953 740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
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Keep an Optimistic Perspective
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10 Transformative Books in My Life
Handle Robocalls Like a Pro
3
Estate Administration vs. Trust Administration
What’s New With Me and My Own
Check Out Little Snack Shack
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Layers of Clothing Are Your Best Friend
Brrr! It’s Cold in Here! 3 TIPS TO STAY WARM THIS WINTER
Winter can bring beautiful outdoor scenery, but it can also be freezing outside — and that’s not much fun if you can’t stay warm. Luckily, there are several ways you can beat the cold this winter. Dress in layers. To keep in as much body heat as possible, wear several layers of clothing, but don’t wear more than three layers. Fleece, wool, and cotton retain heat more than other materials. These extra layers make it harder for heat to escape. If you wear more than three layers, you may find yourself feeling chilly because there isn’t enough space between you and the material so that it can help heat your body. Use wood-burning stoves. Not only can you cook meals on these stoves, but you can also warm up your entire house. You want to create a consistent fire without burning through a lot of wood. Wood burns best on a bed of ash, so don’t clear out all of it. Although an excessive amount of ash can cause problems, having a moderate amount is preferred. Once you get a good fire going, you should close the air vents on your stove at least halfway to ensure that the fire won’t burn out too quickly.
The quality of your fire depends on the type of wood you’re burning. It’s best to use logs that have been seasoned for at least a year. Oak, birch, ash, and hazel are the best kinds of wood to burn in your home because they tend to burn slowly and produce fewer sparks. Close your doors, and cover your windows. If there are any rooms that you aren’t using, be sure to close those doors; you don’t need to heat unused rooms. You can also stick towels or blankets underneath your doors to keep the heat in. Since windows can make your home chilly, even if they are closed, consider covering them up with blankets or thermal curtains to help prevent cold air from seeping into your home. These tips can help you and your family stay warm during the winter. Take this as a great opportunity to enjoy time together in a cozy, warm house!
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