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AUGUST 2024
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From Plans to Pivots How I Turned Building Hurdles Into Strength
Things don’t always happen according to plan, and when they don’t, you have to pivot. You can scrap everything and give up altogether or roll with the punches and get through it. Challenges present us with opportunities to grow, and the more of these experiences you go through, the more strength, confidence, and ability to weather the hard times you’ll gain. Aug. 18 is Never Give Up Day, a time to reflect on the power of perseverance and the benefits of working through difficult situations. I have been through plenty of trying times myself, personally and as a business owner, and while people don’t always want to talk about this tough subject, it’s a great part of our story if we can embrace it. The most significant of these challenges in my world lately has been the building situation. As our team has grown, our current office building is no longer big enough for us. So, in late 2022, I started searching for a building that would give us the space to keep growing into the future. I knew very little about the commercial real estate business when I began this process, so I engaged a commercial real estate broker, who negotiated the purchase of a gorgeous, three-story building that I had always loved across the street from our current office. That said, I had no clue about anything other than the actual purchase price for the building and the fact that it would need some serious renovations. I quickly assembled a team, tried to get an SBA loan, and put together the architectural and construction plans to finish the entire three floors of the building. It became apparent very quickly that we would not be able to afford the required elevator installation or the costs to finish the third
floor, so I went back to the drawing board, scrapped those plans, and got new designs to build out that elevator in the future, only to see it would still be too expensive. Time was running out, and I risked missing out of
stress, with many mistakes. It wasn’t fun, but the bottom line is that I found a way to raise the additional capital I needed to close on the construction loan and finally did so on June 18, 2024. This process involved some
my dream building, so I had to pivot and purchase the building with a conventional loan in June 2023 and leave the construction part out of the equation for the foreseeable future.
really serious adversity, which coincided with adversity caused by a former employee who left several proverbial “fires” when she departed our firm. I could have easily cracked under all of the stress and adversity. But I knew I couldn’t give up
My lender had said that in the next 90 days, we could
secure the SBA loan and be in the building by fall of 2023, but things started to get really bad from there. I was constantly jumping through hoops with the paperwork for the loan, spending hours submitting documents, and did everything the bank required of me, but kept receiving nothing but vague updates. Fast forward to the end of Oct. 2023, and I’m no closer to getting my team into this building, but then I was told that I should be approved by January 2024. January 2024 came and passed, and the new time frame was the end of March. The end of March rolled around, and it was radio silence from my banker. It turns out the SBA rejected the proposal my lender prepared, and I was told I’d have to come up with a significantly larger amount of money or change our plans again. I felt completely defeated. Our banker didn’t know what he was doing and was terminated for screwing up this loan, but it didn’t change my situation. People around me began to suggest I lower my standards and just accept it, but I refused to do that. It’s been close to 600 days of
and had to focus on moving forward. The challenges I’d faced in our business over the last 5–6 years prepared me to tackle these monster challenges. While I have never personally experienced some of my clients’ struggles, like going through a divorce, losing a loved one, or dealing with child custody, I understand adversity. As a lawyer, I often share with clients that my life is imperfect and that we all deal with this stuff. Challenges will always be there, and everyone will face them. As tough as the situation was with our new building or any challenges that have come my way, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Every challenge we encounter shapes us. Whether it’s a professional setback, a personal hardship, or an unexpected hurdle, remember that each step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Embrace the struggles, learn from them, and keep moving forward.
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morning hours. This is likely not to increase the range of their song but to increase its audibility and consistency, granting them the strongest chance of landing a partner. OPENING ACT All bands have an opener, and all great acts need to practice to reach their full potential. According to a report by PBS, another theory as to why birds sing their loudest in the morning is that they are warming up and will sing multiple times throughout the day. NESTING GROUNDS We can all agree there is nothing more irritating than the constant chirping of a bird first thing in the morning. So, it makes sense that birds sing to ward off competition. They want to let other birds in the area know this is their turf and do not want to share it with anyone else. One theory posits that male birds tend to sing in the earliest hours of the morning because it’s the most dangerous time of day for them, and they prove their strength and value as a mate by braving it anyway. The Dawn Chorus Reasons Behind Birds’ Morning Songs
Birds join together in the early morning hours — usually around 4 a.m. — in a chirping symphony, which scientists call the dawn chorus. I know what you’re thinking; that would be a great band name! You are correct; it would be, but it is also an astounding fact of nature that many birds choose to sing in the morning at great volume. There’s a reason for this behavior, or at least a couple of theories, and you can read about them here! LOVE BIRDS Birds are romantics at heart, and they start every morning with a lovesong in the hopes of stirring up romance — or, more accurately, finding a mate. It is primarily the male birds singing, and science shows that their ballads are loudest in the early
Leave a Legacy of Impact
Weave Philanthropy Into Your Will
Imagine leaving a legacy that not only benefits your loved ones but also creates a lasting impact on the causes you care about most. By incorporating philanthropy into your estate plan, you can support the organizations you’re passionate about long after you are gone. Whether you want to do some good for education, medical research, or the environment, your estate can be the way you give back and continue to make a difference. Ready to discover how your estate plan can become a catalyst for positive change? Let’s explore how to work philanthropic giving into your plan! CHOOSE YOUR CAUSE The first step in incorporating charitable giving into your plan is deciding what causes and organizations you want to support. Think about what matters most to you and your family or what issues you hope to help address. When you know, think about
what you want to leave to those groups in your estate. Financial donations are a great option to support a charity, but you can also donate highly valued assets like artwork or collectibles. You could even see significant tax savings by doing so. PICK A PLATFORM There are various options to donate cash or items to a charity in your estate plan. You can make a bequest through your will and specify the amount or percentage of your estate you wish to leave to a charity. You can also create a charitable trust in which you get to determine how it will manage and invest assets and make donations. This option allows you to contribute to a charity during your lifetime and after your death. There are also donor-advised funds that you can contribute to over time and receive tax benefits for. When you pass on, the balance of that fund will go to the charities
you selected. Alternatively, you can name a charitable organization as a beneficiary on your retirement plan or life insurance policy. By weaving philanthropy into your estate plan, you’re not just planning for the future — you’re shaping it. You can leave a lasting legacy on the causes that matter to you with the proper planning. If you’re ready to start today, contact us at Douglass & Runger.
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New babies, weddings, and first homes — so many exciting changes and milestones can happen throughout your lifetime. But, as you celebrate these momentous life events, it also means it’s time to review your estate plan. Your plan is a foundational safety net that will provide for you and your family in the future, and it should evolve alongside you and all the changes you experience. Ready to give your estate plan a modern makeover? Let’s explore the telltale signs that it’s time for a review. YOU HAD A CHANGE IN YOUR FAMILY. Several significant shifts in your family could signal that it’s time to review your plan. If you have just married, you may want to add your spouse as a beneficiary. You’ll also need to update the documentation in your estate plan, so you refer to your partner as your spouse. Similarly, you may want to remove them from your plan if you get divorced. A child is also a solid reason to review your plan. It’s essential to add a child quickly so they are provided for if the unexpected occurs. YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION IS DIFFERENT. Your estate plan should consider your current budget and salary, so you should update your plan if you have gotten a raise, a new job, or inherited a large sum of money. You must have the most updated and accurate information about your current situation for your plan to work for you. The same is true for a loss of income or valuable assets. YOU HAVE MOVED. If you have moved to a different state or country, ensuring your estate plan complies with the laws of your new home state is a must. The rules can vary from various locations, and you may need to modify certain documents to ensure you adhere to your jurisdiction’s requirements. If you have recently purchased a new home, you’ll want to get that covered in your plan to protect it. As you experience life’s surprises and changes, remember that your estate plan must also adapt, just like you and your family. Whether you’re planting roots in a new state or celebrating a work promotion, these changes deserve a plan that reflects your current situation. Growing Families and Changing Plans Why Your Estate Plan Needs an Update
Tasty Cucumber Sushi Rolls
Ingredients • 1 cup uncooked sushi rice • 1 1/2 cups water • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt • 2 sheets of nori • 1/2 a cucumber,
sliced lengthwise into thin strips
Directions 1. To make sushi rice, combine rice with water in a small saucepot. Add vinegar, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until water is absorbed. Let cool. 2. Lay a piece of nori on a flat surface. Spread half of the sushi rice evenly over the nori, leaving a 1/2- inch border on one end. 3. Place half the cucumber strips along the other end of the nori. 4. Using your fingers, moisten the 1/2-inch border of the nori with water. 5. Gently roll up the nori, starting from the end with the cucumbers. Then press to seal. Repeat with a second sheet of nori and remaining cucumber. 6. Slice with a serrated knife into 1-inch sections and serve. INSPIRATION “Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” —Roger Crawford
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1 The Power of Persistence in Overcoming Obstacles 2 Why Birds Sing in the Morning How to Support Your Favorite Causes Through Your Estate Plan 3 Signs It’s Time for an Estate Plan Review Tasty Cucumber Sushi Rolls 4 Decoding the World’s Secret Languages INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Hidden Meaning Exploring the Origins of Secret Languages Secret languages, born from a mixture of pragmatism, seclusion, and boredom, are spoken and understood only by a select few. From Pig Latin uttered in schoolyards to whispers of Lunfardo in the prisons of Argentina, the secretive languages of the world have origins that may delight and surprise you. BOONTLING In Northern California, a small community speaks a unique amalgamation of an Appalachian dialect, Spanish, and the language of the Pomo tribe called Boontling. It originated in the late 19th or early 20th century in Boonville. There, you can find locals referring to doctors as shoveltooths and roaring flames as jeffers . It supposedly originated among the women and children who toiled in the local hop fields and quickly spread throughout the community. Somehow, despite existing only in a small farm town, it has an expansive 1,600- word vocabulary and around 100 fluent speakers! PIG LATIN Ancay ouyay understandyay isthay entencesay? You may decipher that question if you remember Pig Latin from elementary school. Despite disagreements about its linguistic credibility, Pig Latin has existed since
Shakespeare’s time (around 400 years ago). Ironically, it is completely unrelated to Latin, and the origin of its name is a mystery. Famous speakers of Pig Latin include founding father Thomas Jefferson, who reportedly wrote letters using the light-hearted language. LUNFARDO This language is so secretive that it’s practically criminal . Lunfardo began in the prisons of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where inmates masked their words from the nosy guards. The language has components from Portuguese, Galician, French, and German. For example, if an inmate wanted to compliment a pretty woman, they would call them a papirusa , which means “beautiful woman.” These days, Lunfardo exists mainly in the lyrics of Argentine tango music.
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