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No Condemnation ver the past few years, I’ve noticed that our society increasingly thrives on condemnation. Facebook, news, and Twitter boil over with it.
No debate can be won by screaming and labeling another person, however wrong, as evil. It truly does no good. Recent studies show injury case juries actually give less when they perceive a victim’s lawyer as too aggressive — even if he’s right. We are quickly becoming a nation who thinks the loudest voice wins. The truth is, you’re just as right when you calmly reason with others, and they’re more likely to listen. One of the best ways to manage a debate was written generations ago, but its principles ring true in the digital age. Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” first appeared in 1936, and it became a legendary self-help book. In 2011, Time magazine ranked it as No. 19 of the 100 most influential books ever written. 1. Welcome disagreement. It may be that you’ve not thought of the other side’s view. 2. Distrust your initial impulse to disagree and retort. You may be wrong. 3. Control your temper. 4. Listen first to build bridges of understanding. 5. Look for areas of agreement. In response, note those areas. 6. Be honest. Admit mistakes and thank the other person for pointing them out. It reduces the other’s need to defend their position. 7. Promise sincerely to consider the other’s points. They may be right. Better to figure that out now than later. 8. Thank them for their interest. Anyone who raises counterpoints shares your interest. Think of them as helpers. 9. Postpone action so both sides can think about it. In the meantime, deeply consider if they’re right, even partly. So, here’s how to handle a debate, distilled from the timeless wisdom of Carnegie’s masterpiece.
O
The prevailing attitude seems to be, “If you’re not with me, you’re against me; and if you’re against me, you’re either stupid or evil.” In matters like politics, people invest enormous sums of energy to generate anger to attack foes and demand retribution — and for what? As a young lawyer starting an accident injury practice, I, too, felt the urge to bludgeon my opponents with harsh, angry words for the harm they inflicted on my innocent clients. I soon realized my efforts were misspent and misguided. I learned from a surprising source: my clients.
While my clients bore the wounds and walked the long miles forced upon them by a
careless stranger, they sought no condemnation. Most just wanted bills paid, lost income replaced, and compensation for the suffering and lost time they couldn’t get back. But demonstration of anger toward the defendant? My people generally just don’t have time for that pain. They want a dark chapter closed properly, not a hollering session led by a paid mouthpiece.
Observing my people patiently withstand these wrongs without demanding the proverbial tooth for a tooth made me wiser. For some, their lives have been changed forever through no fault of their own. And yet, they don’t lash out. We shouldn’t lash out, either. I’m not saying we should accept wrongs by any stretch. But we can change the way we respond. Don’t misunderstand: Points must be made. Harmful mistakes must be convincingly proven. Legally, justice must be boldly and earnestly requested. And sometimes that does require judging someone as evil. But that’s pretty rare.
You might be surprised at the results. I look forward to hearing from you on it.
–Rob Usry 864.582.0416
3 CLEANING ‘RIP-OFFS’ THAT ACTUALLY WORK
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But sometimes we stumble across a few hidden gems that make our lives easier. And, when it comes to cleaning house, we can all use a little “easier.” Check out these products you may have already written off and let them surprise you.
look like they can clean all your dishes or an entire load of clothes, but they actually provide the perfect amount for modern machines. You save money on detergent and machine repair!
FOAM CLEANING BLOCKS
DOLLAR STORE CLEANING PRODUCTS
Anything with “magic” in the title sounds like a scam. For this reason, you may have avoided the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and similar melamine foam products. But this is one case where the product lives up to its wild claims. Melamine foam is abrasive and can break down and remove material from fine cracks and textures, making it an effective cleaner. It can be used to whiten sneakers, clean tub scum, and remove permanent marker from your fridge. Since the snake oil salesmen in the days of old first tricked trusting folks out of their hard-earned cash, consumers have wised up and are quick to write off perceived scams. Still, every now then you get lucky, and the cheap white sponge really does make the stove look like new. But you should still think twice before you say yes to gas station sushi.
If you’ve ever ducked into the local dollar store to buy some Mylar balloons for your niece’s birthday party, you might have noticed the jugs and spray bottles plastered with the word “Awesome.” Surely, this knock-off soap can’t work as well as your brand-name products, right? You’d be surprised. Online reviewers sing Awesome’s praises, suggesting it should really be a higher price for how well it works. Just make sure you wear gloves when you use it.
DETERGENT PODS
Client Testimonials SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US “I would like to briefly share my wonderful experience with you on my journey with Holland and Usry. From the beginning, Mr. Usry has been a great person and also a great communicator. If it had not been for that day I was sitting on the couch watching television and saw the Holland and Usry commercial, I probably would still, to this day, be out of work, without any help with paying my bills or a way of taking care of myself. If it was not for Mr. Usry, I would still be fighting to get compensation for my accident at work. Thanks to Mr. Usry, I didn’t have to fight as long and as hard for what I deserved. With Mr. Usry’s help, we got through it. Thank you.” You use too much soap in your washing machine and dishwasher. At least, that’s what the New York Times reported as the No. 1 complaint from repair people and appliance experts. Modern appliances are designed to use less water, and as soap becomes more concentrated, using too much can damage your machine. That’s what makes detergent pods so handy. They don’t
“Holland & Usry skillfully helped me through a grueling two-year workers’ comp ordeal. Rob was very attentive in pursuing all the available medical treatments needed. He patiently walked me through the whole procedure with my best interests at heart. He diligently worked on my case so that I would come out with the best possible settlement to ensure my well-being in the future. I am very pleased with the outcome and pleasant experience, despite all the adversities involved with my ordeal.”
–Rich M. (Glendale workers’ compensation client)
–Monttara S. (Spartanburg workers’ compensation client)
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The Workers’ Comp Benefits You Need to Know 3 ADVANTAGES OF FILING
1. Medical Care: In the short term, workers’ compensation pays for medical services at no cost to you. As a settlement is prepared, it can also leave options for longer-term care. 2. Disability Income: If the doctor determines you can’t work for at least eight days as a result of your injury, or gives you work restrictions that your employer can’t accommodate, you should get a weekly benefit check for two-thirds of your average weekly wage. This can help keep you financially afloat while you heal. Remember to take into account any side work you do when calculating your wage figure. 3. Compensation for Permanent Disability: Permanent disability can be partial or total. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help you maximize this final benefit. In cases where you have been severely injured, usually to the point where you cannot return to your role, you may be eligible to receive long-term disability benefits, including lifetime medical care. In these cases, the insurance company will fight tooth and nail to pay you as little as possible. These benefits are complex and hard to receive, which is why you need an experienced attorney guiding you through the process and getting you what you deserve.
Everyone understands the basic concept behind workers’ compensation, but very few people ever get the answers they need beyond “it’s there to help if you get hurt at work.” If you do get hurt while on the job, you’re often plunged into a world of confusion and anxiety. One day, you’re going about your job as normal. The next, you’re worried about your health, your future employment, and providing for your family. That’s why we wanted to take some time to demystify the benefits you are entitled to under workers’ compensation law.
First, you need to realize that claims are almost always paid by the employer’s insurance company, not the employer themselves. You shouldn’t ever feel guilty about seeking compensation. After all, the laws are there for a reason: to protect you if you’re hurt while on the job. Workers’ compensation provides injured employees with three main benefits.
Good News
Psalm 30:11–12, NIV
ROASTED PARMESAN PESTO POTATOES
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
It only takes 3 ingredients to make these crispy, flavorful potatoes. They’re the perfect side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
•
2 pounds red potatoes, quartered
•
Salt and pepper, to taste
•
3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
•
2 tablespoons basil pesto
John 3:17, NIV For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In large bowl, combine
3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese
evenly over potatoes and put pan back in the oven. Roast for additional 10–15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and crispy. Remove from oven and serve warm.
potatoes and pesto. Toss to coat. Transfer potatoes to large baking sheet or shallow roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast 20 minutes and remove from oven.
Recipe courtesy of TwoPeasAndTheirPod.com.
864.582.0416
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* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.
101 W. St. John St., Suite 206 Spartanburg, SC 29306
INSIDE this issue
1
Using the Voice of Reason
2
These Products Make Housework Easier! Testimonial
3
3 Benefits of Workers’ Compensation Roasted Parmesan Pesto Potatoes
4
Thanksgiving Feast of Facts
If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email rob@bhollandlawfirm.com
FEAST OF FACTS 3 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is celebrated from sea to shining sea. For all the love — and hard work— surrounding this holiday, there are still some surprising facts about it that most people don’t know. Before you sit down to your Thanksgiving feast this year, check out these flavorful fun facts. WHAT’S ON THE MENU? If you were to go back in time to the first Thanksgiving dinner with the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people in 1621, you might be surprised at the menu. For starters, you wouldn’t find any casseroles, pies, or mashed potatoes on the table. Historians aren’t certain about what was served at that first Thanksgiving, but we do know there were various types of fowl — likely including turkey — plus corn, deer, and fish. A TASTY CRIME In 1623, the Pilgrims celebrated their second Thanksgiving to mark the end of a long drought. Pumpkin pie was served at that feast and has
been considered a Thanksgiving staple ever since. This tradition became threatened when Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, banned pumpkin pie in 1644, viewing it as a “pagan pleasure.” This decree extended to the colonies, but the Americans did not throw in the rolling pin — they simply ate their favorite pie in secret until the ban was lifted in 1660. SHOP TILL YOU DROP Attempting to stimulate the economy during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to extend the shopping season a week by moving Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the second-to-last Thursday. Most of the states refused to comply, and finally Congress stepped in and named the fourth Thursday in November the official day for Thanksgiving — a day that can be the last or second-to-last Thursday, depending on the year.
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