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November 2022
THIS YEAR, I’M THANKFUL FOR STUBBORNNESS! My Team’s Persistence Pays Off for a Client
A while back, my team and I were working with a client — I’ll call it ABC Corp — was in the middle of fundraising private equity. On the day of the closing, my team needed to file amended articles of incorporation for ABC Corp. We do this with the secretary of state and usually things go smoothly. But on that particular day, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. At first, we couldn’t file ABC Corp’s paperwork because the state’s payment system was down. Then, there was a glitch in their filing system that rejected our effort. Cassandra, one of our paralegals, spent hours on hold trying to get through to the overwhelmed secretary of state’s office. No one picked up. Finally, she hung up the phone and said, “That’s it — I’m going down there.” Cassandra drove the 26 miles from our office to Carson County to file the amended articles of incorporation in person. She walked right up to the counter at the secretary of state’s office and paid an expedited fee to ensure the filing would be finished on time. The person behind the counter said, “Thank you! Unfortunately given the kind of day it has been we can’t guarantee when this will actually be filed.” That wasn’t good enough for Cassandra. She told the worker, “In that case, I’ll just wait.” She was so bound and determined that she sat down right there in front of the service desk. It worked. A few minutes before 5 p.m., someone brought the completed document out from a back room and handed it to her with the sheepish words, “Your filing is done.” Thanks to Cassandra’s effort, ABC Corp was able to move forward and close its transaction on time.
Moments like that one happen from time to time here at Sierra Crest Business Law Group, and every time I feel incredibly grateful for my team. Whenever Cassandra stands up for a client or I find Maria working on continuing education to grow in her role, for example, my heart feels ready to explode with pride. How did I get so lucky to have a team full of committed, outstanding professionals? They’re improving things for our clients so quickly that sometimes the smartest thing I can do is jump on the train so it doesn’t run me over! I hope you’ve noticed their efforts as much as I have, because they’re at the top of my Thanksgiving Thankful List this year. I’m also feeling grateful for my big family, particularly the love and support of my six siblings. Amazingly, all seven of us are on good terms. Earlier this fall I visited one of my siblings who recently went through a health scare that could have been really bad news. They’re in good shape now, but it reminded me just how much each of my brothers and sisters means to me and how hard it would be to lose them. Speaking of health scares, I’m also thankful for the medical providers who have helped me and my family this year. A few months ago, I realized I’ve spent so much time trying to grow personally and professionally that I’ve neglected my health in the process. Ultimately, taking care of myself is more important than anything else. I tell my clients this all the time when they are on the brink of burnout. With the help of my primary care doctor, chiropractors, and Pilates instructor, I’ve begun to take better care of my back and practice what I preach. Last but not least, in recent days I’ve felt particularly grateful for unhurried time. There’s something magical about a slow Sunday
afternoon spent on nothing more urgent than kneading and slicing a homemade loaf of sourdough bread. This Thanksgiving, I hope you can enjoy that pleasure and many more.
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Why Do I Constantly Think About This? How to Manage Intrusive Thoughts
Many people deal with unwelcome, intrusive thoughts every day. We’ve all experienced unwanted images or notions racing through our minds, and it can be difficult to concentrate on what we need to be doing. These thoughts can also trigger feelings of anxiety, worry, and shame. But know you’re not alone — some estimate that 6 million Americans are affected, so many can empathize with what you’re going through. Here is some good advice about intrusive thoughts and how to manage them in a healthy way.
Understand they will pass, but prepare yourself for other unwanted thoughts. Most importantly, push through and continue to complete your tasks and errands when the thoughts occur.
If you try to control, suppress, question, act, or engage with intrusive thoughts, you’ll likely be even more fixated on them. You’ll
feel more in control if you allow them to pass through your brain instead of trying to avoid and ignore them. Intrusive thoughts can feel distressing, but allowing them to freely enter and exit your mind will provide you with ease — even if it doesn’t seem that way. However, if intrusive ideas persist and
What are intrusive thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted ideas that occur without warning at any time, often triggered by stress or anxiety, or even short-term biological factors, like hormone shifts. They can come in many forms, and people often worry about what they mean, so naturally, they try to control or stop the ideas altogether. But trying to prohibit these thoughts can make them more persistent.
continually impair your ability to work or do things you enjoy, seek information from a mental health professional. You’re never alone in your struggles, so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.
What can you do?
Instead of pushing these thoughts out of your mind, acknowledge that they are intrusive concepts and allow them to linger.
The fire continued to spread quickly, and Bostic described it as a “black lagoon” of smoke on the ground floor. He checked all of the bedrooms but couldn’t find the little girl. Then, as he approached a window to exit the home, he heard a child’s cry. Bostic then had an internal conversation with himself: He knew the child needed help, and although he was terrified to go back downstairs through the fire and smoke, he wouldn’t quit. After wrapping his shirt around his mouth, he ran through the home, following the girl’s cries for help. Once he found her, he picked her up, ran upstairs, and jumped out the window onto the lawn. All of the children were safe and suffered no injuries. Bostic received first-degree burns and severe cuts on his arm. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital once first responders arrived at the scene. Bostic’s cousin created a GoFundMe to pay for Bostic’s medical bills, and it collected $556,000. Late-Night Driver Becomes a Sudden Hero Right Place, Right Time
Nicholas Bostic had a heated argument with his girlfriend one night, so he went out driving around to clear his head and relax. Little did he know he would become a hero that same night. During his drive, he witnessed a raging fire that had engulfed a family’s home. Bostic stopped his car and ran inside despite the flames. He immediately began yelling for anyone since no one appeared to be inside the house — not even emergency personnel. His cries woke up 18-year-old Seionna Barrett, the oldest of five children, and she gathered her siblings together to exit the home. Bostic ran to Barrett and her young siblings, and he helped her take the children outside. But Barrett then told Bostic that her 6-year-old sister wasn’t with them. Without a second thought, Bostic again entered the home, hoping to rescue the little girl.
Today, Bostic is healthy and healing. He now has a new perspective on life and is looking forward to whatever his future might hold.
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How Do You Get Your Business Partnership Off to a Good Start?
Some business partners ask the question “How can I anticipate and resolve legal disputes with my business partner before they even happen?” The first thing is that, as you embark upon a business partnership, you’re getting to know your business partner better and better. And one thing you want to do while everybody’s on good terms and cooperating is to set your deal in writing so everybody understands, going forward, what the rights and responsibilities of each partner are. “If you lay a good foundation, then you can build a great business on top of that foundation.”
If you lay a good foundation, then you can build a great business on top of that foundation. So, sooner is better. Another reason taking action sooner is better is that in legal issues, as well as in life, you always have more solutions at the beginning of the relationship than you do, heaven forbid, if the relationship deteriorates in the future. You’ve got a lot more control over your circumstances, a lot more ability to negotiate and come up with a fair agreement with your partner at the outset than you do at the end. Plus, if you use an attorney to help you put your deal in writing, which you should, the costs you spend to put your deal in writing and use a competent business attorney at the outset are going to be maybe 100th of the costs you will spend with an attorney a few years down the road if you have a severe business problem with your partner. So, the cost of doing it right from the beginning is substantially less expensive than the cost of solving a dispute once it has come up. If you make the decision to protect yourself, your business, and your partner at the outset, one of the best things to do with your partner is put your agreement in writing. An example of the kinds of issues we can
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contribute to the business. Along with that, you can resolve the amount of financial and other resources each partner will contribute to the business to get it started and keep it running. This is just a small list of the many things you can consider when you sit down with your partner and put your agreement in writing. I recommend that once you’ve stepped into the business world, you do it right with the assistance of an experienced business attorney. The attorney is going to have an outside perspective and also a knowledgeable perspective based on seeing these patterns and situations happen over and over again. They will help you crystallize what your goals and priorities are as well as the goals and priorities of your partner. And then, together, we come up with a solution that best meets those goals and priorities. If you’re a proactive business owner who wants to build your business on a solid foundation, please give us a call with any questions you may have. We will be happy to discuss those and strategize how you can lay a solid foundation for your business partnership.
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address in your agreement is what would happen if there were a deadlock in the voting. If, for example, you and your partner are 50/50, how would you deal with a situation where you’re both well intentioned, but you can’t come to an agreement on an important issue? We would discuss that beforehand and describe in your agreement how you both want to resolve a deadlock. We can also address what happens if a partner wants to bring somebody else into the business. You may know, like, and trust your partner, but you might not be as comfortable with a stranger your partner wants to bring in. And that’s something you can address head-on and resolve in your agreement. Another thing that can be resolved in your agreement is the extent to which one partner in the business is allowed to engage in other businesses on the side. Will the partner be allowed to engage in businesses that compete with your business or merely businesses that are non-competitive with your business? You can also discuss the amount of effort, time, and commitment each partner is expected to
691 Sierra Rose Dr., Suite B Reno, NV 89511 775.448.6070 SierraCrestLaw.com
College graduates are eager to get into the workforce and start using their newly acquired knowledge in the “real world.” However, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, only 20% of U.S. college students in 2009 had a job after they graduated. In 2009, Trina Thompson found herself in that 80% of unemployed graduates, and she wanted to do something about it. I WANT MY MONEY BACK! Recent Graduate Sues Her College After graduating from Monroe College in New York, Thompson couldn’t find a suitable job. So she filed a $70,000 case against her school (the amount of her tuition for her bachelor’s degree) and $2,000 to compensate her for what she endured while searching for a job. In her lawsuit, she claimed that the college’s career counselors promised career advice and job leads but didn’t work hard enough to find her a job. In addition, she suggested that Monroe’s Office of Career Advancement shows preferential treatment to students with high GPAs — not students like herself who had a low GPA. In response to the case, Monroe College spokesman Gary Axelbank said, “The lawsuit is completely without merit. While it’s clear that no college, especially in this economy, can guarantee employment, Monroe College remains committed to working with all its students … to prepare them for careers and to support them during their job search.” But Thompson or the college didn’t have to worry about attending trial because the case didn’t make it that far. Her case might have stood up in court if she hadn’t received a job offer. Her media attention and IT degree caught the eye of Steve Bellamy, CEO of The Ski Channel. He loved her hunger and willingness to put herself out there, and he offered her a position at his
BRAIN GAMES
SOLUTION
APPLE CRANBERRY CRISP
Ingredients
• 3 cups peeled and chopped tart apples • 1 1/2 cups cranberries • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided
• 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup butter, cold • Vanilla ice cream (optional)
company. Thompson got the job, so her case was eventually dissolved.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine apples, cranberries, 1/4 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 3. Grease an 8-inch baking dish and pour the mixture into it. 4. In a small bowl, mix flour and the remaining brown sugar. Cut in cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this over the fruit. 5. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If desired, serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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IF SOMETHING IN YOUR BUSINESS IS KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT, CALL US AT 775-448-6070. REFERRALS ARE ALSO WELCOME.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Jerry’s Thankful List
A Healthy Way to Manage Intrusive Thoughts Man Saves 5 From a Burning Home
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Apple Cranberry Crisp Recent Graduate Sues Her College
It’s National Gratitude Month!
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It’s About Showing Gratitude Thanksgiving Is About More Than Food
As we prepare for our Thanksgiving feasts, Thursday night football games, and Black Friday shopping, take some time to show gratitude for those around you and for what you have. Here are a few ways to practice gratitude this month. Appreciate everything. Get into the habit of being grateful for the little things in your life. It can be easy to acknowledge the “big” things, but nothing is too small to be thankful for. You can be grateful the weather is nice and sunny, that you received the package you’ve been waiting for, or that you got out of bed today. Don’t leave out anything when practicing gratitude. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware of what’s happening around you. So, instead of being overwhelmed by what you need to do tomorrow or next week, focus on the present moment and enjoy the time you spend solo or with your loved ones. Live in the moment and take one day at a time. Tomorrow will surely come, and you only have a limited amount of time in the present. Celebrate your challenges. Sometimes struggles and battles in our lives can weigh us down. But when you persevere and continue to push forward, you will find success. Challenges help you improve your abilities and resilience,
so celebrate the progress you’ve made. Showing gratitude for challenges and negative experiences allows us to acknowledge humility and appreciate growth in our lives. Keep a journal. Writing down the things you’re grateful for will remind you of all the great things you have when other things aren’t going so well. So, keep a journal about what you’re grateful for each day or week — even if it’s just small things at first. Your perspective on life will change, and it will get easier to see the good things and to feel grateful for things you were likely overlooking. Showing gratitude is something we should do every day, all throughout the year — not just during the holidays. So, try to practice mindfulness and gratitude using these tips! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
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