Berkeley Dental Laboratory - May 2020

Berkeley Dental Laboratory - May 2020

May 2020

The Bay Area Beacon

www.berkeleydentallaboratory.com | 510-525-0135

From World War II Survivor to Mother Extraordinaire Darrell Shares Stories About His Mom to Celebrate Mother’s Day

the evening. If she needed time for herself or for chores that didn't relate to us, they were a low priority. She would wait until we were all sleeping to paint the house or fix the sink. My mom always found ways to be resourceful and did things for herself. Even today, it's tough to get my mom to hire people to help her. When it came to discipline, my mom was wise with us. When we turned 11, she'd tell us that the only reason she was being so tough and honest with us was because in our teenage years, we would change. I think she sensed how formative those preteen years were and made sure we wouldn't get into trouble that would cause issues for us later down the road. We lived in a tough neighborhood, which probably made her worry. As a parent, I've learned a lot from her. I try to enjoy it as much as she did because if there's anything I've picked up from her and my father, it's their work ethic. I think my mom truly enjoys working hard and helping others as much as she can. As a grandma, she still always wants to cook for us! She rarely stops to rest if she can help it. I do my best to keep the same attitude toward my own kids and my work.

Whenever people talk about Mother's Day, a few things come to mind about my mom. First, I think about how tiny but powerful she is. Then, I think about how giving she is. My mom is barely 5 feet tall and under 100 pounds, while her kids are much taller and bigger than she is. Although there's a small language barrier between me and my parents, I've gained a lot of insight into just how tough her upbringing was. During World War II, my grandmother often ran from bombings and attacks while carrying my mom in her arms. It was just my grandmother, my mom, and her siblings because her dad died when she was very young. It was really tough, especially since my mom was a girl. In those times, many people left their daughters behind, and with two older brothers, I can only wonder how close my mom could've been to the same fate. While those traumatic events took place pretty early in her life, they had a big impact on her, and now, she's one of the most hardworking people I know. She finally moved to Hawaii in her late teens. When she was in her early 20's, she flew to San Francisco and met my dad. They married and stayed in California. There, they started a grocery store together. Probably the most mysterious thing about my mother's story is her own children.

In closing this month's cover story, I wish that you and your family are doing great and staying healthy during this unique time our world is going through. We will all get through this together! Time will pass and we will return to a "new normal." Whatever the changes will be,

I'm the youngest of six kids (three boys and three girls), but my oldest brother and I only have eight years between us. Six kids in eight years? How is that possible? We ask ourselves that all the time. Our mom really defied the law of reality! Like I said, my mom is tiny but powerful and giving. She survived an unthinkable time in history, but she's never stopped helping all six of us with whatever we've needed. My mom always worked at the store, but she'd leave early just to be home with us. Every day, she'd make dinner for us and make sure we had everything we needed for

we are here ready to work harder and safer than ever to make our doctors and patients happy!

–Darrell Lee

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Sometimes, a little change can go a long way. Walmart illustrated this perfectly when the megachain decided to switch to using more energy-efficient lightbulbs and cheaper floor wax. Those two simple substitutions have cut the company’s annual costs by $220 million. Of course, with thousands of stores nationwide, even the smallest savings will have a multiplying effect for a corporation like Walmart, but this lesson can still be applied by small-business owners looking to grow. As a business owner, it can be tempting to lose yourself in the big picture. Milestones like helping more clients, launching new marketing campaigns, and opening another location are the exciting investments that really get a CEO’s blood pumping. But beneath each of these major decisions, there are many minute changes that could save your company time and money. What standard operating procedure (SOP) needs to be made more efficient before you bring on a larger client load? Which social media site will give you the most bang for your marketing buck? How much more will you be spending on toilet paper with two locations? It’s tempting to overlook the minor details, but tackling these inefficiencies could save you more than you expect. If you aren’t one to pore over every expense report and crunch the numbers, you’re not alone. The good news is that most likely, there are members of your team with the perspective and knowledge to help you out. This is especially true when it comes to day-to-day operations. Employees are great at noticing redundancies in SOP, underutilized spaces in the office, and other areas where money may be wasted. Empowering your team to speak up when they notice these money-saving opportunities can do wonders for your bottom line. Saving a few hundred dollars per year on things like lighting and floor wax may not sound impressive, but that’s money you can put toward improving your employee retention, customer experiences, and marketing effectiveness. In today's competitive market, even the smallest changes can give you a vital edge. How Small Savings Can Make a Huge Difference GROWING YOUR BUSINESS? CHANGE THE LIGHTBULBS

DO SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE ENJOY A DIGITAL DETOX? 3 Entrepreneurs Share Their Secrets

Constant technology use can leave us feeling drained, so it’s good to do a digital detox by unplugging periodically. Digital detoxes have become very popular, but for most managers and business owners, cutting technology out of their lives isn’t just difficult — it can be irresponsible! You can’t throw your smartphone in the sea and expect to have a job next week. While completely quitting tech isn’t realistic, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of a digital detox while sticking to your responsibilities. Here’s how a few successful entrepreneurs manage this balancing act. Arianna Huffington puts her phone ‘to bed.’ HuffPost founder and Thrive Global CEO Arianna Huffington says the first part of her nightly routine is “escorting my phone out of the bedroom.” Huffington doesn’t allow digital devices in her bedroom and relies on an analog alarm clock. “Charging your phone away from your bed makes you more likely to wake up as fully charged as your phone,” she says. Erich Joiner has a hobby separate from his work. Running a content creation company that caters to big brands means Erich Joiner, founder and director at Tool of North America, is plugged in most of the time. To get away from the demands, he races cars on the weekend. During that time, Joiner puts his phone away in order to focus on the race. “While it takes a lot of focus, which can be strenuous, it also mentally cleanses, or 'digitally detoxes,' me during the weekend,” Joiner says. “By Monday, I can go into work with a clear mindset, ready to take on my week.”

Celia Francis tracks her online activity. Sometimes technology can help you cut down on

technology. Celia Francis, CEO of online marketplace Rated People, downloaded the app Moment to monitor how much time she spends on social media. This >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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