Law Office Daniel J Miller - August 2020

Law Office Daniel J Miller - August 2020

INYOUR DEFENSE

AUGUST 2020

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What Rock Climbing Taught Me About Running a Law Firm

TRUSTING YOUR TEAM AND YOUR PROCESSES

“It’s not easy having so little control over such a precarious situation, but my being here today is a testament to how trusting the process and your climbing partner helps you brave even the scariest mountains.” One time, Uncle Mike took me to climb Seneca Rock in West Virginia. If you’ve never seen what Seneca Rock looks like, it’s basically a 1,500-foot-tall rock with a sheer face perpendicular to the ground from the bottom to the top. Climbing that rock face is one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever done in my life, but Uncle Mike and I made it to the top, climbed back down, and lived to tell the tale. You learn a lot in 21 years of practicing law, but I don’t think I ever expected to learn how to rock climb. In the first few years of my law career, my partner was my uncle, Mike Ashe, who was an avid rock climber and rock climbing instructor. He even taught rock climbing to some local Navy SEAL teams. Inevitably, Uncle Mike would show me (literally) the ropes of rock climbing at some point. I’m glad he did because not only did I learn a challenging, fun pastime, but through it, I also gained a better understanding of how to run a law office.

Uncle Mike, my rock climbing partner, and our rock climbing equipment to prevent me from falling to my death. It’s not easy having so little control over such a precarious situation, but my being here today is a testament to how trusting the process and your climbing partner helps you brave even the scariest mountains. Much like climbing a cliffside with a partner, running a law firm requires a lot of trust in both established processes and the people who work for you — which isn’t always easy to do. Any mistake my staff makes has far reaching consequences for me as the attorney and the clients we represent. Certain mistakes could cost me my license, and other mistakes could cost our clients time, money and/or justice. While those potential costs might make you think it would be easier just to do it all myself, that’s certainly not the case. Just like it’s extremely unwise, and most likely impossible, to climb Seneca Rock all by yourself, the same goes for running a law firm. I need people working with me to ensure everything runs smoothly in the office. I can’t belay and climb at the same time, and I can’t do every job in the law office at once. I have to trust that while I do my part to the best of my ability, my staff are all doing their parts to the best of theirs, too. Even though working as a team comes with its own set of challenges, it also comes with a unique sense of satisfaction. When everyone does their part, and when a process works exactly the way it should, there’s no feeling quite like it. And when we win a case — as

we often do — the feeling is just that much sweeter. It’s like sitting on the top of a huge cliffside, looking out over a stunning view you never would have seen if you hadn’t made the climb.

– Daniel J. Miller

A few things in particular made climbing Seneca Rock so terrifying. First off, I’m afraid of heights. Second, I had to put my trust in

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WITH SOME FUN ON THE BEACH! F ill the D og D ays of S ummer

The dog days of summer are here, but in Hampton Roads, the last month of summer is anything but boring. Sure, plenty of events have unfortunately canceled — but plenty more are still on the calendar! So, if you’re at a loss for how to spend these hot summer days, check out what’s going on near you in the month of August!

BEACH BLANKET CINEMA When: Aug. 6, 13, 20, and 27 starting at 8:30 p.m. Where: The beach at 29th Street Price: Free!

attend. It’s the perfect time to shed the stress of the previous week and let yourself enjoy the greatest classical hits from a time when things weren’t so complicated.

You might not be able to catch the latest releases at the local movie theater, but you can certainly watch old favorites out under the stars every weekend this month! Bring your blankets and beach chairs to catch a family-friendly movie with the added ambience of the crashing waves, the ocean breeze, and the laughter of nearby friends and neighbors.

VIRGINIA BEACH FUNKFEST BEACH PARTY When: August 28–29; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Where: On the beach at 20th Street Price: Free!

SYMPHONY BY THE SEA CONCERT SERIES When: Aug. 13, 20, and 27; 7:30–9:00 p.m. Where: 31st Street Park, Virginia Beach Oceanfront Price: Free!

If beach concerts are your thing, but classical music isn’t, you might instead enjoy Virginia Beach’s annual FunkFest Beach Party. Funk was the result of African American musicians of the 1960s combining soul music, jazz, and R&B into something with a whole new rhythm and groove you and your friends can enjoy at the party. Musicians will play hits from James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, George Clinton, and others!

For all the classical music fans and aficionados out there, this concert series is for you! Like Beach Blanket Cinemas, this concert series is outside, right next to the beach, and free for anyone who would like to

Bowling is a fun activity for all ages, and the game has been providing good times since 5,000 B.C. in Egypt. In modern history, bowling has had its fair share of glory, but if you think you have the aptitude to join the ranks of professional bowlers, then consider what it takes to become the best of the best. JOIN THE PROS The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) are the premier leagues for professional 10-pin bowlers in the United States. Unlike the NFL or MLB, in which players are drafted onto teams before participating professionally, it’s fairly simple to join the PBA or PWBA. Members either pay an annual fee or have to meet certain requirements: scoring a 200 or higher at each tournament they’ve entered, bowling at least 36 games, or having an overall average of 190 or better. To participate in the PWBA, bowlers must have a scoring average of 190 or higher in any recognized United States Bowling Congress (USBC) league. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE You may see a professional bowler score 190 at a regional tournament and think, “I can do that.” That’s the beauty of bowling! T he B ig L eagues

Anyone can score high, but comparing your Wednesday night league average to a pro is like comparing the score from your pickup game of soccer to the scores at the World Cup. For starters, unlike what you’d find at any standard bowling alley, the lanes in a professional setting are oiled specifically to create a more difficult path for the ball, forcing the pros to toss mechanical-like throws. This takes time and dedication to perfect. FIND MONETARY SUPPORT Unlike many other professional sports, bowlers make very little money. The average bowler makes more than $40,000 annually, but they often have to provide their own funds for lodging, travel, and tournament entry fees. Some professional bowlers even have side gigs to supplement their income from the sport. However, many bowlers admit that it’s not about the money. Instead, it’s the friendly competition and the glorious sound of the pins that bring them back for more. Learn more about these professional leagues at PBA.com or PWBA. com if you’re interested in picking up bowling as a professional sport or just a hobby!

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Millions of children worldwide live with a cleft lip or a cleft palate, many of whom live in countries where access to health care and medical facilities is extremely limited. Cleft lips and palates can make it hard to breathe, eat, and speak, and children in developing countries can live for far too long with one before being able to have it fixed with surgery — if they’re able to get surgery at all. Fortunately, one Virginia Beach-based organization is tackling this problem one surgery, child, and cleft lip at a time: Operation Smile. Operation Smile was founded in 1982 by Dr. William P. Magee Jr. and Kathleen S. Magee, who are now the CEO and President of the organization, respectively. After nearly four decades of working to make cleft lip and palate surgeries accessible everywhere, Operation Smile now has a permanent presence in 34 countries around the world, performs 100 unique medical missions every year, and provides surgery and dental care for over 19,000 children in that same amount of time. Plus, most of their trained medical professionals are from the low- and middle-income countries in which they’re operating. 1 Child, 1 Fixed Cleft Palate, 1 Surgery at a Time

When a child gets surgery to fix their cleft lip or palate, it’s life- changing. The surgery is relatively simple and leaves minimal scarring where there was once an incredibly noticeable deformity. Children can speak, eat, and breathe without so much difficulty. Unfortunately, however, access to those surgeries is not ubiquitous, and oftentimes children have to endure years of social shaming and bullying on top of difficulties with eating, speaking, and breathing before they can get surgery, if they can get it at all. Sometimes other preexisting health conditions mean that doctors can’t go forward with the surgery. Nevertheless, the doctors, trained personnel, and volunteers for Operation Smile continue to work tirelessly toward a future where no child has to live their life with a cleft lip or palate. With each day, that future grows ever closer.

SUDOKU

WEEKNIGHTCURRIED APPLE PORK CHOPS

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp coconut oil or ghee • 1 cup onion, diced • 1 tbsp garlic, crushed • 1 tsp ginger, finely chopped • 1 tsp salt • 1/2 cup water or apple juice • 2 tbsp hot curry powder

• 3 cups diced apples (peeled or not, your choice!) • 6 pork chops • Cilantro, roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large pan over medium heat, melt coconut oil or ghee. 3. Add onions, garlic, ginger, and salt. Sauté for 10 minutes or until onions are soft and mixture is fragrant. 4. Mix in water or apple juice and curry powder. Then add apples, ensuring they get coated in sauce. 5. In an oven-safe dish, arrange pork chops, cover with sauce and apple mixture, and cook for 20 minutes (if using bone-in chops, cook for an additional 10 minutes) or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 145 F. 6. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!

Inspired by The Primal Desire

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What Rock Climbing Taught Me About Running a Law Firm PAGE 1 Upcoming Events in August around Virginia Beach Think You Can Be a Professional Bowler? Find Out! PAGE 2 Virginia Beach Nonprofits You Should Know About Weeknight Curried Apple Pork Chops PAGE 3 Celebrate National Chefs Appreciation Week PAGE 4 INSIDETHIS ISSUE

CELEBRATES THOSEWHOBRINGCOMMUNITIES TOGETHER NATIONALCHEFSAPPRECIATIONWEEK

Restaurants have had an especially tough time staying afloat during the pandemic. Most eateries had to discontinue dine-in service, and those that couldn’t adapt to offering takeout or delivery may still be questioning whether they’ll ever be able to open their doors again. During the pandemic, it became clear to many of us just how important a role our favorite restaurants play in providing not just tasty chow, but also a sense of comfort and community. Celebrating National Chefs Appreciation Week is a great way to let the chefs who run those eateries know just how much they mean to us. WHAT IS IT? Since the holiday’s inception in 2013, it has most commonly occurred during the third week of August; this year, it’s August 16–22. Restaurants, patrons, and home cooks alike can show appreciation for the art and dedication chefs bring to their craft every day. Several restaurants across the country celebrate with special events and menus,

and patrons flock to their favorite places for great food and company and to support the chefs who bring their communities together. HOW CAN I CELEBRATE? Now that many restaurants are opening back up for service at a limited capacity, it’s possible to dine in and further support the chefs who make the food you love. But, if you’re still not comfortable eating at a restaurant, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate. Continue having food delivered or picking up curbside from your favorite places. Whether dining in or carrying out, remember to tip well! You can also post about your favorite dishes on social media or leave a glowing review for your favorite eatery on Google or Yelp. The beauty of this holiday is that celebrating includes doing activities you probably already do, so it’s easy to participate.

construction of community. Their food brings us together, fills our stomachs, and brightens our moods. We may not have fully recognized all they do for us until recently, but now that we have, we can truly celebrate Chefs Appreciation Week to the fullest.

Chefs play a significant role in the evolution of culture, protection of tradition, and

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