Littlejohn Law - December 2021

Littlejohn Law - December 2021

Build It, Protect It, Preserve It.

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740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com

December 2021

Make the Most Out of Each Day 4 TIPS TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE

Script your day out. This tip works best hand-in-hand with setting yourself up for success. As I plan my week, I write down in my moleskin journal about any important events or meetings. I double-check to make sure that everything in my journal matches up with my Google Calendar as well. Each night, I go through my plans and update them for the next day. I also use this time to review what I did that day. By scripting the day out, I know exactly where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing. My team will also know my schedule so this helps them too. This process makes me become more productive with fewer interruptions as I try my best to adhere to the script. If I notice that there’s something I have to get done, I write it down for the next day to ensure that it is productive. Mobile devices and electronics as a whole have taken over our lives the last couple of decades, but it’s important to put the electronics away from time to time. I will often keep my phone on “do not disturb” to reduce interruptions while I’m working. There is a book called “Deep Work” by Cal Newport that takes a deep dive into this philosophy, and I think it’s a good read for anyone trying to maximize their time. Distractions take away from our productivity regardless of our setting. Put away your electronics and distractions.

As we approach the new year, many people will create resolutions that they hope to enact once 2022 arrives. These resolutions could be anything from productivity goals at work to getting in shape to spending more time with family, but the simple truth is that many people will never reach these goals because they cannot commit to their resolutions. More often than not, the excuse is a lack of time. In order to accomplish our objectives, we really have to focus and find ways to maximize our time. There are many methods to make the most out of each day, but I would love to share what has worked for me in the past and present. Here are Littlejohn Law’s four tips to make the most out of each day. Set yourself up for success. To put it simply, in order to maximize your time, you need to prepare for each day. Every Sunday evening, I set time aside to plan out my week so I can see what I’ll be doing each day. This helps me see the larger picture and allows me to make plans for each day. If I know what I’ll be getting into each week, there is little room for surprises. This time does not have to be dedicated to work, either. You can use it to plan your days from work to family to exercise. Use this to set yourself up for success in every activity so you can have a game plan for each scenario.

Keep track of your time. Time can slip away easily if we are not making an effort to keep track of it or setting time limits for certain activities. I personally use a 30-minute hourglass to limit time on each of my activities. This helps me to diversify my workload and not spend too much time on any specific area. These tips will help you become more productive, but the best way to get the most out of each day is to live in the present. Live each moment as it comes. You will soon be on the fast-track to meeting your goals and New Year’s resolutions.

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1. My Mom — She’s always supported me and my decisions. She’s believed that I have thought things through and know what’s best for me. 2. My Dad — He’s always supported me, too, but in a different way. He challenged me to be the best, to never settle for less than best. Even when I believed that I was doing my best, he pushed me to do more. 3. Ms. Tolbert — She was my 7th grade math tutor. She helped me love and enjoy math, which ultimately became my favorite subject in high school. 4. All My Haters — Including my academic advisor from Capital University, who told me that I would be better off going to paralegal school than law school. 5. Frank Bruzzese — He’s the smartest lawyer I know. He showed me the basics on how to be a great trial lawyer and how to put in the work to be successful. 6. Ben Glass — He’s my business coach and a lawyer. He showed me how to implement my legal skills into creating a business so that I could help others in my community. But most importantly, he showed me how to build a company to impact the lives of my family, my team, and my clients — in that order. 7. My Mindset Coaches, David Neagle and Bob Proctor — David reminded me that “you are exactly where you are supposed to be and going through what you’re supposed to be going through right now.” Bob said, “Faith and fear ... both require you to believe in the unknown — you choose!” 8. Dr. Eric Thomas — He’s my spiritual leader. He’s helped me strengthen my relationship with God. 9. Jonathan Littlejohn, My Brother — Growing up I always thought we were close, but we’re six years apart. As we’ve gotten older, though — and in our professional lives — he’s always been there to help me. He’s contributed to my success by sharing ideas that he’s learned from studying. 10. My Wife — I couldn’t complete this list without my wife. She’s my best friend. She supports me in a way that no one will truly understand. She calls it “keeping it real” or “being realistic.” She always has been and will be brutally honest. Everyone needs at least one person in their life who will be brutally honest. 10 People to Thank And How They Contributed

At Littlejohn Law, we pride ourselves on providing the best possible service and experience to our clients. That’s why we have added this handy QR code to our newsletter. To use the QR code, open your phone Try Out Our New QR Code WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

or tablet’s camera and hold it over the code. Click on the link that appears, and it will take you to a webpage where you can share your experiences with our team. We would love to hear your story and how your experience with us went. Share whatever you’re comfortable with and you could be featured in future

newsletters or on our website. This will help us to acknowledge our team members who went above and beyond — while also allowing us to fix anything that we could be doing better. Thank you for sharing your stories; we look forward to reading them.

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE: THE STEUBENVILLE NUTCRACKER VILLAGE The Steubenville Nutcracker Village is known as “the world’s largest collection of life-size nutcrackers.” In 2020, a total of 183 life-size nutcrackers thronged the historic downtown of Steubenville, Ohio. This all started in 2015 when Mark Nelson and Jerry Barilla had an idea to draw people downtown to build the community. Opening night is Nov. 23, 2021.

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Though it might not be easy to talk about mortality and the things that come with it, creating an estate plan is one of the most important things anyone can do. It is the absolute best thing to ensure your family and loved ones are taken care of in case you are incapacitated or if you pass away. Through estate planning, you can designate health and financial decisions that will be followed, you can decide who takes guardianship over your children, and much more if you pass away or become incapacitated. While there is no limit to the benefits of preparing an estate plan, there is one perk not often discussed: the peace of mind that estate planning brings. For those of you who do not have a will or estate plan in place, take a moment and think about what would happen to your finances and children if you were to be involved in a fatal accident. How would your assets be split up? Who would become the guardian of your children? What happens if you become incapacitated? Would you be kept on life-support? Peace of Mind Is Priceless What’s New With Me and My Own?

By creating an estate plan, you are erasing any of the doubt that these questions present. You will make decisions regarding what happens with your assets and finances. You can decide who takes over guardianship of your children and what steps your family should take if you become incapacitated. You will get the peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out and your loved ones will be taken care of. At Littlejohn Law, it’s our goal to help as many people as possible. Through estate planning, we can make the future less stressful. Besides peace of mind, you will also allow your family the time to grieve instead of dealing with the hassles and expenses of probate and courts. Our team is available to help, and you simply can’t put a price tag on the relief you will feel when your estate plan is in order.

DIY HOLIDAY EGGNOG

INGREDIENTS

Shoutout to Richie Wismer the bookkeeper, aka the Money Man. Richie has been managing the finances for a little over three months, helping clients stay up to date with their legal expenses. Also, for clients in need, he’s helped them get access to financing for their legal services. If you have questions about your invoice or trust request, feel free to reach out to Richie, and he’ll be able to help you.

• 6 egg yolks • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 2 cups milk

• 1/2 tsp nutmeg • 1 pinch salt

• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract • Cinnamon and whipped cream, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Set aside. 2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a simmer. 3. Add a spoonful of the milk mixture to the egg mixture. Whisk vigorously and repeat, one spoonful at a time. 4. When most of the milk is whisked in, add the egg mixture to the saucepan. 5. Whisk until the liquid thickens slightly or reaches 160 F. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. 6. Pour the eggnog into a glass container and cover. Refrigerate. 7. When the eggnog has thickened, pour it into glasses, garnish, and enjoy!

Edward has done some last-minute shopping to get everything for Christmas and the New Year. He even found some time for a consultation with Mr. & Mrs. Claus.

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Inspired by TastesBetterFromScratch.com

352 Frank Layman Blvd. • Wintersville, OH 43953 740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com

INSIDE

THIS ISSUE

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4 Tips to Make the Most Out of Each Day

10 People to Thank for Our 10th Anniversary We Want to Hear from YOU! Local Business Profile

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Peace of Mind Is Priceless What’s New With Me and My Own? DIY Holiday Eggnog Reading to Your Children Reaps Benefits Galore!

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THE BENEFITS OF READING TO YOUR CHILDREN

Preparing for Success in School According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 1 in 3 American children enter kindergarten without the necessary reading skills to succeed in school. But if you read to your children, you expose them to new words and help develop their listening skills as they listen to you read. You can also ask questions about their reading comprehension along the way to ensure they understand what is happening in the story. These skills are vital to academic success. Improving Your Relationship The best way to create a special bond with your little ones is simply by spending time with them, and reading to your child on a routine basis is a great way to do that. Plus, reading stories provides a positive and educational experience where they can talk to you and vice versa. This will help you learn more about your child’s developing interests so you can find new ways to encourage them to learn and explore their passions.

Even at a young age, reading to your children is an important tool to help them grow and learn while sparking their creativity. Your child will help develop their early literacy skills and ability to focus, plus increase their social skills and communication skills.

When you begin reading to your child, they gain a greater understanding of the world, which allows them to make sense of the things they see, hear, and react to in their daily lives. But the benefits of reading don’t stop there. Improving Language Skills Reading to your child when they are an infant can help strengthen their language acquisition skills. If you continue reading as they get older, these skills will only grow. They begin to latch on to spoken communication. Improving their vocabulary and grammar skills through hearing the written word is even more effective than what they gain from everyday conversation. Why? Because the human brain comprehends written communication differently than spoken communication.

No matter which way you look at it, reading to your children provides a positive experience that will help them grow.

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