Lynnpro - November 2020

Lynnpro - November 2020

Live Life

LESSONS FROM A CARGO SHORTS OBSESSION ORGANIZE YOUR STUFF, AND YOU’LL ORGANIZE YOUR BRAIN

If I wanted to, I could wear cargo shorts every single day of the month and never wear the same pair twice. Some people buy snow globes when they travel or those little silver spoons, but I’m not a big trinkets guy. My souvenir of choice is clothing, and I’ve picked up shorts on sale at outlet malls and Costco stores all over the country. The truth is, I can’t resist a good deal. If I see shorts I like, and they’re on sale for cheap, I buy them — end of story. This summer, though, it got to be a bit of a problem. See, I’ve been losing weight for the last year or so. I’m down to a 36-inch waist now and I’m trying to get to 34. With that goal in mind, a while back I started buying 34-inch shorts as well as my 36s, and the clothing really started to mount. I wanted to clean up the tornado of clothes, but I was freezing up just looking at it, so I brought in a local lady to organize my closet.

a specific purpose. I just kept throwing money in there as it came in, and my finances were all over the place.

Then I read a book by an absolute genius. The author was on board with having multiple checking accounts, but he said they needed to be strategically separated. For example, he suggested having one for accounts receivable, one for accounts payable, one for fun money, one for taxes, one for fundraising, etc. The suggestion blew my mind, and I implemented it right away. I opened a bunch of new accounts, and now the first thing I do every morning is pull up my online banking page and scope them out. When I go to the bank, the teller always says I have too many accounts, but that’s what it takes to keep me organized. Having that separation keeps my head on straight, and it’s a big part of why Cheri and I are debt-free. Ultimately, getting organized is one of my No. 1 tips for success, not just in business but personally, too. If you organize your stuff, you’ll organize your brain and free up a lot of mental space. This month, I’ve got a challenge for you: Pick something that’s been bugging you and organize it. Maybe it’s your junk drawer, your car, or your desk. Maybe it’s your calendar. Whatever you go for, I promise you’ll feel a thousand times more energized when it’s in order. The more you organize, the less you’ll have to worry, and the more time you’ll have to actually live life. –Jeff Saxby

She started sifting through the piles and eventually came out and said, “Jeff, do you know how many pairs of 34-inch shorts you have?”

I honestly had no clue, and I told her so. She looked at me for a second in disbelief, then she said, “You have 37 pairs!”

I could hardly believe it, but thinking back over all of the trips I’ve taken, it definitely adds up. Needless to say, folding them all took her a while.

When that lady organized my closet, she changed my life, too. It’s amazing how much easier it is for me to keep on top of things now, and looking at the piles of clothes doesn’t feel so overwhelming anymore. I still have a ridiculous number of cargo shorts, but the fact that they’re all organized has made a night-and-day difference. It was a eureka moment for me, and I realized that staying organized in my personal life is just as important for my mindset as staying organized in my professional life.

I learned the value of the latter years ago. When I first got started in business, I had a couple different checking accounts, but none of them had

“The more you organize, the less you’ll have to worry, and the more time you’ll have to actually live life.”

CALL 563-243-6459 • 1

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

3MEMORABLE THANKSGIVINGDAY FOOTBALL PLAYS

With the score tied at 6-6 in the fourth quarter, Taylor intercepted the ball from the Lions quarterback, Gary Danielson, and ran it 97 yards for a touchdown.

LEON LETT

The Miami Dolphins were up against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. This game was marked by its strange weather: Snow covered the field in Dallas, and temperatures reached only 26 degrees F. But that wasn’t what made the game memorable. In the last 15 seconds of the game, the Cowboys blocked the Dolphins’ last 40-yard field goal attempt. As the ball was rolling on the ground, Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett dove for it but slipped and missed. The Dolphins recovered the ball and were given the chance to kick another field goal at the 1-yard line. The attempt was successful, and they won the game.

Thanksgiving is all about good food, family, and football. Each year, football fans look forward to sitting down and watching the game with their family, regardless of whether or not their team is playing. While many games have been played over the years, some stand out more than others because of some major players and their quick actions. Here are three individuals who made their Thanksgiving Day games ones to remember.

PHIL LUCKETT

One of the most memorable moments during a Thanksgiving game took place in 1998, when the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions entered overtime in a 16-16 tie. Referee Phil Luckett oversaw the coin toss, and that’s when things became tense. Steelers running back Jerome Bettis appeared to call tails, but Luckett said, “Heads is the call.” Upon review later, officials discovered that Bettis changed his mind mid-toss and had indeed called heads first. The Lions got first possession and scored a field goal to win the game.

LAWRENCE TAYLOR

New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor was said to have “single- handedly” beat the Detroit Lions in this memorable 1982 Thanksgiving Day matchup. The game was only the fourth of the season for Taylor, who had just recovered from a sprained knee injury suffered in a previous game.

WANT TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS’S MARKETING A BOOST? OUR PRODUCTS CAN HELP — AND SO CAN MULTITOUCH SOLUTIONS

What do fireplaces, spas, pools, and grills have in common? On one hand, they’re the ingredients of a relaxing weekend. But they’re also products and services marketed by Lynnpro client MultiTouch Solutions. MultiTouch offers an automated email nurturing system and CRM for small- and medium-sized businesses all over the world. For the last seven months, they’ve used Lynnpro products to spread the word about their work. “Liz is my main point of contact, and she is great,” says David Diamond, MultiTouch’s Director of Sales, referencing sales rep Liz Holland. “She helps me with design, pricing, and giving me realistic expectations of production and delivery times.” MultiTouch hands out Lynnpro’s shirts, sweatshirts, and towels to its team members and sells them to clients. They’ve gone over so well that David brought us on board to help with his side gig — coaching the Mokena Blaze baseball team. Mokena Blaze’s 12-year-old players, including David’s son, are the real deal. They’re ranked 10th in the state of Illinois!

“Liz has done mockups, and we’ve ordered some custom sweatshirts. They’re personalized with the logo and the player’s name. I found the pricing to be as good or better than online places, and using Lynnpro, you get personal service from Liz and Jeff,” David explains. Personal service is really important to David because it’s one of the main tenets of MultiTouch. As the Director of Sales, David handles accounts in England, Whales, France, the U.S., and Canada. He’s available whenever his clients need him, regardless of the time zone. “One of my customers in Washington state actually called me up at like 10:30 p.m. Chicago time on a Friday night because he was having a software issue,” David says. “The reason why I like working with Lynnpro is the personal service and the competitive prices. That’s what my company offers, too, so I really value that.” We love working with David because both of our companies help small businesses succeed! To find out more about his work, visit CoreIntegrated. com/MultiTouchSolutions/. And if you could use a set of warm-weather garments to promote your company, charity, or event, give our team a call.

2 • LYNNPRO.COM

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

KEEP YOUR TEAMAND CUSTOMERS COZY THISWINTER WITH THESE 3 BRANDED PRODUCTS Temperatures are dropping, and that means the branded T-shirts and tank tops you use to promote your company, event, or service in the summer are hidden under layers of jackets and sweaters. If their disappearance is bugging you, don’t worry — your brand name doesn’t have to be hidden for the whole season! Here at Lynnpro, we can print your custom logo on pretty much anything, including the three cold-weather products below. Hand these out to your team or sell them to your customers, and you’ll keep your name front and center all winter.

THE FRONT RUNNER VEST Our Front Runner Vest comes in men’s and women’s styles and is perfect to slip over a long-sleeved shirt or sweater so your company name is on display. It’s eco-friendly, water-resistant, windproof, and seriously soft. You can choose between seasonal titanium gray, cobalt blue, black, navy blue, or pine green fabrics and add your imprint on the chest, back, hip, or hem. This design is compatible with embroidery or a leather patch logo for maximum style! THE 16-OUNCE STAINLESS STEEL INSULATED TRAVEL MUG This double-walled travel tumbler keeps beverages hot even in the lowest temperatures, and it’s designed to fit in a car cup holder. It features an easy-drink lid, bright color options, and best of all, a full-color epoxy dome print of your choice on both sides of the mug. Because these mugs are decorated in our union shop, we can add the union label free of charge.

THE ELITE KNIT CAP WITH CUFF This knit cap checks all the boxes: It’s warm, it’s stylish, and its bright colors, prominent logo, and pom-pom feature will catch everyone’s eye this season. Sports teams in particular love the combination of team name, logo, and year available on this hat, but it’s customizable for any business or event. On top of all that, the soft knit fabric is made right here in the USA! If the pom-pom isn’t your style, we offer a selection of beanies without it, too.

To learn more about these products and browse the rest of our winter line, visit Lynnpro.com.

Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes

Word Search

INGREDIENTS

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

• 4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges

• 1/4 tsp ground cloves

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed

• 4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks

• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

• 1 tbsp kosher salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes. 4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes. 5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve. DIRECTIONS

COBBLER CRANBERRY ELECTION FOOTBALL

NOVEL SAGITTARIUS THANKSGIVING TOPAZ

TURKEY VETERANS VOTING WINDY

CALL 563-243-6459 • 3

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1625 13TH AVENUE SOUTH CLINTON, IA 52732

PHONE: 563-243-6459 LYNNPRO.COM

inside this issue

1

Lessons From Jeff’s Cargo Shorts Obsession 3 Memorable Thanksgiving Day Football Plays Boost Your Business’s Marketing 3 Ways to Keep Your Team and Customers Cozy This Winter Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes Black Friday: COVID-19 Edition

2

3

4

REFUEL WITH CAFFEINE.

A string of retail stores, including JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, have declared they won’t be open for the traditional Thanksgiving and/or Black Friday shopping this year. But that doesn’t mean the annual shopping holiday is canceled! If you’re an avid Black Friday shopper, you can keep the tradition going and involve the whole family by using the day to shop online. Here are a few tips to get everyone involved in the fun and turn the holiday into an overnight party.

No all-night shopping spree is complete without a coffee run. To keep your family fueled, make sure to stock up on your favorite coffee in advance and set a time for a coffee break. It’s not quite the same as taking a break at the mall’s Starbucks, but it will help you power through the night. For an extra bit of fun, you can even try to recreate your favorite Starbucks drinks at home. ChowHound. com is a great resource for DIY recipes and has hacks for the caramel frappuccino, pumpkin spice latte, and more.

HOW TO TURN THE SHOPPING HOLIDAY INTO A STAY-AT-HOME FAMILY EVENT BLACK FRIDAY: COVID-19 EDITION

DIVIDE AND CONQUER.

CELEBRATE WITH A BIG BREAKFAST.

Does your whole family love shopping? If they do, it’s time to break out the laptops, cellphones, and tablets. Take the list of items you’re hoping to snag and divide them up so that each person has things to browse for. Then choose a start time — midnight is always good — and let everyone loose to bargain hunt. While you’re shopping, remember to use store apps, websites like RetailMeNot and Groupon, money-saving browser extensions like Honey, and price-comparison apps like Flipp to score the best deals.

When you’ve finally dropped the last item into your virtual cart, it’s time to celebrate! Depending on how long your spree took, it might be 3 a.m., or you might be able to see the sunlight peeking through your blinds. Either way, you deserve to reward yourself with breakfast. Try cooking your favorite breakfast foods as a family or, if it’s late enough, order home-delivered pancakes and hashbrowns from your favorite local restaurant. Once you’re stuffed, you can crawl into bed knowing that you had a fantastic family night.

4 • LYNNPRO.COM

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com