Lynnpro - September 2020

Lynnpro - September 2020

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HOW I QUIT ALCOHOL AND TOOK UP MEDITATION BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF

Here’s a not-so-fun fact about me: I used to be an alcoholic. Before Lynnpro, when I first hit it big in business and was riding high, I got addicted to drinking and going to parties. I assumed that as long as I was debt-free and still showed up to work, I could have all of the fun I wanted, even if it was self-destructive. The truth is, I was pretty useless on the job back then. I’d show up hungover then duck out whenever I felt like it to grab a sandwich or go shopping. I was technically working, but I wasn’t really working. Because of that, my work was never done, and I was always tired. Eventually, no amount of “fun” could make up for how crappy I felt. Luckily, I had my wife Cheri there with me every step of the way. She was a voice of reason. She told me that if I stopped messing around and just worked while I was at work, I’d have more free time to do what I really wanted. I didn’t get it at first — I’d had plenty of free time back when I was broke — but eventually she got through to me. I cleaned up my act and quit drinking, even though I was afraid that, if I stopped, I’d never have another good idea. During that recovery process, I got out of my comfort zone and took a trip to a Transcendental Meditation center. They have these centers all over the state, and they’re actually really popular here. I wanted to learn how to meditate, so I sat down with a guru. I told the guy that I didn’t think I’d be able to learn, because my mind just wanders all the time.

After some practice, I mastered the technique, and it started giving me clarity. I didn’t 100% buy in to the lifestyle (retreats aren’t really my thing because I’m old-school), but I started meditating every day. Over the years, that habit has helped me keep my head on straight. As it happens, I’ve had more good ideas sober than I ever had drunk, but I’m not even worried about that anymore because I’ve stopped comparing myself to other people. I’m on the path to being the best me that I can be. Instead of taking advice from others and going down bad roads, I tell myself that if someone doesn’t have the fruit I need, I have no business plucking from their tree. Cheri and I stay busy, do what we enjoy, and don’t chase money or fame. I think you can attract the things you want by knowing and being who you are, and meditation is a vehicle for that. I believe everyone should meditate. Some people do it through prayer or religion, but you don’t have to take that route. What’s most important is that you learn to be still in your mind, keep your chin up, walk forward, and realize that life isn’t a destination — it’s a journey. Now go out there and start yours!

“My thoughts go off in all different directions, and I have a problem shutting them down,” I said.

The guru told me, “That’s why you’re going to be perfect for this. Once you understand how to meditate, you can just let your mind go.”

He taught me that the mind is like a jar of water and thoughts are the dust and dirt swirling around in it. When you meditate, it’s like setting that jar on the counter. The dust and dirt are still there, but they settle to the bottom and everything goes still.

–Jeff Saxby

“What’s most important is that you learn to be still in your mind, keep your chin up, walk forward, and realize that life isn’t a destination — it’s a journey.”

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THE BEST BASKETBALL PODCASTDOESN’T TALK ABOUT STATS

“HORSE” is appealing to basketball fans and non-fans alike because it looks at the sport in a completely different light. Silver and Schubert started “HORSE” in 2018 with a mission to prove that you don’t have to know the stats of every player on every team to like basketball. This “no gatekeeping allowed” mentality resonates with listeners, and the podcast’s audience is made up of a mix of hardcore basketball fans and folks who have never been to an NBA game in their life. Rather than focus on the number of games a team has won, “HORSE” discusses the number of tweets angry players have posted on Twitter. They also rank rap songs that mentioned the NBA, discuss why team names don’t make sense, and even talk about the time when Michael Jordan was almost seriously injured by a samurai. The stats and celebrities of the NBA suddenly seem more accessible after learning that professional basketball teams have just as much drama as you and your office mates. “We only talk about drama and history and ridiculousness,” says Silver. “We don’t want to talk about whether or not LeBron James is the best basketball player of all time. We would like to talk about the time that one of LeBron’s teammates was dating his mom and like that’s ... it’s infinitely more interesting. … It gets you to become a basketball fan in a totally different way.”

“Sup nerds? It’s basketball!”

And so begins every episode of “HORSE,” a basketball podcast that proudly claims to be about everything basketball — except for the stats. As a part of the Multitude collective of podcasts, “HORSE” is co-hosted by creators and experienced podcasters Eric Silver and Mike Schubert. The duo are real-life friends and huge basketball fans. So, what does a sports podcast cover if not the numbers on the scoreboard? Petty drama and Twitter beefs, of course.

Listen to the most recent episode at HorseHoops.com and discover how basketball is so much more than what happens on the court.

“HORSE” was listed by Vulture as one of the top comedy podcasts for NBA fans, which is very high praise given the saturated podcast market.

LYNNPRO PRODUCTS MAKE A SPLASH ON THE MAQUOKETA RIVER CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT:

At Maquoketa River Rentals in Maquoketa, Iowa, City Councilman Kevin Kuhlman offers canoes, kayaks,

innertubes, and paddleboards to folks eager to escape the heat. Running a river recreation business might seem like an odd side gig for someone in local government, but it makes perfect sense to Kevin. “I’m in my second term, and I’ve always been really proud of my hometown,” he says. “It was one of those things where I knew there was a lot out here, and I wanted people to see what we had to offer. My idea was to get people back to Maquoketa so they could see what the town is really about.” The rental business has been a hit. In fact, it even drew Lynnpro CEO Jeff Saxby and his wife, Cheri, over from Clinton to test out the water. When Jeff heard that Kevin was having trouble sourcing T-shirts and sunglasses for his business (as Kevin puts it, “I got ripped off a couple times”), he handed over Lynnpro’s number. Kevin connected with Liz Holland, one of our sales representatives, and the rest is history. “Elizabeth, I might mention, is 100% awesome. She’s probably one of the best people I’ve ever met in any business I’ve worked with. She’s a rock star,” Kevin says.

This summer, Liz set Kevin up with the T-shirts and sunglasses he needed, all emblazoned with his company logo. Then, she suggested another item: women’s tank tops. “I wasn’t going to do those, but I did it just to try and I’ve already had to reorder them,” Kevin says. “She was so right on how fast they would

sell — it’s been a win-win for both of us! Within two weeks of my first order, I had to do another order of those … I plan on going through Lynnpro for everything I get done from now on. They offer so many different products to put my logo on, and the prices are super great.” Our whole team has had a great time working with Kevin and helping supply merchandise for such a fun, laid-back company. If you’re ever in Maquoketa, check out Maquoketa River Rentals on Facebook, or reach out to Kevin at 563-357-4489.

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INSIDE LIZHOLLAND’SHOME TURNEDANIMAL SANCTUARY

6 DOGS, 4 CATS, AND 1 AMAZING LYNNPRO SALES REPRESENTATIVE

If you’ve placed an order with us recently, odds are you’ve spoken to Liz Holland, our all-star sales representative and customer service guru. Liz knew Jeff and his family long before she started working for Lynnpro, and when she came on board years ago to work in our design department, she was a great fit. Eventually, Jeff realized how fantastic Liz was at working with people and moved her into the customer service department. It’s been a match made in heaven ever since. “I really enjoy listening to people and helping them find solutions to their problems,” Liz says. “In my day to day, I talk to clients about their designs, their events, and what will work well for them. Then I go over the services we provide and try to get them the best possible rate and product they can get. I love talking to our clients; we work with so many different kinds of fun people.” Liz does a great job of patiently helping our clients through the ordering process, and she’s equally generous with her spare time. When she’s not at the office, she volunteers with local animal fostering and rescue organizations. Right now, she has six dogs and four cats at home! Her menagerie includes …

Dogs: • Bocelli, a 15-year-old greyhound retired from racing • Roxy, a 14-year-old boxer • Barf, a 13-year-old pit bull whose name cracked Liz up when she was 18 • Lulu, a 6-year-old bichon frise/Yorkie mix • Bane, a 5-year-old pit bull • Cognus, a hairless, 4-year-old Chinese crested named for the “Star Wars” villainess Cats: • Fat Polly, a chubby polydactyl cat with an extra toe on each paw • Bella, a sweet gray cat who also sports thumbs • Papa Nubs, another smoky polydactyl with a bobbed tail • Bruce Willis, a tiny female tortoiseshell “My pets take up a lot of my free time,” Liz says. We can definitely believe it! When she’s not looking after her flock, you can find Liz gardening, painting, drawing, or sipping a cold beer.

BalsamicMarinated Flank Steak

Word Search

INGREDIENTS

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

• 2 garlic cloves, sliced • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves • 1 tbsp dried oregano • 2 tbsp whole-grain mustard • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grilling • 1 3-lb flank steak • Kosher salt, to taste • Freshly ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine garlic, rosemary, oregano, mustard, and vinegar in a blender. Puree until garlic is minced. 2. Add oil and continue blending until creamy, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Reserve 1/4 cup. 3. Place steak in a ceramic or glass baking dish and cover steak with the remaining marinade. Turn to coat the other side, cover, and let marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours. 4. Remove steak from marinade and let excess marinade drip off. Sprinkle the steak lightly with salt and pepper. 5. Light grill and oil grates with olive oil. 6. Grill steak over moderate heat for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through, until steak is lightly charred and the internal temperature reaches 125 F. 7. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice, drizzle reserved sauce, and serve.

ASTER AUTUMN CHILLY COLORFUL

EDUCATION FOOTBALL HARVEST LABOR

LIBRA SAPPHIRE SEPTEMBER SQUASH

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1625 13TH AVENUE SOUTH CLINTON, IA 52732

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inside this issue

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How Jeff Quit Alcohol and Took Up Meditation Listen to ‘HORSE,’ a Basketball Podcast Lynnpro Products Make a Splash on the Maquoketa River Meet Liz Holland’s Pet Menagerie Balsamic Marinated Flank Steak 3 Fun Family Activities for Fall

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It’s fall, which means social media will soon be saturated with pictures of your friends enjoying “classic” fall activities. Photos of leaf peeping, apple picking, and the occasional scarecrow run rampant. But rather than following the herd, you can make your family the trendsetter of unique fall activities! Here are a few outdoor endeavors your family will love.

that include gold panning. You probably won’t get rich, but it will still be a fun story. If you’re not able to make the trip, you can always create a gold panning operation at home! Visit MessForLess.net/panning-for-gold-activity for a great step-by-step guide on how to go panning for gold in your own backyard.

PLAN A FALL PHOTO SHOOT.

GET GARDENING.

It’s time to freshen up those family pictures hanging around the house. The changing leaves provide a beautiful background for any family portrait. Better yet, the cooler temperatures mean that an outdoor photo shoot won’t be nearly as uncomfortable as it would be in the summer. You can take your pictures by the trees in the front yard or make a daytrip of it. What about pictures at the corn maze or pumpkin patch? It’s never too soon to start planning this year’s holiday card.

Fall is the time for harvest, but if you want to enjoy flowers in the spring, it’s also a time for planting. The cooler autumn air is easier on plants, but the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow before the ground freezes for winter. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all spring bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. Do a little research with your family to determine the best time to start planting in your area.

GARDENING, GOLD, AND PHOTOSHOOTS

3 FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR FALL

PAN FOR GOLD.

Spend this fall outdoors and create great new memories with your family!

Here’s one that’s really off the beaten path: Take your family on an adventure panning for gold! Start by planning a road trip out to an old ghost town. Many of them have great tourist attractions

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