Lynnpro - May 2021

Lynnpro - May 2021

Live Life

TREAT YOUR LIFE LIKE I TREAT MY CAR FEELING OVERWHELMED?

Here at Lynnpro, I have strict expectations for our company bathrooms.

•

If you miss, you clean up the porcelain.

• If you use the last roll of toilet paper, you get a new one. • And if the towels are hanging crooked, you straighten those puppies up.

Everyone on our team knows these ground rules, and I have them for two reasons. First, I think basic cleanliness is an indicator of common decency. It’s a sign of respect to the rest of the office and our cleaning team. And second, my mother made me this way. As you probably remember, my family grew up poor, but we also grew up clean. My mom was a cleaning fanatic, so her mania seeped into my head. I have a cleaning crew that visits my house and the Lynnpro office, but even though it’s their job to pick up after me, I don’t like to leave messes behind. To keep everything clean, I have a strategy. And the easiest place to spot it is my car. Some people treat the inside of their car like it’s a garbage can. You know what I mean. You get in that thing and it’s full of burger wrappers, stale fries, soda cans, and 10 pairs of broken sunglasses. I have a theory about these people. I think they just didn’t clean one day, and then they skipped the next day, and then next. Before they knew it, the trash was so overwhelming that the idea of starting to haul it out was scary. Their house probably looks just as sloppy for the same reasons. If you’re feeling a little bit called out right now, that’s okay, because I have a secret: Keeping things clean starts in your head. It’s all about your mindset. To master it, you have to stop thinking of cleaning as a chore. When you think of it that way, you’re always going to drag your feet. Instead, make it a habit. Do a little bit of cleaning every day, and your car will never look like a roach paradise.

home. It takes me all of 30 seconds. I look around, grab the day’s trash, and walk it 10 steps to the garage trash can. Just like that, my car stays clean!

This advice works for cleaning just about anything. Hate the dishes in the sink? Wash them every night. Want to keep your closet neat? Pick up the clothes on the floor after every shower. You can even use this strategy for other areas of your life. If your to-do list is too long at work or you’re swamped with bills or kid stuff, remember this: Do a little bit at a time and you won’t get overwhelmed.

A car, a house, a whole life ... they’re really not that different. Everything is a mental game. And you can learn how to win it.

For me it works like this. I started out with a clean car because I bought it clean. Then, I made it a habit to empty the car out every single time I park at

–Jeff Saxby

“If you’re feeling a little bit called out right now, that’s okay, because I have a secret: Keeping things clean starts in your head.”

CALL 563-243-6459 • 1

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

THE LEGACY OF DALE EARNHARDT Known as “The Intimidator” to sportswriters who loved his rowdy personality and “Ironhead” to opponents who loathed racing against him, Dale Earnhardt Sr. forever changed racing in both his life and tragic death on Feb. 18, 2001, during the final lap of the Daytona 500. Today, Earnhardt’s legacy lives on through the racing triumphs of his descendants, like Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the safety protocols his death inspired.

On April 30, 193 motorcycles in 15 states revved their engines and took off for the Southeast Iron Butt Tour (SIBT). The riders and their seven passengers were in it for the long haul. In less than 24 hours, they rode more than 1,000 miles to party it up at the finish line in Charleston, South Carolina. “We’ve got 19 cities and 15 states participating,” Lee Keller, who created the SIBT, told us before the ride. “As far as riders go, we have riders coming from 27 different states to do this. Last year, people from north of Chicago rode to Knoxville, Tennessee, to do this ride! They rode 450 miles just to ride over 1,000 more miles.” The SIBT inspires dedication because it isn’t just any motorcycle ride. First of all, participants receive great perks for their $150 sign-up fee, including ride T-shirts, poker chips, and embroidered patches printed by our team here at Lynnpro! But more importantly, the SIBT donates all its proceeds to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance, housing, and more for military families. Each rider’s money goes to military families in their own area. “I’m retired, but I’ve always felt that the value of a person is in what they do and what they’re giving back. This is just one way I like to give back to the community,” Keller says. 24 HOURS + 1,000 MILES = 1 MASSIVE PARTY FOR CHARITY! HOW THE SOUTHEAST IRON BUTT TOUR GIVES BACK CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT: Almost immediately, NASCAR made sweeping changes to the sport, including requiring drivers to wear a head and neck support (HANS) device along with their helmet to stabilize the body in an accident. It was a device that Earnhardt refused to wear due to its restraint and one that potentially could have saved his life had he been wearing it. Earnhardt was born into a racing family in 1951 and made his NASCAR debut in 1975. He went on to win 34 races at the sport’s most popular track in Daytona, Florida, and record 76 career wins. Earnhardt’s style of racing was unparalleled, and most fans will never forget the 2000 race at Talladega Superspeedway where he barreled from 18th into first place over the final six laps. On that fateful day in 2001, Earnhardt was racing toward the finish line on the final lap — a first-place finish in his sights — when he collided with three other vehicles, rammed into the concrete barrier, and slid to a stop in the infield. Earnhardt was pronounced dead at the hospital that evening, the result of a skull fracture that happened within 80 milliseconds of the initial impact.

The organization also instituted improved outer barriers and seat belts. (It was previously believed that a seat belt malfunction led to Earnhardt’s death.) Along with those improvements, NASCAR continues to update its safety measures. According to ESPN, the sport has also required drivers to wear full-face helmets, and vehicles are now outfitted with shock-absorbing foam to protect drivers’ bodies from the energy produced in an accident. The work NASCAR did to improve driver safety was on full display at the 2020 Daytona 500, when racer Ryan Newman’s vehicle hit the wall, flipped upside down, and was then propelled into the air before landing in the infield. The accident was horrific, and Newman had to seek treatment at a nearby hospital — but he lived.

“Those people,” Newman said to ESPN about those who made safety regulations a standard in the sport, “collectively saved my life.”

Last year, Keller and his team of volunteers worked hard to make the first annual SIBT happen despite COVID-19. In 2021, it was bigger and better than ever! The day after the ride, bikers blew off steam and raised even more money for Operation Homefront at a big, public party in Charleston. The is the second ride Lee has organized for SIBT. Back in 2012, he organized a ride for a different cause and relied on Lynnpro for T-shirts — and he still wears them almost 10 years later! “The print on them is still very, very good. It has faded a little because I’ve washed them 100 times, but I wear them all the time. They’re great shirts; I can’t knock the quality!” he says.

To learn more about the SIBT and put next year’s ride on your calendar, visit SoutheastIronButt.com. And to get long-lasting shirts for your event, call us!

2 • LYNNPRO.COM

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

SAVINGLOCAL RESTAURANTS $25 AT A TIME

HOW ONE FOOD-LOVING LYNNPRO CLIENT LEAPT INTO ACTION IN 2020 Every single restaurant of the 100 located in Oak Park, Illinois, was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. But thanks in part to the team at the initiative Takeout 25 Oak Park, 99 weathered the storm and stayed open!

Takeout 25 Oak Park isn’t the first project we’ve helped Allison with. In May 2013, her cousin Ron passed away from a stroke at age 41, leaving behind his wife and two young kids. To get Ron’s widow through the financial hardship, Allison helped organize a 5K in their home city of St. Louis, Missouri. “At the time we were having the event, people registering started talking to us about it, saying, ‘Oh, a similar thing happened to my neighbor, or a friend of a friend.’ … We realized as a family that there is a gap in the community, and we need to help others in this situation,” Allison says. That single race turned into the nonprofit Rally for Ron, which has hosted multiple 5Ks, softball tourneys, and baseball bashes in the years since. Every event includes Lynnpro-printed merchandise like shirts, hats, and koozies and raises funds for families with young children who have suddenly lost a parent.

“One restaurant recently had to close their doors, but not due to lack of sales — they were bought out by another company,” says organizer Allison Cummins. Takeout 25’s mission is to encourage as many Oak Park families as possible to spend $25 per week on takeout at local restaurants. If 1,000 of Oak Park’s residents do this, they generate $1 million in business, and more than 2,000 residents have already taken the pledge! The initiative also raises funds for restaurants and charities with Taste the Town events. Locals can buy tickets in exchange for to-go food from six local restaurants and three bakeries. We provide the custom T-shirts and reusable bags! “[Lynnpro’s] Liz Holland is my go-to person for anything hat- or shirt- related. I know with 100% certainty I’m going to get the best price, best quality product, great artwork, and free shipping, which is key!” Allison says, adding that she always keeps up with and tries our specials because the deals “just make sense.”

You can learn more about Rally for Ron’s upcoming events at RallyForRon.org, and take the Takeout 25 Oak Park pledge at Takeout25OakPark.com if you live nearby.

Thai Minced Pork Salad

Word Search

INGREDIENTS

Inspired by EatingThaiFood.com

• 5 tbsp uncooked Thai sticky rice • 1 lb ground pork • 1/2 tbsp chili flakes • 1/8 tsp sugar • 1/2 tbsp fish sauce

• Juice of 1–2 limes, to taste • 4 small shallots, thinly sliced • 4 green onions, thinly sliced • Cilantro leaves, to taste • Mint leaves, to taste

1. First, make toasted rice powder: In a frying pan over low heat, dry-roast the rice, stirring continuously until it turns golden brown and smells fragrant, about 15 minutes. 2. Let toasted rice cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, blender, or food processor. Set aside. 3. In a medium frying pan over medium-high heat, fry pork, breaking it into small pieces as you go, until fully cooked. 4. Remove from heat and add 1 heaping tbsp of toasted rice powder along with all other ingredients. Stir to combine. 5. Taste and adjust, adding more lime juice and herbs to suit your palate. Serve with rice. DIRECTIONS

BLOOM CINCO COMIC DERBY

EMERALD GEMINI GRADUATION LILY

MEMORIAL MOTHER PARANORMAL VETERANS

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

Why You Should Treat Your Life Like Jeff’s Car

2

The Man Who Changed Racing Forever 24 Hours + 1,000 Miles = 1 Massive Party for Charity! Meet the Lynnpro Client Helping to Save Local Restaurants Thai Minced Pork Salad The Bet That Spawned the Filet-O-Fish Sandwich

3

4

THE BET THAT SPAWNEDTHE FILET-O-FISHSANDWICH

Every day, 68 million people dine under the iconic golden arches of McDonald’s. If you’re one of them, then you’re probably intimately familiar with one of the most famous offerings on the menu after the McRib and the Big Mac: the Filet-O-Fish sandwich. This bestselling entree looks simple enough. It features a fried square of wild-caught fish nestled under a slice of American cheese and a smear of tartar sauce. But it has a contentious history. In fact, Ray Kroc, the owner of McDonald’s who was immortalized in the 2016 movie “The Founder,” didn’t want the fishy offering on the menu. It ended up there anyway for one of the oldest reasons in the world: Kroc lost a bet. The story starts back in 1962 in Cincinnati, Ohio. That year, an enterprising McDonald’s franchisee named Lou Groen had a problem. His customer base was largely Catholic and abstained from eating meat on Fridays (not to mention during Lent!), and they weren’t buying enough burgers to keep his restaurant afloat. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, on Fridays, Groen pulled in just $75 per day. To combat that lack of sales, he

masterminded a beef-free option, and the Filet-O- Fish sandwich was born.

The problem came when Groen pitched the entree to Ray Kroc. The founder didn’t approve. In a 2006 interview with Business Courier, Groen recalled Kroc’s reaction: “You’re always coming up here with a bunch of crap!” he said. “I don’t want my stores stunk up with the smell of fish.” But at the end of the day, Kroc’s motivation was profit. So the two men made a bet. On Good Friday in 1962, select McDonald’s would put both the Filet-O-Fish and a different meatless option, the pineapple-centric Hula Burger, on their menus. The entree that sold the best would stick around. Since you’ve probably dined on a Filet-O-Fish and never heard of Hula Burger, you can guess what happened. Groen sold 350 Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. And Kroc? Well, he moved just six Hula Burgers. Fishy smell or not, the filet was there to stay. Want to read up on more fast-food capers? Pick up the book “Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America’s Fast-Food Kingdom” by Adam Chandler. His KFC stories will blow your mind.

4 • LYNNPRO.COM

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com