West Coast Franchise Law - March 2022

West Coast Franchise Law - March 2022

March 2022

600 Stewart Street #1300, Seattle, WA 98101 | westcoastf ranchiselaw.com | 206-903-0401

Growing Businesses and Helping Families

My Journey to West Coast Franchise Law

I hired my first lawyer while I was still in high school. I’d gotten one too many traffic tickets in a row, and in Wisconsin, it put me at risk of losing my license. If the ticket went through, I’d be one moving violation away from losing my license. So I asked a lawyer if there was anything he could do. He moved the hearing out several months, by which point, some infractions had fallen off my record. When the ticket finally came through, it had a much lesser impact than I’d feared. This lawyer helped me, but he also made money doing it. I started talking to as many lawyers as I could, and I realized just how many areas of law there are to practice. They all sounded interesting to me, so after earning my undergraduate degree in sociology (and working for the Department of Natural Resources as a sociological analyst), I went to law school. I didn’t enjoy law school; I prefer the application of the law and not the theory. When I meet other lawyers who talk about how great it was and say they miss it, I try to back away slowly. Those aren’t my people. But I learned a lot about the law and how to apply it. I found bankruptcy law particularly fascinating

leave early to go to a soccer game, he can. And if the family wants to go on a vacation, he doesn’t need to ask for permission. Still, no one does it alone. When I first started my firm, I was constantly worried about money. Eventually, my wife pointed out that I was always anxious about bills but had never missed a payment. “When are you going to admit that it’s working?” she asked. “You’re in business for yourself, and you’re successful at it and have been for years now.” It was a freeing moment, but it also reminded me that I wasn’t on my own. It took all of us as a family supporting each other. I hear the same thing frommy clients all of the time. Since my family is such a big part of my life, I want to introduce them. I’ve been married to the same wonderful woman, Shana Goldman, for almost 25 years. She’s a licensed dietician, and she teaches eating dynamics and eating disorder treatments to university students. Together, we have two daughters, Talia and Avi. Talia is 11, and she’s looking forward to middle school with both excitement and trepidation. She has been a dancer her whole life and particularly enjoys jazz dance. She’s also a voracious reader, and it’s incredible how many pages she can read in a week. On top of that, she plays guitar in a rock band and takes fashion design classes. She’s good friends with Avi, who is 9. Avi is a ballet dancer and a pianist who recently discovered soccer. She also loves graphic novels and Harry Potter. Her best friend recently moved to Michigan, and I am amazed at how they maintain a bond from so far away. We recently surprised the two of them with a weekend together in Minneapolis. I’ve watched my family and business grow over the years and seen my employees and clients grow alongside them. I’m very grateful to be a small part of that success and serve the broader business community. It’s rewarding to know that I’m not only helping business owners, I’m helping families. At the end of the day, there’s nothing more important.

and started there. It often felt like David and Goliath, and I liked helping the little guy get back on their feet. Later, I got hired by a firm specializing in top- tier national restaurant franchises. At the time, the economy wasn’t doing well, and we helped

many owners with short sales. Over time, the buyers wanted help buying more. Eventually, I moved from Minneapolis to Seattle and started working for myself. It was just me at the kitchen table, but 18 years later, I have seven people working with for my firm. I enjoy being part of the client journey. We work with many new franchisees, and I love helping people go into business and buy back their time. When I was still learning the ropes, I asked a client how he found time for his family while running his own business. He explained that he had plenty of time because he was his own boss. If he needs to

– Nate Riordan 1 206-903-0401

Leaving on a Jet Plane?

3 Essential Packing Tips

Many people are considering traveling this spring for the first time since the pandemic started. A lot has changed since 2020, but packing for vacation remains a hassle, and baggage fees haven’t gone anywhere. Here are some essential tips to keep your load as light as possible — physically and mentally. Make a list. It’s just as easy to forget things as it is to overpack. Solve both problems at once by creating a packing list in advance. Consider in detail what you’ll need, and put it in writing. As each item gets added to the suitcase, check it off. Writing everything down creates a system to prevent leaving anything behind. And when it’s all on paper, you’re more likely to notice that you probably don’t need that many pairs of sandals. Use your personal item for extra storage. Airlines generally allow travelers one carry-on bag and one personal item. The dimensions allowed vary by airline, but the general rule of thumb is that the personal item needs to fit under the seat in front of you. Don’t bring a small purse or a laptop bag when you can take a large tote or backpack. With the extra room, you can avoid checking another bag.

Never check essential items. Lost luggage is the worst way to start a vacation, but it happens. If your luggage is misplaced, you probably won’t get it back that same day. So, you need to pack all essential items, like prescription medications or glasses, in your carry-on bag. Some experts even recommend tossing an extra shirt or pair of underwear in your carry-on in case your bag gets lost. You’ll be glad to have them if something goes awry. Packing smart will make for a less stressful journey. You can kick back, relax, and enjoy the trip knowing that everything you need is right there in your suitcase, and everything you don’t need is safe at home.

Having It All

MEET OUR NEWEST ATTORNEY, DENELLE DUTTON

Our newest attorney, Denelle Dutton, brings eight years of experience to our firm, most

franchise law back in D.C. and has stuck with it ever since. During the intervening years, she moved to Seattle and joined West Coast Franchise Law in September 2021. “It’s a very tightknit office and a friendly group of people,” she says. She also enjoys the variety of legal needs that come her way. “I’m not limited to one type of work,” she says. “Most people only do transactional law or litigation, but here I have a chance to do both, which is great.” At home, Denelle has a large blended family. Combined with her husband of two years, she has three children and three stepchildren. “I have a 20-year-old, who I don’t see that much anymore, two 18-year-olds, two 16-year-olds, and a 14-year-old.” Unsurprisingly, the house is busy. The family has also adopted a dog named Molly. “I’m not a pet person, but I was talked into it by everyone else in the family,” she explains. “I’m Molly’s favorite person in the whole world, and I’m coming around.” We’re so excited to have Denelle as a part of the team and hope you’ll join us in welcoming her. For her part, Denelle reports already growing in her role. “I do so many types of work here,” she says, “and I feel like I’m learning a lot in areas I didn’t already know before.”

of them in franchise law. In her first few months, she has proven to be a valuable asset to the team.

Denelle grew up on a small farm in Minnesota, but her education took her to North Dakota and California. She later clerked for the U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania before practicing her first years of law in Washington, D.C. But only a few years into her new career, she decided to take time off to raise her family. “I was out for 12 years,” she says.

She rejoined the workforce in 2016, and while she says it was “absolutely” hard coming back after so much time away, she has since found her groove

and niche. Denelle first dipped her toe into

2

westcoastf ranchiselaw.com

Where Are All the Workers? What the Unemployed Are Saying You don’t need us to tell you there’s a labor shortage. The problem has persisted longer than any expert expected, and no one is sure when it will end. Disagreement also reigns over the causes of the crisis and how to resolve it.

only kids who need care — in September 2021, 1.8 million people reported to the U.S. Census Bureau that they’re not working to care for someone sick with the novel coronavirus.

When evaluating your hiring strategy, it will help to consider what workers themselves are saying. Why are many unemployed people uneager to return to work? We’ve researched what they have to say. COVID-19 According to a survey conducted by the job-posting website Indeed, unemployed people who are not urgently searching for work report COVID-19 as their top concern. While the survey was conducted in June 2021, it’s reasonable to assume many workers are still apprehensive, especially in the service industry, which requires countless daily interactions. For people who are worried about their health or that of people in their household, it’s unclear what, if anything, will drive them back to the workplace, at least until the pandemic abates. Care Duties Anyone with children knows that the pandemic has been difficult for parents. During remote schooling, someone had to watch the younger children, and the task generally fell to the lower- earning parent, including many in the service industry. Though most in-person schooling has returned, many day cares are full, and children need to stay home when they’re sick. And it’s not

Wages Though wages have certainly gone up — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by about 4.5% over the last year — they’re still not providing an incentive to many workers. Thanks to inflation, those gains may not mean much to many families’

bottom lines, especially when considering child care costs or COVID-19 fears. According to the Indeed survey, a financial cushion or an employed spouse is a driving consideration behind many workers’ lack of urgency in finding new employment. Combined, respondents cited these factors about 40% of the time.

We’re experiencing an unprecedented crisis that may ultimately require novel solutions. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date as best practices in this new reality are uncovered and refined.

EASY MARCH MADNESS CHILI

TAKE A BREAK

Cheer on your favorite team and chow down in minutes with this easy chili recipe!

Directions

1.

In a deep pot, brown the beef, stirring often.

Inspired by MyRecipes.com

2. Once beef is cooked, add chili powder, Creole seasoning, and cumin, cooking for 1 minute. 3. Stir in diced tomatoes, beans, and tomato sauce and bring the mixture to a boil. 4. After the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low and let chili simmer for 15 minutes. 5. Serve with toppings of choice, like cheese, sour cream, or chives.

Ingredients

•

2 lbs ground beef

•

2 tbsp chili powder

•

1 tbsp Creole seasoning

•

1 tsp ground cumin

•

2 16-oz cans diced tomatoes

Solution:

•

2 16-oz cans small red beans

•

2 8-oz cans tomato sauce

3

206-903-0401

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

600 Stewart Street #1300 Seattle, WA 98101

westcoastf ranchiselaw.com | 206-903-0401

IN THIS ISSUE

1 2

Nate Introduces His Business and His Family Packing Tips to Save Your Back, Wallet, and Sanity Meet Denelle Dutton! What Workers Say About the Labor Crisis Easy March Madness Chili Are You Forgetful Lately?

3

4

Self-Empowering Motivation Is a ‘Shortcut’ 2 Scientific Methods to Stop Forgetting

Why do we supplement our diets with omega-3s and do puzzle games to strengthen the health of our brains? The most important reason is to prevent memory loss. However, in order to enhance our memory and lessen the instances of forgetting both big and little things, these brain-based strategies can help!

goals (i.e., comparing yourself to others) can create “tenuous connections” in memory. The authors concluded the study by saying, “Motivation factors can influence inhibition and forgetting.”

So, it might be time to ask yourself: What motivates you to learn new things, and how can you change your approach?

No. 2: Ask why. A 2016 study from the European Journal of Social Psychology found that thinking more abstractly can actually reduce memory issues. The study examined how levels of “construal” (examination and interpretation) can affect memory, and their results suggested that “abstract thinking can eliminate retrieval-induced forgetting because of relational processing, demonstrating the roles of the levels of construal on memory inhibition.” In other words, if you know the “how” and “why” behind things you intend to remember, you’ll be more likely to remember them. If you’ve been forgetful lately, maybe it’s time to rethink how you approach new information — according to researchers, a new source of motivation or critical thinking mindset could make all the difference!

No. 1: Aim for mastery, not relative performance. When losing weight, some people find it helpful to stop checking Facebook or Instagram to prevent self-comparisons. Similarly, your brain forgets what’s important when you compare your performance to others.

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have found that mastery- approach goals (i.e., developing your own competence) enhance memory of newly learned material, whereas performance-approach

4

westcoastf ranchiselaw.com

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com