Yolofsky Law - October 2020

Yolofsky Law - October 2020

Insider MARCH 2020 THE HERO www. yo l of sky l aw. com (305) 702-8250

Making You a Hero to Your Family and Business

From the Yolofsky Office

The homestretch of 2020 is upon us. While many people may be ready to move it to the past as quickly as possible, this year has many lessons to teach us now. And, it’s still not complete. Stoic philosophers taught that we must each focus on the things we can control and not be emotional about the things we cannot. Much of this past year has been beyond our control. Everyone had to make changes to adapt to the pandemic and its after-effects. No doubt the hardships that started in April continue to this day. Moreover, our country stands at a critical moment in time. As a nation, we are examining our history, social and economic relationships, and our future. The only way forward is engaging in positive debate with empathy. Yelling or talking at people is not a good technique. One important thing we each can control is our vote. This core item sets the USA as the example for others to follow. Take the opportunity and make your voice heard.

Whether your business is brick-and-mortar or fully digital, maintaining a welcoming vibe in a world that currently feels anything but has become difficult. So, how do you show that your business is there for customers when the current climate makes that message hard to believe? You rethink the kind of presence you want your business to have. STAY CONNECTED. Keeping your customers and supporters updated about what’s going on with your business is key. Contrary to popular belief, your customers do want to hear from you because it comforts them to know something familiar still exists out there. Add a sign-up form to your website so people can receive regular email updates or send a postcard to let them know you’re thinking of them. Keep conversations open about what’s going on with you, from the smallest changes in your operational hours to the biggest announcements about new or even discontinued products and services. Be WHAT KIND OF PRESENCE DOES YOUR BUSINESS HAVE? It Can Still Be Welcoming in an Isolated World

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open and truthful about what your business is going through, and people will appreciate the honesty behind the effort. STRENGTHEN COMMUNAL BONDS. People have new routines now, many of which call for more time at home. Isolation can make people feel disconnected from their community, so when a business puts in extra effort to keep the community together in a safe way, you give people much more than your product or services — you give them a sense of belonging. Encourage your customers to reach out to each other or partner with another local business to offer a new product or experience. This shows your customers that you’re community-minded. Helping customers feel more connected to your business and a united community creates compassionate peace of mind as well as brand loyalty. BE CONSIDERATE. People can react to COVID-19 and its consequences in many ways. Some responses are uplifting, while others are quite the opposite. This is the time to be cognizant of what your customers are going through and be willing to put in the extra time and effort to figure out what’s best for them. Consider your relevance to their situation and don’t try to force your brand where it doesn’t belong. Alternatively, if your business doesn’t work for a specific customer you’d like to serve, adjust it in a way that does work for them. Businesses across the globe

are adapting their offerings and services to better respond to the true needs of their customers because it’s another way to be there for them authentically. BE WILLING TO GIVE. If people can’t support your business the same way they previously did, don’t take it personally. Earning customer support is a long game, and part of it is remaining present in their lives no matter what it takes. If that means going the extra mile to simply give something away for free, then consider what you have to offer. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the products or services you’d normally charge for — it can be additional information, tutorials, or promotional items that bring some small value to your customers’ lives and let them know you’re still thinking about them, even if they may not be able to return the same support. Just because your business can’t open its doors doesn’t mean it can’t be welcoming. You can build your presence in many ways, and the current climate offers a chance to truly consider what you want your image to be. Figure out what your customers really need right now and find the most empathetic ways to give it to them. If you position your business as one that cares about its customers’ needs above everything else, those customers will stay with you through the best and toughest of times.

The Spooky ‘Star Wars’ Shortage of 1977

A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires, witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.” Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit more

difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn, had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costumes right after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be. Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as they came in. Some stores reported selling more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids who got their hands on an authentic Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes.

In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Moms everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed how much kids wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away. The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.

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COULD A LLAMA SAVE US FROM COVID-19? Meet Winter, a 4-Legged Hero of Vaccine Research

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to their four-legged friends for help and comfort. In Nebraska, an 11-year-old girl and her pony, Peanut, cheered up nursing home residents through their windows this spring, while in Pennsylvania, an award-winning golden retriever named Jackson starred in videos that kept thousands laughing. Pets like these have given the national mood a boost, but another four-legged critter deserves just as much recognition. Her name is Winter, and she’s the 4-year-old llama whose antibodies could help us beat the coronavirus. At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Llamas? Really? What will these scientists think up next?” But in fact, Winter wasn’t an outside-of-the-box discovery during the COVID-19 vaccine scramble. Llamas have been helping scientists battle viruses for years. That’s because, along with her fuzzy

brown coat and long eyelashes, Winter has a unique virus treatment hidden in her blood: llama antibodies. According to The New York Times, Winter has participated in past studies for both SARS and MERS — diseases also caused by coronaviruses — and her antibodies fought off both infections. Llamas have also helped out with research for HIV and influenza. It turns out llama antibodies are smaller than the ones found in humans, which makes it easier for them to wiggle into the tiny pockets in virus-carrying proteins. This superpower gives them the ability to “neutralize” viruses, including COVID-19. Studies are now showing that using these llama antibodies in humans could potentially keep coronaviruses from entering human cells as well.

antibodies on coronavirus infections. This summer, a team of researchers from the

U.K. discovered that llama antibodies “have the potential to be used in a similar way to convalescent serum, effectively stopping progression of the virus in patients who are ill” when given to those patients in a transfusion. They also suggested that a cocktail of llama and human antibodies could be even more successful at temporarily blocking the virus. Studies of the latter are in the works, and scientists around the world have their fingers crossed for success. In the meantime, Winter will continue peacefully grazing in Belgium, unaware that she just might play a role in saving the world.

At least two separate llama studies have shown the effectiveness of these

Take a Break

Pumpkins aren’t just for pie — they make delicious soup, too! This fall, try your hand at this healthy soup recipe and warm up with a bowl. Classic Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients

Directions 1. In a large saucepan over

• 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 shallots, diced • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned) • 2 cups vegetable broth • 1 cup canned light coconut milk

medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes.

2. Add the remaining

ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!

• 2 tbsp honey • 1/4 tsp sea salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

APPLES CALENDULA CANDY HALLOWEEN

HORROR MASKS OPAL POPCORN

SCARY SCREAM

TREAT TRICK

Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Yolofsky Office PAGE 1 How to Give Your Business a Welcoming Presence PAGE 1 When ‘Star Wars’ Invaded Halloween PAGE 2 Could a Llama Save Us From COVID-19? PAGE 3 Take a Break! PAGE 3 Classic Pumpkin Soup PAGE 3 The Best Mental Health Apps You Can Use From Home PAGE 4

3 GREAT APPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AT HOME

When you lead a busy lifestyle, mental health often takes a back seat to other pressing matters. Thankfully, there are a number of easy-to-use apps to help address this concern. Even if you’re pressed for time, these apps can help you maintain your mental health. And if you’re just looking for some simple resources to guide you through mood-boosting exercises, they’ve got you covered there too. Moodfit (GetMoodfit.com) Think of this app as a fitness tracker for your mind. The mood tracker allows you to record your moods and thoughts and follow trends and changes over time. You can look at these trends yourself or set the app to monitor specific areas of your mood. This highly customizable app is packed with tools and resources to help you with your mental health. In addition

to the mood tracker, Moodfit offers a range of breathing exercises and a guide to mindfulness meditation. MoodMission (MoodMission.com) If you’re struggling with mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, you may feel like this free, evidence-based app was designed just for you. MoodMission asks you a series of questions to assess how you’re feeling, then suggests a series of “missions” you can complete to help you get into a better state of mind. Missions are short, achievable tasks, like taking a walk around the block or cleaning up a room in your home. Of course, like all the apps listed here, it is not a replacement for professional mental health care, but it offers evidence-based exercises and a level of support that’s not often found in smartphone apps.

Talkspace (Talkspace.com) While this app contains a number of mental health tools, its primary purpose is to connect you quickly with one of the company’s thousands of licensed and experienced therapists you can message on a regular basis. Unlike traditional therapy where you schedule an appointment and meet in person, Talkspace allows its user to communicate with their therapist through the app’s encrypted messaging system. It also allows you to request a check-in from your therapist and provides a place for them to upload your therapy notes. Talkspace is more costly than some other apps, but depending on your specific needs, it may be worth it.

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