• ESTATE PLANNING PROTECTION FOR HEIRS involves lots of decisions and lots of paperwork which is easily, and too often, procrastinated. But it’s a critical factor in the event of incapacitation or death, and absence of a Plan — which is accessible when needed — can create multiple financial and legal issues & disputes which can take months (even years) to resolve, become overwhelmingly costly, and result in disruptive stress among families. DCG can assist in facilitating appropriate documentation, organization and storage of all records encompassing:  Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney for finances & health care, Letters of Instruction, Beneficiary designations, HIPPA release, Bank & Financial statements, Property deeds & titles, Investment files & contacts, Retirement documents, Insurance policies, Listings of important personal property & estimated values, Funeral instructions, etc. with a program for updating documents – especially each time you have a life change and to ensure that info is current. Call for courtesy guidance.

 

  • RELUCTANCE TO CHANGE IN BUSINESS IS A CUSTOMARY RESPONSE, especially when it portends challenge or risk to owners & employees.  A process which can optimize the potential for smoothest collaborative support for change, along with effectuation of presumed objectives for improved teamwork efficiency, productivity and profitability is the acronym S.H.A.R.E. which encompasses: (1) Stopping to calmly focus on opportunities versus scary implications; (2) Helping team members along with soliciting their help, to grasp the most positive benefits from adapting to the change; (3) Asking questions to understand the perspective and concerns of others; (4) Risking possible rebuke or anger from others who disagree, but with confidence in the value of feedback; (5) Exploring possible action steps to reconcile communication blocks, reduce resistance, and develop collaborative support.

 

  • AN INTERESTING STUDY: “The ‘lazy stoner’ stereotype, by which many people associate use of cannabis with couch time and Netflix, has been debunked by gymgoers and runners increasingly getting high before their workout or lengthy run to enhance the effects. Latest neuroscience study by University of Colorado Boulder found that cannabis can help people enter the ‘flow state,’ make exercise more fun, and ultimately promote physical activity. Long-distance runners reported less pain, avoidance of getting bored, and experience the ‘runner’s high’ phenomenon of euphoria more easily – consistent with research showing that any form of exercise releases feel-good hormones (called endorphins) which involve the same endocannabinoid system that is targeted with cannabis products like THC. The important thing is that exercise in general has been shown to improve depression and reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, so whatever gets people moving may be ultimately beneficial.”  [SALON.COM]

 

  • HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCES OF TEENS ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT. According to latest survey from mostly public schools of all sizes, graduates ranked their most memorable experiences as involving friendship, romance, hobbies and rule-breaking. Over three-in-four chose having had a crush, a group of friends, a class they loved and one they hated. Over half said they did not like their high school experience and rather hang out at the mall; a third were in school band, choir or play; two-thirds admitted they lied to parents with over a third admitting sneaking out of the house at night, half skipping class without permission, 36% saying they’d had sex, 37% smoking, and 28% using pot. An interesting study:  https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/52028-what-most-americans-remember-about-high-school 

 

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK

  •  “Little shifts in consciousness can make huge differences in performance, and the simple choice of words used to describe a task or event can color the way and success we have with it, as well as pleasure or anguish derived.  Simply reframing a task from I have to do this to I get to do this is an attitude of choice which can make a definite difference in the outcome and our sense of accomplishment, since the feelings of how we did something will last far longer than most actions performed.”  [DEVELOPMENTAL EXCELERATIONS]

 

  • Adoption of A.I. in most businesses is unavoidable and whether employees view it as a benefit or threat can materially impact current productivity. It’s important that leaders are transparent with their ‘plan’ to incorporate A.I. into the organization and communicate this, in order to help employees recognize that A.I. can be a job Creator and, as a multiplier of productivity, make their jobs more important, even easier, versus displacing their roles.  DCG can help with the communication plan.   

 

  • The Law of Arena Seating: At any event, the people whose seats are farthest from the aisle always arrive last, are those who leave their seat during the event, and leave early. Those in the aisle seats come early, never move, have long gangly legs or big bellies, and stay to the end.