Our briefing on business, society, and creation.

Welcome,

When was the last time you fell flat on your face? Literally or figuratively? Here (at 0:38) is one of most embarrassing moments of my life. Not only was it against the #1 team in the nation, but it was caught on video, was on the news, and now lives on the internet. I’ll never forget hearing the crowd’s roar or facing my teammates after. But to this day I derive a lot of strength from this experience. I challenge you to think about an embarrassing moment from your life. Embrace it, share it with someone close to you, and think about it the next time you are preparing for a performance or big meeting…or just want a good laugh at yourself! It didn’t kill you, it doesn’t define you, and it makes you stronger.

Christian Bale aptly said “If you can sit happy with embarrassment, there’s not much else that can really get to you.”

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Each brief is a collection of insightful articles, reflections, and news. Our goal at RM Legal Studio is simple: peace of mind for your pursuit. And since success leaves clues, the ones I’ve found I'll pass along here.

Quick Hits

4 Self-Sabotaging Beliefs of Entrepreneurs | Entrepreneur (5 min read) While this article was written explicitly for women entrepreneurs, I find it powerful for myself and all entrepreneurs. Here are the four self-sabotaging behaviors author Sabrina Phillips has encountered that have held her back: (1) Focusing too much on the details rather than moving the needle, (2) Waiting until you’re “ready”, (3) Being afraid to succeed, (4) Not thinking like a CEO.

Opportunity in Crisis: US business applications grow | Quartz (5 min read) Despite the slowing economy, applications to form new businesses in the US have grown in the last few months. However, some new businesses are born of opportunity and some are born of desperation. During the pandemic, business applications surged, with a Sept. 2021 study finding that most were concentrated in the e-commerce boom, as well as gig workers setting up LLCs to protect themselves from personal liability.

Flow State | Big Think (7 min watch) Everyone has experienced flow — that state of mind where you’re “in the zone” and able to perform tasks optimally with little conscious effort. In flow, time seems to pass differently. Your deep-seated skills take over and run on autopilot. You might even find that you’re able to successfully perform tasks at a level that was previously out of reach. Researchers have identified 22 “flow triggers” that can catalyze flow states. Researcher Steven Kotler explains how to utilize flow triggers, and how to understand the intrinsic motivators that drive flow states.

When and How to Say No to Extra Work | Harvard Business Review (6 min read) In the wake of the Great Resignation, quiet quitting, ad major layoffs, many professionals are being asked to do more with less. When there is understaffing workload is redistributed. While an increase in scope may boost commitment and performance in the short run, in the long run it can lead to burnout and hurt an organization. Here are some good tips to help you learn to say “no”.

Kanye West can’t Sell ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirts | CNN (3 min read) Two radio hosts in Arizona could block Kanye West from ever selling “White Lives Matter” T-shirts in the U.S. However, the headline is a bit misleading because the hosts didn’t file for the trademark until October 3, 2022, which is the same day West wore the shirt during a surprise catwalk at Paris fashion week. At this point, their application (a 1(b) “intent to use” application) is still unregistered and they need to prove ‘use in commerce’ before registration. Takeaways: (1) headlines can be misleading (shocker) and (2) remember that just because you’ve filed for a trademark doesn’t mean you own it yet.

27 Greatest Decluttering Tips | Apartment Therapy (10 min read) “Keep what you need and what makes you happy” is enough of a north star for some people. But many of us need a little extra guidance to help decide what’s worth keeping. For instance, realize that what you keep can cost you a lot and you’re probably not going to start liking something you never liked in the first place.

Client News

Zach Zimmerman, a comedian based out of New York, recently released his first book (see bookcase below) and was on the Late Late Show with James Corden. Known for his genial crowd work and playful musings on sex and dating, Zimmerman is a regular at New York's famed Comedy Cellar and also publishes humor pieces in The New Yorker.

Ironbird Partners, a private aviation company based out of Southern California, recently launched Jet To Cabo. It is a private aviation solution for travelers headed to Cabo San Lucas who want to be environmentally and economically conscious. The service fills “empty leg” flights and in doing so removes 2 metric tons of carbon for every flight an airplane doesn’t fly empty.

Oceanic Global’s Executive Director and much of its team was in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in November to put on events for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, or COP27. Sign their revolutionary appeal from COP 27 to help solve the climate crisis by prioritizing the ocean here.

Gena Milanesi, a fine artist based out of Los Angeles, recently signed with WME and did an international residency in Tuscany, Italy in November with Banditto Art. Gena is a self-taught, multimedia artist whose work oscillates between abstract and figurative, each complimentary of the other with feminine overtones.

Upcoming Calendar

December 14 - National Free Shipping Day (US) for retail.
January 14 - IRS Free File opens. Taxpayers can begin filing returns through IRS Free File partners; tax returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting January 24. Tax software companies also are accepting tax filings in advance.
January 17 - Final installment of 2022 Estimated Taxes are due. This income includes earnings from self-employment, interest, dividends, rents, and alimony. Taxpayers who do not choose to have taxes withheld from other taxable income should also make estimated tax payments.
January 24 - IRS begins the 2022 tax season. Individual 2021 tax returns begin being accepted and processing begins
January 31 - Send W-2, 1099 tax forms for 2022. Deadline for any employees or independent contractors you hired last year to receive their W-2, 1099-NEC, or 1099-MISC tax forms. Remember: If you paid at least $600 to an independent contractor, you must file Form 1099-NEC with the IRS by January 31 to report non-employee compensation (NEC).

Bookcase

Is It Hot In Here (or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)? is Zach Zimmerman’s debut book. In this laugh-and-cry-out-loud, memoir-esque exploration of selfhood, Zimmerman dives into the pros and cons of retiring a Bible-Belt-dwelling, meat-eating, God-fearing identity in exchange for a new, metropolitan lease on life--one of vegetarianism, atheism, queerness, and humor. Whether learning to absolve instilled religious guilt or reminiscing over Tinder dates gone horribly wrong, this book is a candid and hysterical look at one person's journey toward making peace with the past and seeking hope in the future. Pre Order here.

*Kane*, written by Will Meldman, the CEO of Double Down Pictures, and starring Brock O’Hurn, was recently released to great fanfare. The fantasy and adventure comic universe has released 2 issues, and issue 3 is expected to be released soon. Explore the universe and get your copies of the first two volumes here. If you’re in Los Angeles, then you can meet the creator and star at Los Angeles Comic Con December 2nd-4th.

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