Our briefing on business, society and creation.

Welcome,

The photograph above, captured by Amit Eshel, is of two Nubian ibexes fighting one another. It won first place in the “Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat” category of the 59th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest produced by the Natural History Museum in London.

It captured me because I often feel like both those ibexes fighting against myself. I think we all do. We are, in fact, our own worst enemy. Positive self talk?! No, that’s useless. Realistic expectations?! That’s for losers. Try harder. Do more.

How about this: let’s try softer. Let’s speak kindly to ourselves. Let’s have goals, but also realistic expectations so that we can enjoy successes along our journeys. Whatever your pursuit is, I hope you try a little softer today.

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

Please share this brief with friends and if this was shared this with you, then subscribe below.

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Quick Hits

Businesses must prepare for 2024 Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) | Bloomberg Law (7 min read) Effective January 1, 2024, virtually every legal entity registered to do business in a U.S. state must disclose information relating to its owners, officers, and controlling persons with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The CTA received bipartisan support as it aims to reduce terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activities.

Texas Opens Specialized Business Courts | JDSupra (4 min read) Similar to the commercial court systems that exist in Delaware and New York, Texas will have a business court system that provides a dedicated court system of commercially focused judges to move high-dollar business disputes efficiently through the judicial system. This make Texas a welcome home for new businesses.

New York’s proposed noncompete bill the broadest ban yet | Forbes (4 min read) New York state legislators fast-tracked a bill to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk to ban noncompete agreements, putting the state in line to prohibit the contentious contracts and be the state with the broadest ban yet.

Montana youth sue state over climate change | Inside Climate News (8 min read) A Montana judge sided with a group of young plaintiffs who accused their state of violating their constitutional right to “a clean and healthful environment”. Montana is one of just three states that gives residents the right to a healthy environment under the state constitution’s bill of rights—a provision known as a Green Amendment.

Steve Jobs on interdependence | Steve Jobs Archive (32 min read) In an email to himself, Steve Jobs emphasized how much we depend on each other. He noted that he doesn't grow much of the food he eats, nor did he invent the transistor, the microprocessor, or most of the technology he worked with. He loved and admired humanity and acknowledged that he was dependent on it for his life and well-being.

Should You Start A Startup? | Y Combinator (17 min read/listen) This Y Combinator video is some of the best content on taking the leap into entrepreneurship I’ve seen. Here are some takeaways: 1) Resilience is the most important quality in a founder. You must be able to handle rejection, and confidence does not always equal resilience. 2) Don't focus so much on your initial motivations or your “why”. It can change over time! Being curious about entrepreneurship is enough to get going. 3) Consider the worst case scenario and be sure you can live with that. 4) Don’t wait. Launch those side projects, however small, to get the experience of turning ideas into reality.

Important Dates

Upcoming

November 16 - CA resident taxes due. The tax filing deadline for California residents who postponed filing their returns in the spring has been extended to next month. Residents had until Monday October 16 under the original extension to file, but the IRS announced it further postponed tax deadlines for most California taxpayers.
November 24 - Thanksgiving
November 25 - Black Friday
November 28 - Cyber Monday
December 7-15 - Hanukkah
December 25 - Christmas Day
January 1 - LA Office of Finance business taxes are due and are considered delinquent if they are submitted after February 28.
January 31 - The filing date for Forms 1099-NEC if filed by paper or electronically with the IRS. 1099-NEC copies are also due to the independent contractors by January 31, 2024. Remember, you need to file a 1099 for all contractors who you paid over $600 in 2023.

To Always Remember

Tax Dates
Business entity filings
Subscription renewals
Insurance renewals
Certifications and Licenses renewals
Website Domain and/or Host renewals
DBA, FBN, or other alias renewals
Trademark and other IP deadlines
Continuing Education, Networking, and Conferences

Note: Having a good calendar and consistent filing habits is the most important thing to maintain your business and legal “hygiene”. Nobody wants to get a delinquency notice from a tax authority or renew an annual subscription that’s never used. So, stop making excuses and get yourself organized. See our article or subscribe to our public business calendar for help.

Client News

Render Weekly, the largest online community for industrial design rendering, has recently moved its headquarters from Utah to California. Their influential online community, however, is just a small part of what makes founders Tyler Anderson and Ryan Krause so dynamic. They also provide consulting and design services for companies specializing in the consumer product sector, with a focus on thoughtful product experiences.

Best Events, the premier event production company in Los Angeles, hosted the 7th annual Los Angeles Times Food Bowl on the Paramount Pictures Studios backlot. The most delicious weekend in L.A. went off without a hitch and guests got to enjoy the hundreds of different flavors and cultures that make L.A. such a culinary melting pot.

Ryan Ozminkowski, a California native with experience in Hollywood and entrepreneurship, recently launched his latest venture: building an immersive experience he calls “the greatest night out.” Calypso, a three-day event, took place from September 29-October 1 in Los Angeles and sold out almost immediately. Performers included Hunger Games actress Jacqueline Emerson and popular magician Franco Pascali. Tony Messina, a James Beard award winner, provided the culinary magic. Be on the lookout for Ryan’s next iteration.

BookCase

In The Talent Code Daniel Coyle shows us how to grow talent by tapping into newly discovered brain mechanisms. From the baseball fields of the Caribbean to a classical-music academy in New York, Coyle identified three key elements that humans have used for millennia to develop their gifts and optimize performance: deep practice, ignition, and master coaching.

These three elements work together in our brains to form myelin, a microscopic neural substance that adds vast amounts of speed and accuracy to your movements and thoughts. And the good news? Myelin isn’t fixed at birth; it grows and can be cultivated and nourished. Find out how in The Talent Code.

About the Studio

Our mission is to provide peace of mind and creative strategies for clients’ pursuits. We believe empowering clients and demystifying the world of the suits is the best way to do that.

And wherever you are in your journey, our e-book The Venture Map will demystify the legal steps of running a business.

Visit the Studio to see resources and click here to schedule a call.