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Don’t Let Obstacles Take You Down
Self-esteem comes from not letting obstacles get you down. Obstacles can materialize in many different ways. The appearance of a pink slip from your employer when your goal is to get pro- moted. A rejection letter from a literary agent when your goal is to get...
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
On the plane to Hawaii, I sat next to a man wearing a knit skullcap, sweatsuit, sneakers, and dark glasses. As I do whenever someone sits next to me, I said hello. But then I immediately thought, “He must be one of those hip-hoppers.” And because of my innate belief...
Do the Next Right Thing
It’s an esteemable act to do the right thing at the moment. Have you ever done something you later regretted, but then found it was too late to make it right? Have you ever wished you had just one more chance to make an amend for harm done? One more opportunity to...
Let Go of Victimhood
Self-esteem comes from letting go of victimhood. The unabridged version of the Random House Dictionary of the English Language defines a victim as “a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency . . . a person who is deceived or cheated . . . a...
Treasure Your Friends
It’s an esteemable act to treasure your friends. Our connection was immediate on our first day at law school. We now have a soulful bond that has spanned almost twenty years. Who would have thought the two of us, from such different worlds, eleven years apart in age,...
Trademark Protection.
What does a trademark protect? Trademark protection starts long before the application is filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO). It starts with selecting a trademark that can actually be protected. As an intellectual property attorney, one...
Wills and Trusts: A Quick & Simple Reference Guide
Wills and Trusts: Confused about the differences between a will and a trust? If so, you are not alone. Often people who don't understand use the terms interchangeably. But be clear, a will is not a trust. Having a basic understanding of these two important...
Tell Your Story
Self-esteem comes from having the courage to tell your story. Everyone has a story. Regardless of what our lives look like today, we have a history. For many of us, recalling certain times in our lives is painful. We’d rather forget our history. We’d rather put a lid...
Pet Leasing Contracts
Leasing a Family Pet? Homes, cars, furniture, and cell phones are all items that people might typically consider leasing. You enter into an agreement and off you go with the item. But how often have you thought about leasing a pet? Maybe leasing a kitten or a puppy...
Estate Planning.
Preparing for Estate Planning. Estate Planning. How prepared are you for your future and the future of your loved ones? Sadly, most people are unprepared for the time when they may become incapacitated or die. There are many reasons for this lack of preparation. Some...
Copyright Protects Music.
Copyright Protects Music. Prince a Protector of His Copyrights. Some call him crazy. Some call him sly as a fox. Some called him the fervent protector of his copyrighted content. Whatever you call him, by any other name he is still Prince. He was one artist who...
Good Health is a Privilege
Good health is not a right, it’s a privilege. As a teenager, I was convinced that my body was indestructible, like those of the television characters I idolized: Batgirl and Wonder Woman. I lived on a diet of hamburgers, french fries, macaroni and cheese, soda,...
Financial Responsibility
My friend Jack’s finances and his life are out of control. He’s got $36,000 worth of credit-card debt and a mortgage that exceeds his monthly salary, his kids are in a private school he can’t afford, he drives a current-year luxury car, he drinks lattes seven days a...
Common Contract Mistakes
How we use Contracts. Common Mistakes relating to contracts. Not only are contracts an important part of doing business, they are an important part of everyday life. In this post, I will address three of the more common mistakes people make when it comes to contracts....
Timeshare in a Trust
Should You Leave Your Timeshare in Your Trust? Timeshare in a trust. Do you own a timeshare? Over the past few decades owning a timeshare has become a popular investment. Whether you purchased it as a vehicle for a great family vacation, an occasional getaway, or to...
Capital Gains. What is Capital Gains?
What is Capital Gains? This post will provide a Capital Gains 101 overview. There are many special rules that apply to how you acquire your capital assets, how long you hold them, and how different assets are treated. I am not a tax lawyer, CPA, or other tax...
Do Domestic Partners Have Legal Rights?
Do domestic partners have legal rights? Sadly, very few to no rights as compared to married couples when it comes to estate planning.
Personal Inventory
It’s an esteemable act to see yourself clearly. It’s easy to be grateful when you receive compliments because they validate who we are and who we want to be. Positive feedback feels good. And some people believe we should only be given encouraging, appreciative...
Learn a New Skill
It’s an esteemable act to have the courage to learn something new. Have you ever avoided doing something because it was too hard or too scary? Have you ever not learned a new skill because you were afraid you’d make a mistake or just look silly? If you’re like most of...
Book Contract Key Elements.
Key Elements of a Book Contract. Whether you are being traditionally published or being published by a vanity (aka subsidy) press, you will almost always be required to sign a book or publishing contract. This agreement will spell out the terms of your relationship...
Courage to Risk Failure
Self-esteem comes from having the courage to risk failure. I’ve failed at many things in my life: driver’s tests, school exams, relationships. Yes, indeed, I missed the mark more often than I care to admit. I started fad diets and self-help programs and rarely got the...
Say No to Gossip
Recently I overheard someone who was sitting at the table next to mine talking on her cell phone. “Who does she think she is?” the woman said. “Everyone at work knows she’s sleeping with the boss. That’s why she always gets special treatment.” There was a pause as if...
Family Wealth. Estate Planning.
Fears When Talking about Money Studies have shown (https://www.thewilliamsgroup.org/our-history) that the largest contributing factors to the depletion of family wealth are lack of trust, lack of communication, and lack of preparation...
Focus is the Key
Outside our bedroom window is a hummingbird feeder. Each day one, two, and sometimes three birds at a time come and partake in the prepared meal of red sugar water. On this day, I was particularly fascinated by their swift-moving little bodies. One after another, the...
Copyright Protects What?
What is a Copyright? Copyrights are part of the intellectual property (IP) bundle of rights. Other forms of IP that are part of the bundle ar trademarks, patents, rights of publicity, and trade sectrest. A copyright is a legal form of protection for “original” works...
Francine D. Ward
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