Year End Yays!

It’s that last one that comes hardest to many. Some people are born with confetti in their hands. Others celebrate by moving to the next thing on their To Do list. But this is the season for celebration, so let’s take a minute, pour ourselves a glass of sparkling grape juice, and look at the … Read more

Minnesota Paid Leave: What about Deadlines and Taxes?

This post is the fourth part in a series on Minnesota Paid Leave. Feel free to check out Parts 1, 2, and 3. The previous post focuses on the calculation of Paid Leave benefits for employees. This next post focuses on two inevitabilities: death deadlines and taxes. Let’s start with the focus on deadlines. In … Read more

HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY!

Studies have shown those who win bronze at the Olympics are happier than the silver medal winners. It is because they know their hard work paid off, but they very easily could not have been on the medal stand.  Tal Ben-Shahar is a teacher and writer in the areas of happiness, positive psychology, and leadership. In his … Read more

Grow With Intentionality 

I visited the SkyFarm in Houston, Texas. August, the lead farmer on this 5.5-acre green space located on a rooftop downtown, took time on an autumn morning to talk about how they can build a space that gets 10-12 hours of sun and reach temperatures up to 170°F into a green space in a sustainable, regenerative way – all with just … Read more

Small Firms, Big Ideas; Reflections from the 2025 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of making my annual trip to Wisconsin Dells to attend the 2025 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference. As with each year of the conference, it was a reminder that, even as attorneys characterize themselves with independence (solo and small firm attorneys especially so), community is essential. Solo … Read more

Trademark Trouble in Candyland: Lessons for Growing Brands from Nerds vs. Dweebs

Ferrara Candy Company, the maker of Nerds, recently filed a lawsuit against the maker of Dweebs candy. What looks like a quirky fight between two playful names is actually a cautionary tale for startups and small businesses building their brands. Ferrara has spent decades growing Nerds into a cultural touchstone. In 2024 alone, sales topped … Read more

Minnesota Paid Leave: What are the Different Types of Leave? 

This post is the second part in a series on Minnesota Paid Leave. Feel free to check out Part 1. The previous post talked about who qualifies for Minnesota Paid Leave. This post focuses on the types of leave available to those who qualify. The leave types essentially break down into two separate buckets: Medical … Read more