Get Rice: Ronnie O'Brien Rice, Ph.D., Lawyer

 How many times have we felt like we’ve been beating our head against a wall?  When your hard work isn't paying off, it can be helpful to step back and reassess your approach. Here are a few things you can try: Set specific, measurable goals: Make sure you know what you're working towards and how you'll know when you've achieved it. Get feedback: Ask for feedback from others and use it to improve.  However, it is important to make sure you get feedback from ‘right’ person. I mean, you know what they say about opinions. But, if you have the right team around you, it might be useful to gain feedback.  Learn from failure: Failure can be a valuable learning opportunity. Don't be afraid to take risks and experiment.  Some might say ‘fail fast.’ I recommend to at least execute on something.  Stay positive and focus on progress: Remember that progress, not perfection, is the goal.  If you refer back to the ‘set specific, measurable goals.’ I think too many pe...

In a world of venture capitalism, tech company selling, and Shark Tank; it is important to make sure that the transition is done well legally.  Not too many founders and/or acquiring companies think the transitioning through regarding a founder leaving the company. When the founder of a business leaves, there are several legal considerations to keep in mind in order to keep the business going.   And when we mean keeping the business going, we are taking about growth. As we all know, that if you aren’t growing, you are dying. Succession Planning: Having a plan in place for when the founder leaves can help ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruption to the business. This may include designating a successor, creating a buy-sell agreement, or establishing a board of directors. Review of Contracts: Make sure to review any contracts that the founder was party to and determine if there are any provisions that may be affected by their departure.   Not too many times ...

A good business possesses a number of attributes that contribute to its success. One of the most important is a clear and compelling vision. A business that knows what it wants to achieve and has a clear plan for how to get there is more likely to succeed than one that is aimless or uncertain. Another important attribute of a good business is strong leadership. A business needs leaders who are able to inspire and guide their employees, making sure that everyone is working towards the same goals. Strong leaders also need to be able to make difficult decisions and adapt to changing circumstances. In addition to vision and leadership, a good business also needs a strong focus on customer service. A business that is able to consistently meet or exceed the expectations of its customers is more likely to succeed than one that neglects this important aspect of its operations. Another important attribute is the ability to innovate. A business that is able to stay ahead of the curve and develop...

 The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the global economy, with many businesses struggling to survive. As we all know, no matter where you reside, the pandemic has had a significant impact on daily lives. However, everyone has coped with it differently. The technology sector has been one of the few bright spots, with companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google reporting strong financial results. Some of you might be reading that these companies have the capital to grow. However, I think anyone who did their homework can have increase growth in business. Additionally, there has been increased focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, with many investors and companies placing greater emphasis on sustainability and ethical practices. This is sector that many people have negated over the years. You can think of the weather and/or social interaction of kids. This pandemic has increased awareness of the need for growth and awareness. ...

 Whenever you are reading my blog, you might see these 3 words:  Motivation, Law, & Business. In   this post, I discuss the laws and principles regarding motivation in the business world There are several laws and principles that pertain to motivation in the business context, including:   the self-determination theory, the expectancy theory, the equity theory, the goal-setting theory, and the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The Self-Determination Theory, which states that individuals have innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and that fulfilling these needs leads to greater motivation and well-being. Especially in America, there is a significant thought process for these. These can be helpful in business world as not too many people can operate without these motivations. The Expectancy Theory, which posits that individuals are motivated by the belief that their effort will lead to high performance, which will in turn lead to d...

 The State of Alabama is currently facing a number of legal issues that have been the subject of much debate and discussion. One of the most pressing issues is the ongoing battle over abortion rights. In 2019, the Alabama legislature passed a law that effectively bans all abortions in the state, with the exception of cases where the mother's life is in danger. This law has been met with strong opposition from pro-choice groups, who argue that it is a violation of women's constitutional rights. Depending on your viewpoint regarding abortions, this law has an affect on many. I think that it is very important to align your feeling with your moral compass. Case law and statute are put in place significantly because to protect the common good. However, the common good does not mean everyone is going to be happy about the decision.  So how does one continue to live life if their beliefs are opposed to laws that have been passed? A wise politician made a great statement to me years a...

 HECK NO! Having a trust and a last will and testament is for everyone. 3 reasons why it is for everyone below: 1.          If you have any property and/or money in an account, without having either instrument can prolong your estate. 2.        Having these instruments aren’t about the amount. 3.        The general purpose of these instruments is to leave those who rely on the decease some type of security. We all may know of Takeout, the rapper. Essentially, he died without having a will and last will and testament. And due to the lack of this instrument, his parents are fighting over the estate. So not having these documents in place may cost your estate a lot of money. So how do you setup last will and testament? 1.        Do an inventory of all property, funds, personal objects, etc. 2.        Record who y...

 The answer is obviously, BOTH. Do you want to lean on one and not the other? Nope. So, my recommendation is to strategically persist in your goal attainment and letting luck have its way. If you look at some of the great businessmen and women; you’ll realize that being both persistent and strategic played a role in success. So how do you do both? I think we all know how to be lucky:   Just throw the dice. You can’t be lucky without playing the game. When you walk into Vegas, you must buy chips then play roulette. Its’ not until this moment you have a chance to be lucky or, in a lot of cases, unlucky. On to the second part of strategically persistent. First you have to set a goal. This goal has to be obtainable and straightforward. I normally wouldn’t say obtainable because it suggest that it is too easy. However, in this regard, we are focus on a person being persistent rather than obtaining some lofty goal. Next, set accountable measures to get your goals. In...

For those who don’t know what Learned Helplessness (LH) is here is the Webster’s dictionary definition:  Noun:  A condition in which a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness, arising from a traumatic event or persistent failure to succeed. It is thought to be one of the underlying causes of depression.  Now, how many of us have experienced this ourselves? Or know someone who deals with this. I know I have dealt with this with myself and with others.   So, why am I writing about this? Simple, if you are a business owner or lead a team of people, having to deal with individuals who have learned helplessness can be a daunting task. And more so, having these people on your team is not good for the company’s bottom line.   Ex. Susan in sales is always complaining that she doesn’t have any leads for mortgages. She makes calls, advertises, and constantly ask her friends for referrals. But it seems that she can’t get ahead. But one thing Susan doesn’t ta...

I'm currently reading a book titled The Greatest You by Trent Shelton. I’m on page 81 in the book and it’s very insightful. I’ve never heard of this author before, but I saw his book on the shelf in Barnes & Nobles in Macon, Georgia last year while with my college roommate.   Long story short, I'm in the chapter where he writes about burning the right bridges. And I think this is an interesting viewpoint because there are a lot of people in our lives who are negative, don’t add value, and look to gain from you at every waking moment.   Unfortunately, there are people out there who fall prey to these individuals because of their generous heart.   So you might be wondering why am I talking about this? The answer is simple:  Most schools of thought will tell you when you run into these ‘energy drainers’ run away fast. But, what happens when these energy drainers are spouses, children, supervisors, and/or clients? You become an energy transformer....

Going through a divorce is never an easy process to initiate. I’ve been through one. You make a vow to stick with someone for the rest of your life. And then all of sudden, you find yourself arguing everyday and totally loathing the presence of the person.  So I’m writing this blog post to hopefully help others who are thinking about going through this process; or those who have started the process already.   I handle a few divorce cases and I’ve learned prearranged agreement is always better. I think too many times spouses are wanting to get the most out of a divorce. But, in the process they drain their personal finances. People see a lot of high-net-worth individuals on social media and television getting divorces. You see the ridiculous amounts of money for child support and alimony.  However, in everyday life, people don’t have access to millions of dollars and multibillion dollar companies.  With that being said, my encouragement a lawyer is to make sure y...

No one is going to care about your business like you. And it’s okay.  You hear from these ‘talking heads’ on television and social media that your employees need to be just as passionate about your business as you are. I get the logic behind wanting your employees to be excited about what you are paying them to do. But, for me having someone gung ho fore a business that they didn’t put money into and sweat equity to start is huge misguided request from the owner. Employees are people. They have dreams and passions too (outside of the business). I believe the more you encourage them to follow their dreams, the better your business will do.  Think about it. When you are working for someone and they let you off early to handle personal business; didn’t you feel a high level of internal gratitude towards them? Absolutely. You automatically said that there is no other company that will allow you to do that.  This is even more so important during this Covid-19 pandemic. People ...

What’s purpose? And how does one find it?  Purpose to me is the motivation that gets you up in the morning and starts you on your way. It something internal (with or without an alarm clock). Some people call this your ‘why.’ Early on in my life, I struggled with my purpose. I was always naturally happy and positive. However, I did not get up early in the morning and I was not passionate about what I was doing.  So, I asked myself the basic question ‘what is purpose?’ And I found the answer by observing and hanging with other people who seemed to be highly motivated and successful. Now, when I’m talking about success, I’m talking all-around. My meaning of successful was a person who had it together in regard to their family, church, health, finances, etc.  What I found is that people with purpose had their life ‘tight.’ Meaning, they might have not been married to a super model, but the relationship they had with their spouse was AMAZING. There was respect, love and affect...

 I realize that 2020 has been a year that many people wish they could chug like a bottle of scotch. However, the truth of the matter is that 2020 is still a part of your life. It is important to learn how to embrace the ups, downs, highs, and lows to improve your situation.   We are only able to control a certain amount of the circumstances that occur in our life. Yet, we do have the ability to control our reactions when things do not go as planned. No, my friends, this is not one of my “feel good” posts. This is a reality check, a get off your butt and be productive in your life post.  If you are reading this a few years from 2020, understand that the United States just voted, and a new President will be inaugurated in January. Some people are upset and frustrated while others are happy with the choice of our country’s new leader. Regardless of your perspective, you are still in control of your life.  Life is what you make it . Does life throw some curve balls ...

We all know about great companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, but are we aware of their failures? Of course, we should celebrate the big and small wins. Nevertheless, we need not overlook the failures that were faced by ourselves or others. I am guilty of going off and being a little peeved (Tony Robbins) when things do not go as expected or planned. However, I think that is not an excuse to try to focus on the failure, how to rectify it, and ensure that it does not happen again. How many times in our lives have we failed and made attempts to cover it up without getting to the source of the issue? We believe that if we just focus on our strengths and positives, the negative aspects of our personalities will just disappear. We must face failure.  Most of the time, facing our failures is easier than facing someone else’s. We know the right things to say and which buttons to push with ourselves. Yet what happens when we must talk to our colleagues, employees, or peopl...

Now I know you wondering what in the world I am talking about, but yeah you read correctly. Let’s discuss the new trend today……relationships that end in restraining orders. Don’t get me wrong I know most of you have experienced this situation at some point in your life and your reasoning for filing was valid, but let me tell you lately I’ve worked with several clients who have had accusations against them which have been false. Somehow our society has become one who utilizes the legal system to moderate their relationships. Yet most people do not realize the court systems frown upon citizens exploiting it for frivolous claims. Webster defines frivolous as not having purpose or value. A restraining order  is defined as a document or process that one engages when someone feels threatened or harassed. However, this process is used to cover one’s tracks and there has been influx of unmerited Restraining Order reported. So….as the GREAT lawyer I am, let me present to you relatio...

 I know we hear this time and time again, that’s Thanksgiving is about giving ‘thanks!’ But, how many of us actually do this? Take time to give thanks by doing something for others, spending time with love ones, and being appreciative of the things you have. Know there are people less fortunate than you. Thanksgiving is a chance for you to express your appreciation for the big and small things in life. I know that everything in your life might not be going as planned. But, appreciation is a way to (1) focus on what you have, (2) find opportunities for growth, and (3) destress your life from everything that seems to be going wrong. And know this, there is always someone who can use your help. So, you complaining about something that is not going right might be something small for someone who does not have a place to live or food to eat. Sometimes we can get lost in our own world where we feel that the small problems of our life are major. Spend some time with others who think ...

What is publishing? Publishing rights allows a person to sell or do business with music, books, curriculums, etc. And when I say do business with it music or books, I mean partner with other companies or brands to put on maybe a concert, party, etc. With publishing rights, there come contracts, collaborations, and deals that help promote a specific song, album, book, or movie. When you are trying to publish a body of work, it takes multiple people to publish it. For example, you need a producer, artist, sound engineer and others to get a song ‘off the ground.’ And like any other project, there can be conflict that arises out of these projects. This is where having a good contract in place helps. I’ve worked with several groups of people to either help develop a contract or handle contract disputes . All in all, I’ve found that without having a contract, things can go haywire. When it comes to artist, many either not business savvy or do not care about the business side of deve...

How many people you know who always busy I know a lot of people. One of those people is ME. I have found that to be very successful you have to delegate. And I’m not talking delegating for the sake of just telling someone what to do. Or you getting them to do something that you don’t want to do. I’m talking about getting some one to do a task that you don’t have time to do. Or getting someone to do something that they are much better at doing than you. One of the ways to delegate is to bring on people who have a vested interest in your mission. Oftentimes people think it's about paying people a certain amount of money to get them to do the right job. Where money is definitely a factor, you can find good people and not break the bank. What I typically do is if I'm trying to keep things within a budget, I offer people incentives to grow with the company. When you give people incentive to grow with you and you encourage them to help grow the business; you find that people be...