LayRoots

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You Learn Something New Everyday

First of all, I am very happy overall with how the “Is This IP?” talk turned out yesterday at Ballard Labs.  People seemed interested, attentive, and had lots of good questions.

This talk went better (I think) than the Joint Ventures and Due Diligence talk I gave in Phoenix.  Why?

1) I had had that practice as an excellent learning experience.

2) I felt more comfortable with the topic and the way I presented it.

3) I had some GREAT advice from my managing partner through How To Manage a Small Law Firm.

Things that worked for me:

I structured the talk like a story – I took people through the evolution of a product and illustrated scenarios that could actually happen to entrepreneurs as they start and grow their business.  I approached it in a more casual manner.  I bribed people with treats from La Foret Bakery thanks to my good friend Taryn.  I acted as though I were speaking to someone I know who does not know THAT much about intellectual property/the law.

Things that did not work for me: 

I did not do a good job in committing people to coming.  We had a decent turnout for the room and for my first endeavor, but I need to find a better way to commit people in the future.  I asked folks to RSVP, but even when I am having a party, it is difficult to get people to RSVP yes or no.  I need to plan my talk out better to have a clear conclusion. I spent so much time thinking about the content, I did not have a strong conclusion/take-away point.    I should have had a sign-up sheet for people to sign up for office hours or my list.  It may not have been appropriate this time, but in the future it will be a good practice.

All in all, the point of setting this up was to start getting my name out and have practice in public speaking.  I am sure that I will give this same talk again and I look forward to it.  It will only get easier.

Extra Learning Bonus Points:

I got quite a few interesting and thought-provoking questions from the audience.  It was awesome!  One question, however, was about something I had no familiarity with – International Trademarks.  I know how to file an international patent, but had very little information about the international trademark process.

I have since learned (and will get this information to the gentleman who asked ASAP) that there is an international application process under the Madrid Protocol.  It is all online.  There seems to be a fee for every country that is a party of the Madrid Protocol (there are 92 countries, I believe) that the applicant wants to file the trademark in.  The fees are dependent on what the contracting country has decided.  I am very glad that this was brought to my attention and I am currently downloading materials from WIPO to learn more.

 

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Is This IP?

I will be giving a short presentation answering whether something is or is not Intellectual Property next Tuesday, November 12th at 3pm at Ballard Labs.

Attendees will not only have the opportunity to ask me any questions, but they will also have the opportunity to sample DELICIOUS treats from Seattle’s La Foret Bakery!

I would love for you to attend AND I would love for you to invite anyone that you think would benefit from this opportunity.  I look forward to seeing you and THANK YOU for your continued support.  Here is the event link so that you can RSVP, forward, and show your support officially: Is This IP?

IsThisIP

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What Should Be In Heavy Rotation at LayRoots?

It is November.  We are now three months into our business venture, but no matter if we were three months or three years or three decades into this venture, we strive to continually learn and grow as individuals and business owners.  We have an insatiable curiosity for the world around us.  These are the things satisfying our cravings this month:

BOOKS  

Shreya is reading the “E-Myth” and “A Stranger in a Strange Land.”  She just finished reading “Open City” and is consistently thumbing through “Think and Grow Rich.”

She finds it curious that every time she picks up “Think and Grow Rich” she seems to happen upon a chapter or passage that is particularly applicable to things that she is experiencing in business.  Curiouser and curiouser.

Colin is reading “Millions Within” and “Desert Solitaire.”  He also has been consistently thumbing through ‘Think and Grow Rich.”  Furthermore, he finished the “E-Myth” and “Endless Referrals.”

He cannot contain his excitement for the nuggets of wisdom that he is finding and wants to share them with fellow business owners that he encounters.

MUSIC

This month, our music tastes seem to overlap.  We cannot stop listening to Macklemore – “The Heist.”  Yes, it is particularly exciting because he is a local Seattle-ite.  Yes, it might be a bit masochistic because he seems to have great distaste for attorneys (probably because he has not met us yet).  We have embraced these realities and cannot stop loudly playing the album.

We also have been listening to quite a bit of St. Lucia and Wild Child.

 

Do you have any suggestions for us?  What should we put on our music and book list?

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Is Walter White a Typical Entrepreneur?

I recently signed up for a business coach.  He told me not to ask “how” something was to be done but ask “why” I wanted it to be done in the first place.  Doesn’t make sense?  Seems like bullshit?  Maybe you’re right.  Maybe you’re just not ready.  All that matters is that it resonated with me.  I went home that night and watched the season 5 finale for Breaking Bad to prep myself for the upcoming finale, and I noticed…Walter White did not ask his mignons how they would accomplish a mass murder.  He had a vision for what needed to be done and he simply told them that they needed to make it happen.  He knew the why so the how did not much matter.

Fast forward a couple of months and AMC’s Breaking Bad is finally over; it is a bit bittersweet.  I loved the finale, loved that Jesse Pinkman is finally free from Walt and from the white supremacist gang, and loved that Walt died surrounded by the things that made him come alive.  Now, Walter White was a grade A asshole most (all?) of the time.  Through the years, I have had a love/hate relationship with him.  Recently, however, regardless of whether I hate him or love him, I have come to admire him.  That’s right.  I said it.  He is a bad man.  He ruins lives.  He is compelling and he knows what he wants.

[Read more…] about Is Walter White a Typical Entrepreneur?

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Can I use a generic contract for my business?

“I need a contract for my business”

The words that make me cringe…”I found this contract on the internet…” almost always followed with, “can you look over it for me?”

Is using a contract off of the internet always going to land you in some terrible spot?  No.  Of course not.  Let me, however, tell you why I would always recommend you get a contract written for you.

1)   Contracts should lay the groundwork for your business and your services.  A contract, at minimum, sets out what you expect the other person to do for you and how you plan to repay them for their actions.  It also sets the tone for how you like to do business with others.  It is your opportunity to receive goods, payments, or services in the ways that fit with your business and business model while allowing you to be flexible in areas that you foresee growth, change, or in areas that you do not feel as strongly about.

Having your own contract in place shows potential business partners that you have really thought about your business and its future.

2)   Contracts should protect your particular needs.  Let’s say that seatbelts were not adjustable.  Each car’s seatbelt is set to protect the average person.  Would you feel safe?  What if the seatbelt was either gaping on you and you could slide out OR what if the seatbelt was way too tight and you could not buckle it?  You do not get into an accident every time you get into your car.  You have the seatbelt there in case something goes wrong.  So, it should be fine to buy a seatbelt meant to fit someone else, right?  Most people would look at me like I’m crazy.  I would look at me like I’m crazy.  I would never buy a car if the seatbelt did not fit me!

If you would not buy a car without a seatbelt that fits you, why would you use a contract that does not fit you?  Your contracts protect you, specifically.  They have give, where necessary, but place clear boundaries to protect your business and your assets.

3)   It will save you money.  Are legal services an investment?  Sure they are.  They are an investment in your business.  It is a small investment in your business that should help you close better deals, have better business relationships, and help protect what you have created.  A good contract keeps you from getting involved in lawsuits with unreasonable people because you took the time and spent the money to really outline what you find acceptable and unacceptable.  The contract forces you to have an honest discussion with your business partner(s) about what to expect.

4)   More on why it will save you money.  By using a contract you found on the internet, you will end up creating more work for me.  I like to provide my clients with flat fee billing to help you budget.  When I start from scratch or use my own templates, I can accurately predict how much time something will take me and can provide you with my flat fee billing options.  I can provide you with more service and better quality service. When you present me with someone else’s contract from who knows where – I am not just “looking over the contract,” but then am also having to edit or re-write the contract.  Since I do not know what the contract looks like what I will have to do to it, I cannot provide you with flat fees.

You end up unhappy because you get a big bill that you do not understand.  I am unhappy because you are unhappy and because I spent twice as long doing something.  Want more information on how to invest in your business?  Contact us today!