Jimerson & Cobb, P.A. June Newsletter - Managing Technology For Work Life Balance

Featured in the June 2018 Issue

Technology Is A Good Servant But A Bad Master
Construction Law 101 Seminar In Less Than A Month
Christopher Cobb Teaching At The Southeast Building Conference
Florida Bar Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law was Achieved by Hans Wahl
Christopher Cobb Recognized for Six Years of Service
New Law Blogs
Curiosities, Ruminations and Various Eccentricities of Firm Biz

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“ Technology is a good servant but a bad master ”

- Gretchen Rubin

When I entered the practice of law in 2001, there were no iPhones, no iPads and believe it or not, email was just beginning to be used as an acceptable method to communicate with clients. I still had to write letters and the opportunity for being distracted was relatively low. Writing letters required me to be more focused and grammatically correct with my communicated message. As the new young attorney at the firm, I was oddly saddled with the responsibility to get the older guys up to speed on technology. Looking back, this is particularly funny because if you know anything about me, then you know I possess just a basic working knowledge of technology. I get frustrated if my device does not work after I press the “on” button. However, old dogs can sometimes learn new tricks, and as technology has become more commonplace at work, I am willing to embrace the change.

It is undeniable now that mobile devices are a way of life and social media is infused into all facets of daily activity. That email chime or phone bling letting you know you have a new message has this sort of Pavlov’s Dog effect. From time to time – I have to unplug. I don’t sanctimoniously announce to everyone that I am leaving – I just do it. I turn off my email or phone to secure some uninterrupted time. Inspired by the naturalist and environmental philosopher John Muir, I would plan trips to the mountains where cellular technology is rather unreliable. I still do this today but running to the mountains to escape the chaotic everyday distraction is not always practical. Here are some tips for you to develop a some uninterrupted time during your workday:

1. Close Your Office Door - If you find that your workspace has become the social mecca of the office, close your door. This will send an immediate message to those interrupters that you need some quiet time. Place a “Do Not Disturb” for added deterrence. There is a fine line here, because you don’t want to be the person with the door always closed because that can make you look anti-social. Find the balance that works for you.

2. Turn Off Your Email For The Morning – Identify when you do your best work and turn off the email during that time. Unless you are involved in a project that requires your immediate action and/or response, turning off the email will likely not be noticed. Many supervisors will expect answers to their inquiry within 24 hours so you will not miss your response window by turning off the email for 3 hours.

3. Turn Off (or put away) Your Cell Phone – Unless you need the cell phone to do your job – put it away. Reading or commenting on a picture of someone’s dinner does not help you achieve your work obligations. Do not have the cell phone on your desk and do not bring it to meetings. It is distracting and the use of cell phones for personal reasons at work is likely a contributing factor to many instances of underperformance. Put it away.

4. Work Remote – This one requires a lot of discipline, because you are introducing a whole new host of distractions. But if your job allows and you are finding that you can’t get things accomplished in the office, remove yourself from the office and work remotely for a day.

Armed with these tactics, you are now ready to enter the most distracting time of year – Summer!!! Stop staring at the phone (especially when you drive) and focus on the task at hand. I am interested to know what tactics you employ to help you remain productive and undistracted? Please travel safe on your summer vacations and I hope all of your office fires ignite after you return.

Best regards.

It's not too late to register for the upcoming

J&C Construction Law Seminar

Don't miss our annual course for construction industry professionals who need a refresher on updates to the law. An added bonus is that attendees will receive their 4 CE credits CE credits (1 hour Laws & Rules, 1 hour Business Practice, and 2 hours General) for 2018:

Process of Construction Licensing
Construction Liens & Bond Law
Construction Defects
Detailed Provisions in Construction Contracts

A networking happy hour will follow the course material, with meet & greet of our four presenters.

Best of all - this is all free ! Registration is required, so be sure to click the button below to start the process.

For questions or to request additional information about the event or presenters please email [email protected]

Registration Now Open for the

Southeast Building Conference (SEBC)

Chairman of the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board and Jimerson & Cobb Partner Christopher M. Cobb will be leading a Construction Leasing course at this year's SEBC on Thursday, August 16. This informative course during the Expo provides participants with 1 hour of Laws & Rules CEU.

Attendees will learn about disciplinary proceedings, qualifying new companies, joint ventures, and how to obtain new and additional licenses. Further, there will be information on the penalties for unlicensed activity and how that can impact a project.

Chris will also provide a Florida legislative update that is focused on the new developments in licensing laws, including the new recovery fund requirements and a new exemption on minor apartment complex repairs.

Attorney Hans C. Wahl Earns The Florida Bar Board Certification In Condominium & Planned Development Law

Jimerson & Cobb was very proud to recognize Hans C. Wahl for his achievement of Board Certification in Condominium and Planned Development. This was the very first year the Florida Bar offered the certification, and it represents the culmination of a lot of hard work on Hans' part.

Board certification is the highest level of evaluation by the Florida Bar in a particular area of law. It is designed to help the public choose a lawyer who is best qualified to assist in their case.

Click here to read the press release.

Christopher Cobb Recognized For 6 Years Of Service to the State of Florida

Jimerson & Cobb Partner Christopher M. Cobb

Recognized For 6 Years Of Service

In June, Christopher M. Cobb was honored for his 6 years of service on the Construction Industry Licensing Board. The CILB is the quasi-judicial board that governs the construction industry in Florida, and is part of the State's Department of Business & Professional Regulation. In 2017, Chris was voted by his peers to serve as CILB Board Chairman.

He was the youngest chairman in the history of the CILB and also the first Division II consumer member to ascend to the chair position. Our firm thanks Chris for his years of service, his continued leadership in the industry, and we congratulate him for this well-deserved recognition!

J&C Legal Blogs

Are you keeping up with the latest information in business and law? J&C publishes weekly blog posts covering topics from construction law, business litigation, eminent domain law, community associations law and everything in between. Click here to subscribe today and stay up-to-date on the latest legal news from these areas:

Construction Industry Law Blog

Liability Of Secondary Qualifying Agents Pertaining To Civil Judgments

By: Clayton T. Osteen

If you are a secondary qualifying agent for a company, there is potential for being financially responsible for the company you qualify. Read about how the law shifts liability after a primary qualifying agent terminates their business relationship.