April Garcia's PivotMe

Episode 15 : Protecting Your Brand: Interview with Lara Pearson , Trademark Attorney

In this episode you will learn:

• Why YOUR business needs a good trademark attorney and how to find one
• How to avoid MAJOR pitfalls in Trademarking
• How to decide on your brand and why you should avoid "descriptive" branding
• The difference between copyrights and trademarks

As we discussed in EPS 13, the trademarking process is NOT for the amateur! There are so many details and nuances that can be missed and quickly add up to one expensive lesson. The best solution for success? Hire an experienced professional to take the lead and guide you through the battlefield that is trademarking!

Today, we hear from OUR very own trademark attorney, the very talented Lara Pearson from Brand Geek, a Lake Tahoe based firm specializing in Intellectual Property.

We will candidly explore the ins and outs of trademarking, including how to select your brand name, what to avoid, obstacles to anticipate and discuss the protection that an experienced attorney can offer your business and products.

No doubt about it, this can be trying for a business, but we will make it simple! Listen in as Lara breaks through common misconceptions during the trademark process and gives valuable insight on how best to select AND protect your brand! Plus—she's just a riot to listen to!

Action Steps:

• Find a qualified trademark attorney. Remember, relationship matters! Finding one that you trust, and could have a beer with is important!
• Get them involved in the process early to save time and money!
• Federally register your brand!! Protect your products and hard work by safeguarding it!

Lara Pearson can be found at her website: https://www.brandgeek.net/

In this 2nd part of Trademarking, April interviews her own trademark attorney, Lara Pearson from Brand Geek. Together, they lift the curtain to give you a behind the scenes look at the importance of protecting your brand, how to avoid MAJOR pitfalls, and how to find your own attorney to trailblaze with.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The importance of trademarking your business, brand, and products
• Where to start and FREE tools available to begin your name search
• The proper steps to maximize success and protect your amazing brand

Trademarking. Essential for your business but NOT for the faint of heart!

As a business owner at the start of your trademarking journey, you will understand very quickly how arduous this process can be. It seems like an endless amount of steps (Forward! Backward! Side to side!) when it comes to where to start and how to make it through the hallowed gates of actually having your name, business, brand, and products trademarked.

In this 2 part series, let's Cha-Cha!

Today, we will share the basics on how to get started, free resources available to anybody with internet, how to keep your expectations in line with trademark realities, and a cautionary tale of finding yourself (and business) on the wrong end of trademark infringement.

With a little research, trustworthy resources, and a whole lot of patience, YOU can make it to the other side of this and have the peace of mind knowing that your hard work will be protected.

Stay tuned for Part 2 as we get expert advice and discuss the nitty-gritty details with our own trademark attorney Lara Pearson of the Lake Tahoe based firm, Brand Geek.

Action Steps:

• Identify a name for your company with your target audience in mind. Arguably the most important step but again, choose several names as "THE" perfect name is...probably already taken. Adjust expectations—let's PIVOT! (8:32)
• Check the patent office at uspto.gov to see if your names are available. (9:30)
• Have the name searched through an actual agency!!! (10:45)
• Once you have found a name that is available, have your lawyer submit an opinion letter and a proper trademark application. (11:28)

Suggested Resources:

Namecheckr: Free website that checks available names across several platforms, including social media. (14:55)

uspto.gov : Free name search tool through the U.S. patent office. (15:11)

Remember, these two websites are an excellent way to start your search but if you are building and scaling a company, protect it by investing in a qualified professional specializing in trademark law.

👉👉 Connect with me here:

• Website: https://www.pivot-me.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AprilGarciaPivotMe
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theAprilGarcia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaprilgarcia

Trademarking your brand. This may not sound like a difficult task but there are some dance moves you need to nail to succeed at it. In Part 1 of this 2 part series, April explains how this plays a vital role in the growth of your company and products, walks you through the 4 steps to obtaining a trademark while minimizing frustration and gives several free resources to help you begin.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to create and continue to build your personal Atta-folder
• The importance of building others up on a regular basis and how to do it effectively
• How to boost morale, increase productivity and job satisfaction of your staff with this simple, yet effective, habit

In Episode 1, How to Punch Negativity in the Face, we discussed an important concept and tool called the "Atta folder." This folder is a place for you to collect all of the positive feedback you receive from those around you. This can be either personal or professional but, hopefully, you are receiving it from both arenas and it looks like: screenshots of emails, texts, tags, notes…anything that builds you up and reminds you of a strength that you possess or a job well done.

The purpose of this folder is to be a treasure chest of reminders of your AWESOMENESS! Evidence of what we have done wrong and what didn't work is always available, right? This goodie bag of compliments and achievements needs to be there to serve as a shield for the hard days to fill in the gaps and protect us from the self-doubt and insecurity that we ALL experience from time to time. Let me tell ya friends, this is MAGIC!

Today, we are going to revisit why we need these folders of inspiration and commendation but we will mainly focus on the other side of this coin as we ask ourselves: Are we regularly and intentionally filling the "Atta folders" of those around us?

It is vital to speak to strengths and to build others up! In showing sincere appreciation for their value and impact on our business and our lives, we can not only help others to build up their folders but ultimately, create a ripple effect as a person after a person makes it a habit to affirm and show appreciation for others.

Join me as we discuss the many benefits of this vital practice for ourselves, examine the life-changing results this has on others and how we can create a sustainable habit of encouragement that will make a huge impact in the lives around us.

Action Steps:

• If you haven't already, create YOUR own Atta-folder! If you already have one, add to it as often as possible and let the contents give you a boost as needed! (10:06)
• Go out and give sincere compliments or feedback to 3 people. This can be a handwritten note, a text, an email…the important thing is that you are as specific as possible about what this person has done and why you appreciated it. (10:33)
• Create a habit around regularly building others up! Schedule it! Put a twice-weekly reminder in your phone to show appreciation or create a ritual during school drop off or at the dinner table to highlight and affirm the strengths of those closest to you. (11:40)

Video Links:

Stepdad leaves notes on his stepdaughter's door as she grows up to give her day a boost. She kept them and years later she frames and returns them to her stepdad as a "Thank You" on Father's Day to show him what those notes meant to her.

https://youtu.be/fXhBqSCHc_o

👉👉 Connect with me here:

• Website: https://www.pivot-me.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AprilGarciaPivotMe
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theAprilGarcia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaprilgarcia

Today, April revisits and expands upon the importance of the Atta-folder that she discussed in Episode 1! She dives in even deeper as she encourages us to make a regular practice of building up those around us, adding to their Atta-folders and gives examples of the ripple effects that this vital practice can have both personally and professionally.

In this episode, you will learn how to:

· Analyze and prioritize your to-do lists and daily schedule for maximum impact

· Say no to the things that do not serve you and create space for the things that do

· Audit your calendar

· Increase productivity so you can complete the RIGHT things

Do you find yourself running out of time at the end of the day for the things you want to accomplish?

We are busier than ever, but time is the great equalizer. Think about it! You have the same hours in the day as any number of successful people-- so let's dial in how we can make the most of it!

Family. Friends. Our phones. Social Media. Work obligations…the list can go on and on with all the good things we fill our time with but also, the things that drain us of our energy and resources, leaving us depleted and unable to focus on what truly matters to us!

Let's evaluate all the things on our plate and decide which things can stay and what stories, feelings, or tasks need to be eliminated. Here is the hard truth: if you want success in any area of your life, you need to say NO to many, many things. The success you have on any given thing is directly connected to how tight your focus is. By saying YES to one thing, you have to say NO to many others.

Today, I will be giving tips and tricks to regaining power over your schedule (and ultimately your life!) by creating the Yes/No list to establish clear boundaries on what will move us forward and what is holding us back from truly living the lives that we dream of!

Action Steps:

· Get out a piece of paper. Fold it vertically, and on one side write YES and on the other side, NO. (15:58)

-Start with the things that you are saying YES to. It can be an action, a story you tell yourself, where you spend your time, a feeling or emotion….do these things currently serve you and your best interests? If not, shift it over to your NO list!

-What are you saying NO to? Be intentional!

· Audit your calendar! (22:16)

-Open your calendar, look at what you had on your schedule a week back and look a week ahead. What is on there that should not be and what is missing that should be there? Show me your calendar (and your bank account) and I will show you your priorities. Take an honest look at where your time is going!!! If something is truly important to you, you schedule and make time for it. It will show up on your calendar if it REALLY matters! What is on there out of obligation or habit? Change accordingly!

Suggested Reading:

The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results (14:15) Gary Keller https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1885167776/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thesparknow20-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1885167776&linkId=09403bdab13aee213572934ae4a080f9

Millionaire Success Habits: The Gateway to Wealth and Prosperity (20:33) Dean Graziosi https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401956874/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thesparknow20-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1401956874&linkId=f6cf44b5298ae1060b1f7e0338c989fd

👉👉 Connect with me here:

• Website: https://www.pivot-me.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AprilGarciaPivotMe
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theAprilGarcia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaprilgarcia

We all have the same 1,440 minutes in our day to live, love, produce, contribute, work and reach our goals. What makes some more successful than others? Simple! They do not give their power and most precious resource (TIME!!!) away to things that do not serve them or what they are working to achieve! This week April talks about taking back your power with the Yes/No list, so you can get the RIGHT things done and learn to say NO to the things that steal time and energy.