I follow most every sport and have done so for a very long time. When the Carolina Panthers landed in Charlotte, NC, I scrounged up the money and have been a season ticket holder since. Even though college football is my first love, I enjoy many other sports, such as NFL football. I was a lukewarm fan for years, but the most recent edition of the Carolina Panthers has won me over, or as Dabo Swinney says, “I am all in…” for the Carolina Panthers.

What does this have to do with the practice of law? We can learn from the offensive and defensive units of the Panthers. What it means to pursue excellence in the handling of our clients’ cases, and more importantly, patience and persistence. As they say, “Rome was not built in a day” and neither was this year’s 15-1 season for the Carolina Panthers. Here is to hoping that they take it all the way to the Super Bowl!

 

As an 11 year old boy I remember watching Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous speech, “I Have a Dream” on television, which was delivered outside the Lincoln Memorial in our Nation’s capital. At that young age, I was profoundly moved by his words and message of hope that still resonates all over the world, some 52 years ago. It was truly a watershed event in the Civil Rights movement in this country and his vision and leadership cannot be underestimated in terms of where we have come since that great day in American history.

 

I grew up in the segregated South, where everything was separate including schools, restaurants, doctor’s waiting rooms, etc. It never really made sense to me but that was the way it was then. Dr. King’s speech provided the momentum needed to improve racial relations in this country. While there is still work to be done in this area, I have lived long enough to know that we have come a VERY LONG WAY!

 

Because of Dr. King’s importance to the history of this country, the Mike Kelly Law Group will proudly close its doors Monday in honor of Dr. King and the movement he led.

 
  

New Year’s resolutions are much maligned and a large number of people, who make them quickly, let them fall by the wayside. Personally, I believe it is important to make a New Year’s resolution and to stick with it, at least to the extent you can.

As I learned last year, every moment is a very precious gift from our Creator. I think we owe it to our Maker to try to better ourselves in any number of ways. It certainly includes honoring the physical and mental abilities that we have been given, committing to ways to better our relationships with our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers and ultimately deciding in our brief time on Earth, what steps we can take to make our communities better and more than just places to live. This certainly is a tall order, but I feel we are called to do these things.

I reflected the week between Christmas and New Years on what commitments I would make for myself and encouraged those around me to participate as well. I made sure these did not consist of platitudes and vague promises, but instead had specific measureable objectives.

I would suggest if you have not already made your own New Year’s resolutions that you consider taking an hour or two to reflect in a quiet environment and write down something you would like to improve in your life, along with measurable goals to assist you along the way. All the training I have received in goal setting and personal achievement tells me if you write it down and can measure it then you are much more likely to achieve it.

I wish you the best of luck in 2016. Try to do everything you can to make it your best year ever and as the Carolina Panthers fan base would say, “Keep Pounding”!

  

To someone else, it could easily be concluded that 2015 was the worst year of my life. I lost the love of my life in February, but with much prayer and friends holding me close, I still consider myself a very blessed man as we close out this year. Whenever I feel down, I sit and think of all my blessings, personally and professionally. I am thankful for my beloved children, my family, my staff, my friends, my business, my clients and how fortunate I am to be able to do something that I love- serving others. I am truly blessed to have all of these in my life.

It says in Luke 12:48 when someone is given much then much will be required in return and when someone is entrusted with much, even more will be required. As I move forward into 2016, my pledge is that I will not take any blessing for granted and I am going to do my best to live up to the dictates of Luke. I plan to continue to help and serve others, be the best attorney and counselor I can be and be generous and kind to those not as fortunate as me.

God has been good to me and I plan to return his favor.

The holiday season is a hectic time for all of us as we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the shopping, the traffic and the holiday parties, but let’s not lose sight of the true meaning of the Christmas season.

 

December 25th celebrates the birth of God’s most precious gift to us, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is not about the gifts that are under the tree, but about the time we spend with family, friends and the gifts of love that will always live within our hearts.

When I was a boy, my sole focus, especially during the Christmas season, was what I would be receiving from Santa Claus, and also my family and friends. As I have matured and become a man, with grey hair and more wrinkles, might I add, I have become somewhat wiser. I am certainly not a wise man yet, however over the years, I have learned that it is better to give than to receive.

 

In our society, through both professional and personal matters, there is a stark divide between those who have and those who do not. As people, we should love and encourage one another no matter what our situation. As you read this KellyGram, my hope is that you are inspired to merge this divide and give freely, not only this holiday season but for the years to come!

 

Tis the Season of Giving!

 

As a student of public speaking, I believe that President Bill Clinton, along with President Ronald Reagan were two of the best communicators that occupied the Oval office. The strength and passion they exuded as they led our country was one that deserves acknowledgement and reverence.

 

In President Clinton’s 1992 inaugural speech entitled, “I Still Believe in a Place Called Hope”, he spoke optimistically of America’s future. In today’s world, it is difficult to hold onto any amount of hope. With tragedies like the ones in San Bernardino, California, Paris, and even in our home state of South Carolina, it is hard to see any glimmer of hope. Nevertheless, I see much reason for hope as we head into the holiday season! All of Columbia and the state of South Carolina have many people donating their time, talents and treasure to make this holiday season better for those less fortunate than others. I am proud and blessed to be a part of the Mike Kelly Law Group team and community that values the importance of serving others! It is because of this that, like President Clinton, I Still Believe in a Place Called Hope!

 

One type of case we handle at the Mike Kelly Law Group is first party bad faith insurance claims. First party is your insurance and not someone else’s liability insurance. Unlike third party insurers, your own insurer (think – Homeowners, Auto, Umbrella, etc.) has a fiduciary duty to treat you in good faith and utilize fair business practices. There are a lot of good people in the insurance industry including agents, actuaries, and claims representatives, but I have found in the last 38 years of practice that insurance companies LOVE to take in premiums but do not like to pay out claims as much! That is how successful insurance companies are some of the richest corporations in America!

 

I, like so many of you, spend most of our hard earned money on insurance premiums and in return we must demand that our own insurers treat us properly and adequately pay claims. If you feel that your first party insurance company is not treating you fairly then let us know and we will be happy to review the matter for you. We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

 

This is Thanksgiving week, and frankly, it is one of my favorite times of the year. As you get older, they say you get wiser (at least in theory). This has been a challenging year for many of us (myself included) to say the least, but I cannot be more thankful for all the blessings that have also come my way!

 

My blessings always start with my children, my faith, my family, my church, my legal career and the people I serve who have made my ability to make a living possible, my clients. The Mike Kelly Law Group recently started its eleventh year of operation (hard to believe!) and I am filled with gratitude for the clients who have come back to us for their legal needs over and over again and refer their friends.

 

I have asked my work family members, who are so faithful and loyal, to think of one thing they are thankful for and the response was overwhelming. Here are a few of their responses (they will post more on our Mike Kelly Law Group Facebook page):

 

“I’m thankful for my Immediate and extended family.”

 

“I am thankful for the blessing the Lord has bestowed upon me this entire year, keeping me in good health to be able to enjoy my family and friends, especially my eight precious grandchildren.”

 

“I am thankful to live in a State and be a part of a community that responds positively to the misfortunes of life, whether they are manmade—as the shooting in Charleston a few months ago—or natural—as the devastating flood last month.”

 

“I am most appreciative for each day that my family is healthy, safe and secure. Our lives are busy, especially at this time of year, and I have to remind myself daily to cherish the time that I can spend with my wife, 2 daughters, parents, and siblings.”

 

“I am thankful for my family’s health and well-being.”

 

“I am thankful for God’s Grace.”

 

“I am thankful that I learned the importance of true selflessness. There is a lesson to be learned when you completely give of yourself to someone who can’t do anything for you.”

 

“I am thankful to be a part of the Mike Kelly Law Group and the ability to serve the people of South Carolina.”

 

We would like to hear from you too. Please go to our Facebook page and let us know what you are thankful for during this holiday season.