First Draft June 2018

P. 2 Calendar

Monthly

Adopt A Cat Month. They’re cute, smart, affectionate, cuddly, and sometimes dismissive. Find a shelter in your area, and make a connection with a furry friend you can take home.

National Rose Month. With 150 different species of roses and more than 11,000 hybrid varieties, you should be able to find one or two to cultivate and appreciate this time of the year.

National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. Wear purple this month to show your support for those who suffer from headaches and migraines. To increase your awareness about these conditions, go to www.headaches.org.

Sports America Kids Month. Summer is here, so let’s keep our youngsters active, healthy, and outdoors.

Weekly

Lemonade Days, June 2-10. In 2004, Alexandra Scott lost her battle with cancer at age 8. During the last few years of her life, she raised $1 million to fund pediatric cancer research with the help of a lemonade stand. This week families and businesses across the United States will set up lemonade stands to raise money for a cure to childhood cancers. To learn more, go to alexslemonade.org.

National Business Etiquette Week, Jun. 3-9. This year’s theme is “Toxic Workplaces: How to Resurrect Civility in Business.” In case you’ve been slacking off, strive to conduct yourself with common sense and professionalism in the workplace and everywhere else this week and beyond.

National Week of Making, June 11-17. Individuals and organizations highlight the creativity, innovation, and accomplishments in technology, arts, and design of “makers” of all ages.

Men’s Health Week, June 11-17. The days leading up to Father’s Day raise awareness of men’s health issues and the need for screenings and treatments. Spend time this week encouraging the men in your life to take ownership of their health and well-being.

Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 17-23. The third full week of the month is devoted to educating the public about the danger of lightning. To learn more, go to www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.

Daily

National Go Barefoot Day, June 1. Kick off your shoes for a good cause. Host a shoe drive or donate your gently worn shoes to benefit some of the millions of people in need of this basic item. Learn more at Soles4Souls.org.

Global Running Day, June 6. Run around the block or jog a mile—just get up, get moving, and take the kids with you.

National Best Friends Day, June 8. Good friends are good for the soul. Spend quality time with your bestie today.

World Oceans Day, June 8. Oceans cover 71 percent of the planet. Take time today to learn what can be done to conserve this precious resource.

Father’s Day, June 17. Show your dad how much he means to you on this day and every other day throughout the year.

International Picnic Day, June 18. Take advantage of the sunshine and warm weather by dining al fresco on a blanket and enjoying some of your favorite treats.

P. 3 Numbers in the News

Millennials leading in home purchasesMillennials are buying more homes than Gen Xers, baby boomers, and other age groups, according to the Builder Online website, citing a survey by the National Association of Realtors.

Thirty-four percent of all home purchases in the United States in 2017 were made by millennials, followed by Generation X (28 percent), baby boomers (30 percent), and people born from 1925-1945 (6 percent).

In 2018, the typical millennial home buyer has a higher household income than last year ($88,200 vs. $82,000). He or she bought the same size home, 1,800 square feet, for more money at a higher price—$220,000 versus $205,000 in 2017.

Millennials in 2018 have higher student debt balances than those in previous years, and more of them say that saving for a down payment is the most difficult task in buying a home.

Rentals up in the U.S.

More Americans are living in rented homes than at any point since 1965. That’s from the Pew Research Center, which says that the total number of U.S. households increased by 7.6 million from 2006-2016. However, the number of households headed by homeowners has remained flat, partially because of the aftereffects of the housing crisis late in the last decade.

On the other hand, the number of rented households rose during the same time frame, from 31.2 percent in 2006 to 36.6 percent in 2016. In 1965, the rate of rented households was 37 percent.

Getting engaged isn’t cheapHow much should you expect to spend on an engagement ring? According to wedding website The Knot, the average cost is $6,351. Averages vary from state to state, though. The Business Insider website looked across the United States. Here are the five cheapest and most expensive places to find the perfect ring:

Cheapest• Utah $3,518• Vermont $3,941• New Hampshire $4,053• West Virginia $4,352• Mississippi $4,772

Most expensive• South Carolina $8,599• Washington, D.C. $8,695• Wisconsin $8,766• North Carolina $9,225• California $10,241

Netflix and chill—wherever you areNetflix is everywhere these days, and people are watching it everywhere. A Netflix survey conducted with Survey Monkey found that instead of streaming movies and TV shows at home, 67 percent of users watch Netflix in public—on the bus, in the restroom, and even at work:

• In the restroom: 12 percent

• Waiting in line: 27 percent

• Traveling: 30 percent

• At work: 37 percent

Men are more likely than women to watch in public. Twenty-nine percent say they pretend not to see or hear other people while glued to their screens, and 27 percent say they’ve cried in public while watching an emotional scene. Eleven percent have experienced spoilers while watching someone else’s screen, and 35 percent complain of being interrupted by someone who wanted to talk about the show they were watching.

Yoga pants stretch salesYoga pants are in—whether you wear them for yoga or not. According to the Quartz website, imports of yoga pants have grown an average of 25.7 percent a year since 2010. At the same time, imports of jeans have declined by close to 4 percent a year.

Quotes

Go down deep enough into anything and you will find mathematics.—Dean Schlicter

Let us grant that the pursuit of mathematics is a divine madness of the human spirit, a refuge from the goading urgency of contingent happenings.—Alfred North Whitehead

P. 4 Health News

Keep an eye out for dehydrationDehydration can be a serious health issue. Without enough water, your body can’t keep your temperature steady and eliminate waste efficiently. You feel tired, suffer headaches, and your mood and ability to focus may dip. Here are some symptoms to watch for, from the WebMD website:

• Infants and young children. Babies with dehydration may have dry tongues and no tears when they cry. Look for diapers that are dry after three hours or more. They tend to be fussy, and in extreme cases, their eyes and cheeks appear to be sunken.

• Older children and adults. Thirst is an obvious sign, along with a dry mouth and tongue. Lack or regular urination is also a symptom, and when you do urinate, the liquid will be dark and/or smelly. Dizziness, a faster heartbeat or breathing rate, and increased irritability may also be present.

How much water should you drink? Some experts advise eight glasses a day, though others say that’s only a rough estimate, not an absolute rule. Drink when you feel thirsty, depending on how active you are and your general health.

Call your doctor if you or your children experience:

• Diarrhea for more than 24 hours

• Dizziness, confusion, or faintness

• Difficulty keeping fluids down

• Lack of energy

• Fast heartbeat or breathing

• A black or bloody stool

Exercise boosts immunity in older adultsExercise is good at any age, but scientists now think that regular exercise as you get older may help boost your immune system and prevent infections.

An article on the BBC website reports that scientists in the United Kingdom tracked 125 long-distance cyclists, some in their 80s, and discovered they had immune systems comparable to those of 20-year-olds.

The researchers examined the cyclists’ blood for T-cells, which aid the immune system in fighting off infections. The long-distance riders had the same level of T-cells as adults in their 20s, but a similar group of older adults who were less active produced fewer T-cells. `

The research suggests that increased physical activity can also help older people respond better to vaccines for such infections as the flu.

These foods keep your brain healthySome foods help keep your heart in shape. Others help your bones. What keeps your brain and memory healthy? The CNN website offers this list of what to eat to maintain a healthy brain as you grow older:

• Berries. Studies suggest that eating at least a half-cup of blueberries, or one cup of strawberries, on a weekly basis may help stave off cognitive decline. Berries have anthocyanidins, whose antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may keep the brain in shape.

• Green leafy vegetables. One study of almost 1,000 adults found that a daily serving of spinach, kale, collard greens, or arugula appeared to maintain cognitive health to the extent

that participants were considered to be 11 years younger than people who rarely or never consume such veggies.

• Eggs. Eggs contain choline, which is an important brain nutrient. In a study of 1,400 people, participants with high intakes of choline scored better of visual and verbal memory tests than those who ate less foods with choline. In addition, people with a high intake of choline over the long term seem to have better MRI brain scans, suggesting that choline may protect people against dementia.

Quotes

There’s lots of people in this world who spend so much time watching their health that they haven’t the time to enjoy it.—Josh Billings

If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.—Elbert Hubbard

P. 5 Safety Monitor

Practice food safety during picnicsPicnics are part of the fun of summertime, but thousands of people become ill every year from picnic food that’s not safely prepared or stored. Here are some tips for making sure you have a safe picnic in the park:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly—before you prepare food and after you handle raw meats.

• Clean your food. You don’t know where fruits and veggies have been.

• Wrap all foods. Keep the foods separate so drippings don’t contaminate each other.

• Keep food chilled. Don’t take cold foods out of the fridge until it’s time to go. Pack them in a cooler as soon as you take them out of the fridge.

• Keep coolers under a tree. When you’re packing the car, try keeping the cooler inside the car, rather than in a hot trunk.

• Try to plan just the right amount of food to take. Then you won’t have to worry about the storage or safety of leftovers.

• Use a separate cooler for drinks so the one containing perishable food won’t be constantly opened and closed.

• Don’t partially grill extra hamburgers to use later. Once you begin cooking hamburgers by any method, cook them until completely done to ensure that bacteria are destroyed.

• Put leftover foods in the cooler promptly after grilling or serving. Any left outside for more than an hour should be discarded. If there is still ice in the cooler when you get home, the leftovers are OK to eat.

Work safely in the heatAs the warm days of summer set in, keep these safety tips in mind to avoid overstressing your body as you work outdoors:

• Perform your heaviest tasks during the morning. If you have work that will require you to exert a lot of energy, it’s best to do it in the cooler hours of the morning.

• Build your tolerance. It usually takes a good two weeks for your body to acclimate itself to working in the heat, so give your body time to adjust to higher temps.

• Use the buddy system. That way you can keep an eye out and get help if needed.

• Drink water. Health experts say you should drink a small cup every 15 to 20 minutes when you’re working in the heat to stay hydrated and cool.

• Take breaks. Give your body a chance to cool down by heading off to a cool area for a few minutes.

• Eat lightly. Try not to eat heavy or big meals before you have to work in the heat.

• Skip the caffeine. It makes your body lose water and increases your chances of heat illnesses.

• Watch your medications. If you take any medicine, you should check with your doctor or pharmacist about its effects when you’re working in the heat.

Write an effective job safety descriptionThe main goal of a job safety description is to give workers information about the potential hazards of a specific job. Each task that should be done should be identified, and the potential risks (physical, chemical, or energy) to the worker have to be considered. When you actually get down to writing the description, follow these four steps:

• Write out the sequential steps and tasks that must be accomplished.

• Write up the hazards that workers could potentially face in each step.

• Write up correct safe job procedures and safety measures workers are expected to take.

• Organize the information so that it is easy to read and understand.

Quotes

Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands.—Jeff Cooper

Your own safety is at stake when your neighbor’s wall is ablaze.—Horace

P. 6 Workplace Workshop

Habits millennials should master at workManagers sometimes look at the millennials in their workplace with skepticism and suspicion. If you’re a millennial just starting out in your career, practice these habits to gain your managers’ trust:

• Develop some self-knowledge. Understand your strengths and weaknesses, along with your beliefs and values. This will help you make good decisions about where you want to go in your career.

• Learn how to cope. Work can be stressful. If you want to succeed, you’ll have to find ways to manage your emotions so they don’t take control of you. Learn some stress management techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and regular exercise.

• Build strong relationships. Be friendly with your co-workers and bosses, and each out to people in your industry so you have a network you can depend on. Seek out diverse minds—people with different backgrounds and different ways of looking at things.

• Become resilient. Train yourself to move out of your comfort zone so challenges and crises don’t derail you. Learn to accept failure and move on, showing you’re capable of learning from mistakes and taking responsibility for your actions.

• Keep a sense of proportion. Don’t let work dominate your life. Spend time with family and friends so you see that life is full of things with value outside the workplace.

Follow these steps for successful teamworkCollaboration and teamwork are essential in today’s workplace. To contribute to your organization’s success while working together, follow these guidelines:

• Discuss your goals. Whatever the project is, sit down to define what you’re trying to accomplish. Document goals in clear language so everyone knows what success requires.

• Identify each others’ strengths. Find out what people do well so you can use their skills accordingly. Pair up people with complementary strengths and weaknesses so they can balance each other and do good work.

• Determine roles and responsibilities. Once you’ve set down goals and spotlighted strengths, decide on specific jobs for everyone. This helps hold individuals accountable and lets team members know what to expect from each other.

• Encourage creativity. Don’t settle for the same solutions to every problems and challenges. Brainstorm to develop new ideas. Don’t discard anything that sounds too outrageous. You may be able to adapt it to something more practical.

• Celebrate success. Once you’ve reached your goal, take time to enjoy it. Go out to lunch, or throw a party. This provides positive reinforcement for the team’s hard work, and prepares everyone to move onto the next project.

Be more assertive with these tipsYou can’t get ahead at work if nobody knows who you are. Being assertive doesn’t come naturally to some people, but you can learn to put yourself forward with these tips:

• Practice. Look for opportunities to speak up—in meetings, in the hallway, even at the coffee shop. Offer opinions and ideas, or just strike up conversations with people you don’t know. You’ll find it gets easier over time.

• Plan ahead. In many situations, a script can help you speak without being too nervous. For a big meeting, for example, make notes of what you want to say so you don’t ad-lib—and possibly forget an important point.

• Choose your battles. You don’t have to dominate every interaction. In some meetings you may be better off listening and answering questions, especially if you’re not an expert on the topic. People will listen if they realize you have something to say, not just because you like the sound of your own voice.

• Learn to say no. You want to be agreeable, but you don’t have to do everything people ask you to. Establish your priorities so you can explain why you can’t agree to every request. People will respect you for sticking to your guns.

Quotes

It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.—Bill Gates

Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.—Gordon B. Hinckley

P. 7 Science Lab

Ancient humans cared for othersPopular culture paints our Neanderthal ancestors as brutish and cruel, but that picture is changing, according to the Sci-News website.

Neanderthals are known to have cared for their injured people, and new findings suggest that they took care of individuals who were suffering regardless of whether their peers could repay them in any way.

For example, the remains of one male Neanderthal 25-40 years old at time of death shows that he had a variety of diseases, including tooth loss, periodontal disease, arthritis, and other long-term health conditions. His care would have required fever management, hygiene maintenance, and helping him stay with the group when it moved its camp. For the last 12 months of his life he would have been unable to contribute much to the group, but he was carefully buried after his death.

The evidence suggests that “organized, knowledgeable, and caring health care is not unique to our species but rather has a long evolutionary history,” one scientist states.

A once-in-a billion-year spinGalaxies rotate, just as Earth and other planets do. However, their spin is remarkably consistent, regardless of size. The Discover Magazine website reports that scientists have determine that all galaxies rotate approximately once every billion years, whether they’re massive spiral galaxies or small irregular dwarfs.

Researchers measured the velocities of hydrogen in the outer discs of a variety of galaxies differing in size. The measurements allowed them to calculate the rotation period of each galaxy. “Discovering such regularity in galaxies really helps us to better understand the mechanics that make them tick,” one scientist says.

Dinosaur may have been able to flap to flyA new study suggests that the dinosaur archaeopteryx, which lived about 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period, was capable of flying for short periods of time by flapping its wings instead of just gliding. An article on the Science News website reports that paleontologists used X-ray microtomography to analyze the wing bones in three archaeopteryx fossils. They found that archaeopteryx had a wing bone structure similar to pheasants and quails, which can flap their wings to fly in short bursts.

What isn’t known is whether the archaeopteryx could take flight from the ground. That would require researchers to reconstruct its full range of motion, which is difficult because muscles don’t end up as fossils.

Laser creates minuscule fusion reactionFusion powers the sun. Now scientists at Colorado State University have developed a process for producing fusion reactions on a tiny scale in the lab.

According to the EurekAlert website, CSU is using a small, powerful laser built from scratch by a team of students, research scientists, and collaborators to heat up arrays of nanowires, achieving new efficiency in generating neutrons, which are a result of the fusion process.

“Making fusion neutrons efficiently, at a small scale, could lead to advances in neutron-based imaging, and neutron probes to gain insight on the structure and properties of materials,” EurekAlert reports. “The results also contribute to understanding interactions of ultra-intense laser light with matter.”

Quotes

Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.—Adam Smith

The scientific mind does not so much provide the right answers as ask the right questions.—Claude Lévi-Strauss

P. 8 Creativity

How the greats got their startGreat writers have to start somewhere. Some of the most creative poets and novelists toiled in distinctly non-creative jobs before hitting it big. Here are a few of them:

• Langston Hughes. The famous poet worked as a busboy in Washington, D.C.’s Wardman Park hotel. When another poet, Vachel Lindsay, took a seat at a table, the young Hughes offered her some of his poems, and Lindsay was struck by his skill, leading to his eventual success.

• Kurt Vonnegut. The author of Slaughterhouse-5 and other novels owned and managed a Saab dealership before a stint in the U.S. Army during World War II.

• J.D. Salinger. The reclusive writer, best known for his novel The Catcher in the Rye, once served as entertainment director aboard a Swedish luxury cruise ship, the H.M.S. Kungsholm.

• Mary Higgins Clark. The award-winning mystery writer held a wide variety of jobs before turning to fulltime writing at 47—secretary, business machines manager, catalog copywriter, model, and flight attendant for Pan American Airlines.

Be a Renaissance thinkerThe Renaissance, from the 14th-17th centuries, sparked a firestorm of creativity and innovation in Europe. For the first time, according to Anurag Harsh in an article on the Huffington Post, people realized that creativity wasn’t some divine gift, but a talent that could be cultivated. Here’s what carved the Renaissance thinkers’ success:

• They were contrarian. Instead of settling for the status quo, they were willing to challenge the conventional wisdom and take a fresh, new approach to looking at the world around them.

• They were nonconformists. They didn’t like the atmosphere of conformity that stifled free thought. They wanted to revolutionize the culture in technology, the arts, philosophy, and other areas.

• They were curious. They asked questions and followed potential solutions wherever they led. They searched for novelty, not the tried and true.

• They explored systems. Instead of limiting themselves to a single area of knowledge, they forged connections between different ways of thinking that led to advances in science, art, and other realms.

Tap your employees’ innovationThe best way to motivate employees to become more creative and innovative is by liberating people from job descriptions that focus on what they can’t do instead of what they can. Then, on an ongoing basis, attend to these important psychological factors:

• Purpose. A mission statement is fine, but it’s only a first step. You should constantly reinforce what your organization wants to achieve, and why it’s a worthwhile goal.

• Belonging. Employees want to feel welcome and included. Pay attention to them as individuals. Find out what drives them to succeed so you can use that energy to achieve your organization’s goals.

• Strong leadership. Employees need clear direction. Communicate with them and stand your ground when quality and ethics are in question.

• Team focus. On a team, people should support the overall goal first, and their own career needs second—which can enhance their career goals in the long run. Do everything you can to instill a sense of team spirit in your workforce, not a looking-out-for-number-one mentality.

• Measurement. Clearly defined goals and accurate metrics tell employees what’s valued and important. They’re more likely to be productive if their efforts are monitored and supported by management—as long as it doesn’t turn into micromanagement.

Quotes

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.—Vincent van Gogh

Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.—Leo Burnett

P. 9 Success & Personal Growth

How to stand out in a large organizationYou’ve landed a job at a Fortune 500 company. The opportunities may seem limitless, but your ability to stand out is what will make your career. Here’s how to make a name for yourself when you’re one fish in a crowded pond:

• Learn about your organization. Find out as much as you can about your employer—its history, key executives, position in the marketplace, financial status, and more. Look outside your own department to show you’re interested in the entire organization, not just your corner of it.

• Find out how your performance is measured. When you know what managers are looking for, you’ll be able to provide the kind of performance that marks you as someone to keep an eye on.

• Promote yourself. Don’t brag at the top of your voice, but let people know what you’ve accomplished. Talk about your projects in meetings, or be willing to mentor other employees on skills that you’ve mastered. Keep your managers updated on what you’re working on and what you’ve achieved.

• Volunteer. Be willing to raise your hand and volunteer for a task force or special team. You’ll be seen as someone committed to helping the organization. You’ll also learn more about your organization and industry by working on cross-functional teams, and you’ll expand your circle of contacts.

• Sharpen your communication skills. Few people get ahead without the ability to communicate well—writing clear emails and reports, speaking authoritatively and inspiringly, and sharing information that will help other people do their jobs better. Focus on getting your ideas across with clarity and precision so people see what you’re capable of.

Follow freelance success with these tipsMore and more people these days are working as freelancers instead of holding down full-time, 9-to-5 jobs. If you’re considering going that route, remember this advice from the Digital Freelancer website:

• Have a contract for every project. Put down in writing what the project is, along with the deadlines, confidentiality agreements, payment, and other important details. This protects both you and your client.

• Get a down payment. Before starting work, ask for a down payment. This helps with your expenses as you work on the job, and it tells you that the client is serious about your relationship.

• Don’t take every job. Be able to say no to a project if it’s something you’re not qualified to handle, if you’re too busy, if you’re not sure you’ll work well with the client—or for any other reasons that might result in your disappointing your client. Better to let work go than alienate a customer.

• Highlight the work you want. Chances are you have a portfolio of completed projects. Don’t throw everything in there. Include the types of projects you want to work on—those you enjoy and those you can do an exceptional job with. Doing so helps clients decide whether you’re the right person for them.

• Be transparent. Tell clients exactly how your process works, step by step. This avoid surprises and disagreements up front. Stay in close communication as you work so you’re both on the same page about progress and results.

• Know the numbers. Stay on top of things like revenue—the amount of money you need to make every month—along with marketing efforts like traffic to your website site and conversion rates for those visits. This helps you fine-tune your outreach to potential clients.

Quotes

If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.—Thomas J. Watson

Champions keep playing until they get it right.—Billie Jean King

P. 10 Anecdotes

‘The little things matter’Aside from being the senior vice president of the Orlando Magic basketball team and a sought-after motivational speaker, Pat Williams has written more than 100 books. Many years ago, when he was working on a book about John Wooden, Williams interviewed scores of the coach’s former players.

A story shared by many of these players was about a longstanding tradition of the coach. At the start of each season, Wooden spent an hour instructing his players on the proper way to wear their socks and shoes. From the snug fit of the heel of the sock to the lacing of their shoes, the coach covered every detail with great importance.

When Williams asked the coach about why he devoted this kind of time and attention to such a seemingly insignificant subject, Wooden replied, “The little things matter.”

He went on to explain how one wrinkle in a sock could contribute to a blister on a toe or foot. One blister could have a huge impact on the outcome of a game—or a season.

“I started teaching about shoes and socks early in my career,” Wooden said. “I saw that it really did cut down on blisters during the season. That little detail gave us an edge.”

Battle of the elementsAn Aesop’s fable tells of an argument between the North Wind and the Sun as to which was the most powerful force of nature. They decided to end their dispute once and for all with a simple challenge: The victor would be whichever could disrobe the next hiker coming along a nearby path.

No sooner had they agreed on these terms when a traveler appeared on the path. The North Wind flexed his might and concentrated a strong gust at the hiker. The man responded by fastening his coat securely about him and turning up his collar.

Once the North Wind realized his actions had the opposite effect than intended, he stepped aside and challenged the Sun to give it a go. As the winds disappeared the Sun beamed brightly, moving closer to the Earth, showering the hiker with warm rays of light.

The man began to disrobe as he walked to a nearby river. He jumped in to cool himself and then sat on the shore bathing in the sun.

The moral: Persuasion is more powerful than force.

A big difference “Good grief,” Janet thought to herself. “Another crisis.”

Raised voices could be heard from behind closed doors, stern expressions painted the faces of team members rushing in and out of conference rooms, and directives were being shouted across the office.

In times like these, Janet, an assistant to the development team, was often on the receiving end of terse communications meant for a member of the team currently behind a closed door somewhere.

When the phone rang, Janet braced herself for what she knew would be the ranting of another irate executive demanding she give a message to a team member.

The caller was a senior VP from HQ to whom the team reported. She was calling to thank Janet for all of her hard work on a recent project and on the assistance she provided the team during this current crisis. The executive told Janet that she was integral part of her team’s success and thanked her for keeping such exact records.

“Your notes on in these files have helped us clear up a few major issues today,” the woman said. “I appreciate your professionalism and attention to detail.”

This was not at all what Janet expected to hear. When Janet hung up the phone she attacked the mountain of paperwork on her desk with a renewed sense it vigor.

It was one of those days when a small act of kindness made a tremendous difference.

Quotes

Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.—Jack Kornfield

Words have power.—Mira Grant

P. 11 Manager’s Mentor

Learn what employees want from leadersWhat do your employees really want? Jumping to conclusions isn’t safe, but to be a better manager, remember these basic truths about everyone who works for you:

• “I want to feel important.” No one wants to feel like a number, interchangeable and easy to forget. Get to know your employees as people; find out what makes each one unique and show them you’re paying attention to their individuality.

• “I need encouragement.” Even the best employees continue to flourish and grow with positive feedback. Let them know what they’re doing right and how they can keep performing at a high level. They’ll notice and keep up their efforts.

• “I want to believe in you.” Employees want to know they can trust you—your knowledge, your expertise, and your word. Show your commitment to helping them succeed and grow by listening, answering questions honestly, and keeping your promises.

• “I want to succeed.” Most employees want to do a good job, even if they don’t necessarily want to advance to upper management. Explain your expectations clearly, and give them the training and support they need so they know you’re invested in helping them succeed.

• “I want to be motivated.” Yes, motivation springs from inside, but employees want to be told why they should complete a project or improve quality in terms that make sense to them. Emphasize the job’s value to the organization, as well as the benefits the employee will enjoy—personal satisfaction as well as more tangible rewards—to unleash their enthusiasm and commitment.

Put self-directed teams on the right trackA self-directed work team needs structure to function effectively. Here are two ideas for getting on the right track and staying there:

• Agree on ground rules. Work out some guidelines for how team members should behave in certain situations: conflicts, deadline problems, communicating with other groups, etc.

• Rotate job assignments. Team members who share duties will have more respect for one another’s abilities and more understanding of the challenges behind each task.

Take charge of these elements for successful changeTaking charge of change in the workplace means paying attention to the factors that support a new vision—or that, if ignored, can undercut and cripple it. Here are four major areas to address:

• Tasks. Focus on the specific actions you plan to take and what effect you expect them to have. They should be visible and concrete so people know what’s going on and what to plan for as the change continues.

• Reasons. Explain why the change is necessary. Even if people are uncomfortable with what’s going on, they’ll usually accept it once they understand the reasons behind it. Enlist their help—ask for suggestions and support so they feel a sense of ownership and have the opportunity to shape the overall result.

• Emotions. Pay attention to employees’ feelings, whether they talk about their emotions or not. Listen to what they say and what they don’t say, keeping in mind that nobody enjoys being pulled out of his or her comfort zone no matter how urgent the need is. Acknowledge their fears and their hopes. Don’t make promises you can’t keep; just be honest and open about what’s happening and what’s possible.

• Values. Change puts stress on ethical behavior up and down the org chart. When people are uncertain and frightened about the future, they’re more likely to make poor decisions. Your job is to reemphasize the value your organization places on ethical behavior: Discuss issues surrounding the change with honesty and trust, and act as a role model for the behavior you want to see.

Quotes

The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.—Ronald Reagan

Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.—John C. Maxwell

P. 12 Family Matters

Listen up, mom and dad!Most of us believe that parenting is all about loving, providing for, teaching, disciplining, and protecting.

Researcher and professor Larry Rosen says something different. “Communication is the crux of parenting,” Rosen says. “The ratio of parent listening to parent talk should be at least five to one. Talk one minute and listen for five.”

Here are five strategies for becoming a better listener when communicating with your children:

1. Avoid distractions. Turn off the television, radio, and cell phone. Get comfortable in a quiet area that will allow you to have direct eye contact with your child (as you would for any important conversation). The next five minutes should be spent actively listening to what your child has to say.

2. Encourage them to share. Use prompts such as, “Tell me what happened at school today,” to get the conversation started, and others like, “Tell me more,” or “How did that make you feel?” to keep them talking.

3. Be patient. It may take your child a while to find the right words to articulate what they are feeling or have experienced. Resist the temptation to help them explain their feelings, because you might be leading them to offer answers that satisfy your curiosity or judgment but have little to do with the matter at hand.

4. Show empathy. Some childhood experiences are evergreen. Connect with your younger self to offer a sense of understanding to your child. Observe their facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language for clues as to how they might be feeling. Then gain clarity by asking.

5. Give them the full five minutes. Even if they are saying things you don’t agree with, remember that this is their time to talk. The more they talk, the more you might realize that some of their ideas aren’t fully formed. When it is your turn to speak you can ask them more questions and even offer examples that will show them a different perspective that will allow them to achieve a heightened sense of perception.

Accentuate the positiveThe things we read, view, and listen to can influence our behavior. Make sure your children are exposed to material that offers positive life lessons that will help them develop a sense of responsibility, integrity, and honor. Here are a few tips to try:

• Share uplifting stories. Spend quality time with your children reading stories that are age appropriate and have a moral. Apply this same logic to movies and TV shows the entire family can watch and discuss afterward.

• Create a forum for dialogue. You want your children to ask you questions and come to you with their concerns, so be prepared to listen and respond without judgment or bias. Give them the opportunity to find solutions to their challenges, but let your wisdom be their guide.

• Be their best role model. Your children see and hear more than you realize. Don’t ask anything of your children that you aren’t committed to doing yourself. Your behavior should be the benchmark of what is expected of family members.

Quotes

Understanding comes through communication, and through understanding we find a way to peace.—Ralph C. Smedley

Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.—Ralph Waldo Emerson

P. 13 Grins & Giggles

A deal is a dealRonald made a deal with his dad that if he improved his grades by the end of the school year, pitched in around the house, attended church on Sunday with the rest of the family, and cut his now shoulder-length hair, he could have access to the car throughout the summer. Ronald began to focus on his schoolwork more, took on responsibility in the home, and was the first person in the house ready for church each Sunday.

“I knew you could do it,” his dad said as looked over Ronald’s final grades for the school year. “I’m very proud of how responsible and focused you’ve been these last few months.”

“Hand over those keys, old man,” Ronald said to his father with a laugh.

“Not so fast,” his father said. “Remember our deal? Grades, church, chores, and hair.”

“Do I really have to cut my hair?” Ronald protested.

“That was our deal,” his father said.

“Can’t you cut me some slack this one time? I’ve done everything else you wanted,” Ronald argued. “It took me so long to grow my hair out. Besides, Moses had long hair, and Samson had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair.”

“Good point,” his father agreed. “They walked everywhere.”

Timeless wisdomDuring the celebration of his 100th birthday, a man was asked about the secret of his longevity.

“I never smoked, drank, or ate fried foods,” replied the man. He continued, “and I exercised every day for 30 minutes.”

“Well, a lot of people observe those same practices but don’t live to be 100,” someone in the crowd observed. “Why do you think that is?”

The old man said, “My guess would be they didn’t keep at it long enough.”

A reasonable manWhen his paycheck was short $500, Johnson marched straight to the payroll department to complain.

“Interesting,” commented the payroll clerk. “I don’t recall you complaining two weeks ago when we overpaid you by $500.”

“I’m a reasonable man,” Johnson replied. “I’m willing to overlook one mistake, but not two!”

Play ballEvery summer the devil called on St. Peter and challenged him to game of baseball, and each time St. Peter refused.

Then, in the span of a few months, some of the greatest players in the history of the game came to reside in heaven. This time it was St. Peter who called the devil and proposed a game.

“Just pick the time and the place,” said the devil, “and be prepared for the reckoning!”

“What’s that you say, devil?” St. Peter asked.

“Ooh, I’m getting chills,” laughed the devil. “You’re gonna lose, lose, lose!”

“This is just a friendly game of baseball,” St. Peter sighed. “No need for all of this trash talk.”

“This ain’t trash I’m talking,” the devil boasted. “You’re gonna lose.”

“Do I need to remind you about pride and the haughty spirit?” St. Peter asked.

“You can quote scripture and anything else you’d like to,” said the devil. “You are still gonna lose.”

“Why are you so certain that we’re ‘gonna lose’ when you know I have some of the best who ever played the game?” St. Peter asked.

“Because,” the devil replied, “I have all of the umpires.”

Quotes

Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.—Dale Carnegie

Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether.—Author unknown

P. 14 Money Matters

First-time home buyer? Remember this adviceBuying your first home is a major step. Make sure you’re ready by checking out NerdWallet’s list of things to think about:

• Know how much you can afford. Look at your finances so you can decide how big a down payment you can make and how much you can afford in mortgage costs.

• Check your credit. Make sure you have a solid credit score before you start shopping for a house. Don’t apply for a new credit card or a loan while you’re looking for a mortgage—a lender’s hard inquiry can make your credit score drop.

• Remember closing costs. Closing expenses can add up to 5 percent to your home purchase. Shop around to find the rate you can afford, and include that in your budget.

• Save money for ancillary expenses. Once you’ve bought a house, you’ll undoubtedly have to pay for movers, new furnishings or appliances, painting, or any other changes you want to make before and after you move in.

• Think long term. If you’re planning to start a family, choose a home with that in mind so you have the space and accommodations you need. You don’t want to have to move just a few years after buying your first house.

Take these steps to plan your budgetA budget is an essential tool for your financial stability. If you don’t have one, the U.S. News and World Report website offers these basic steps for getting started:

• Review the previous year. Take a look at your cash flow to see where problems arose. Go through your checkbook and credit card bills in detail to find out where your money went and where you could cut back.

• Look ahead. Think about the coming months and next year. What expenses can you predict? Will your income change? Are you planning a vacation or a major purchase?

• Set some goals. If you want to buy a house, decide how much you need for a down payment and start saving. You might set up a savings account for each major goal.

• Plan your spending. With your income, expenses and goals laid out in black and white, is your budget realistic? If not, look for areas where you can trim spending or increase your income. Be prepared to adjust goals to meet reality.

• Prepare for contingencies. Unexpected expenses can hit at any time. Be sure you have enough money set aside for emergencies, changes in the tax code, or other unpredictable events.

Financial tips for thirtysomethingsMost people in their thirties have a lot of decisions to make about their lives and careers. One perennial issue, of course, is money. On the Business Insider website, a financial planner offers this advice to thirtysomethings for spending and saving:

• Live below your means. No matter how well you’re doing financially, make a commitment to not spend every dollar you earn. Start setting some money aside for savings and investment right away so it becomes a lifelong habit.

• Save a percentage, not a dollar amount. A good way to ensure that your savings keep pace with your salary is to earmark a specific percentage of your paycheck for savings, not a set dollar amount. That way your savings will increase as your compensation does.

• Keep track of your money. At least once a year, look at your income and expenses to make sure they’re both where they should be. Review your financial goals so you’re on top of what you have to save to achieve them. Look ahead to potential expenses so you’re not just reacting to emergencies and unexpected events.

• Spend on quality. Buying a cheap car doesn’t save you money if you end up buying a new car in just a few years. Do your research so you buy items that will last, even if they’re a little more expensive.

Quotes

There is a gigantic difference between earning a great deal of money and being rich.—Marlene Dietrich

Money is usually attracted, not pursued.—Jim Rohn

P. 15 Odds & Ends

Get fit for summerThe American Heart Association recommends getting 150 minutes of exercise each week. That might sound like a lot if you’ve been stuck in a sedentary rut during the past few months, but it actually works out to 25 minutes of activity over the course of 6 days.

Here are a few simple ways you can get active this summer and keep moving throughout the remainder of the year:

• Find the time. Not sure where to fit a new fitness practice into your daily schedule? Think small. Commit to doing 10-minute workouts two or maybe three times a day to get started.

• Just get moving. Walking is something most of us can do find ways to do more of during your day. Park farther away when you go to the mall or grocery store. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator when possible. Take a walk around the block after dinner simply to pass the time.

• Try something new or different. Consider joining a volleyball, softball, or other sort of league. Learn to line dance. Take a hula hoop class. Look for activities that meet weekly over the course of several weeks. You just might end up with a new pastime, but at the very least you will have dedicated a fixed amount of time to your fitness routine.

• Be good to your body. Take the time to warm up before starting any sort of moderate or vigorous physical activity, always work at a reasonable pace, and save a bit of time at the end of your workout for a cool down that will help return your heart rate and breathing to normal. This post-workout period is also a good time to stretch those muscles, but be gentle with yourself.

• Don’t do it alone. Having a workout partner can help you stay motivated and accountable to your plan of doing something every day. Include your spouse and children so the whole family can share in the goal of being more active.

• Find another reason. Walk, bike, or run for a worthy cause. Participating in charity-sponsored fitness events allows you to establish a training routine and help others while helping yourself.

• Be patient and realistic. Improvements in strength, stamina, flexibility, and balance are goals you achieve gradually and over time. Trying to force results or doing more than you are capable of is a surefire way of developing an injury that will prevent you from maintaining an active lifestyle.

Another reason to stay activeHere’s one more reason to get up and get moving this summer: It might help your memory.

The results of a six-month study hint at a possible link between exercising and improved memory for seniors dealing with some mild forms of cognitive impairment. Of course, any changes in memory or thinking can be precursors to more serious conditions, or side effects of certain medications. However, for those experiencing mild changes in cognition due to aging, exercising as little as twice a week seemed to be beneficial in helping them to stay sharp.

More research is needed to determine just how much of an impact exercise can have on the aging brain. Until then, the Alzheimer’s Association and other organizations are embracing these new findings and hoping you do too.

Quotes

Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.—Ralph Marston

Lightness and weightiness … are both choices in life.—Eric Pevernagie