Rural Leader Magazine August 2016

AUGUST 2016

Don't get FRUSTRATED doing continuous efforts, sometimes, the LAST KEY of the bunch OPENS the lock.—

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Contents

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com

Guest Contributors Chris D'Cruz Leadership Guru Milemm Madinah Leadership Coach and Consultant Bruno Raynal Executive Leadership Coach Linda Dessau Self-Care Coach

Readers’ Forum

Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview.

Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@ RuralLeaderMagazine.com— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com

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5 Business Challenges and Leadership Development

7 Small Town America's 100 Most Influential Call for Nominations Now Open

17 Five Gigs that Will Help you Pay for College20 Minding Your Global Manners 19 Tips for Navigating the Sharing Economy

8 Utilizing Leadership Philosophy to Achieve Greatness

21 Healthy Career Outlook for Healthcare Professionals with Law Skills

9 Why Your Employer Wants You to Volunteer—And Why You Should

22 Innovation: A fundamental factor in family-owned business success

10 Four Things Millennials Need to Know to Protect Their Financial Future

23 Five Hot Trends in School Supplies

11 Emerging Trends in Nursing Instruction Signal Shifts Across Education 12 Election Update: Americans Want Action on Housing and Credit 15 Executive Leadership Coaching Consultants Help Develop Talent

24 Special Feature: Scholars of Collegiate Distinction 2016 Honorees 27 Five Easy Ways to Reduce Digital Eyestrain 28 Five Ways Americans Unite to Help One Another 29 Classifieds

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Editor’s Note

Photo Courtesy of TieFotos

Dear Readers, The eight installment of Rural Leader Magazine is here! The July issue was a phenomenal success! The inaugural Fifty under 50 Issue made its debut July 1st with rave reviews. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to honor fifty distinguished individuals who have achieved and given so much to others. If you have not already, check out the July 2016 edition.

Inside the August 2016 issue, we have assembled a variety of articles to expand your knowledge of leadership best practices. Learn how to utilizing leadership philosophy to achieve greatness (See page 8); or learn how innovation is a fundamental factor in family-owned business success (See page 22); there are a variety of articles on financial management, trends in healthcare, and more!

Nominations began July 1st for Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People. We are searching high and low across the United States. However, we need your help to identify these deserving individuals. Learn how you can nominate a deserving individual for this honor (See page 7).

Finally, I am also excited to present the inaugural class of Rural Leader Magazine’ Scholars of Collegiate Distinction Honorees (See page 24). These exemplary individuals have made great strides to achieve higher education.

As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support!

Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Courtesy of Tie Photos

What you do matters.

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Reader's Voice Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I love this publication! I look forward to reading it monthly. Keep up the great work!

—Sandra B. Bainbridge, Georgia Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge the successful folks under 50. The Fifty under 50 issue (July 2016) was truly inspiring. I appreciate your efforts to acknowledge others for their success.

—Benny N. Raleigh, North Carolina Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I truly enjoyed the article about Jacqueline Sutton-Ball: Ministering to Others Through Gospel Stage Plays (July 2016). It was refreshing to learn her story and how she shares her gift with others.

—Lenny B. Eufaula, Alabama Dear Rural Leader Magazine, The feature about Mercedes Garrett was awe inspiring. It wonderful to learn about young people utilizing their gifts and developing an entrepreneurial spirit. I wish her much success!

—Shelley M. Ozark, Alabama Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I appreciated the article, Ten Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection (July 2016).

It was a timely article with several valuable points. Please feature more like this.

—Linda C. Tupelo, MS

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What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag

Business Challenges And Leadership Development

by Milemm Madinah

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E

conomic activities were not that complex and intricate as they are now, in the modern age of information technology and globalization. Challenges are growing.

Competition is high.

Since the present-day world is a free world, the days of imperialism are bygone, it is not possible for companies in trade and commerce to force their subjects: people of conquered lands, to buy the stuff from their masters by hook or by crook, you have no hope to force out your economic rivals by defeating them in the battle field, so, the companies in the era of free economy have to seek new and attractive ways to catch the attention of their potential customers and to defeat their rivals. That company wins the competitions which, in addition to hard work, think out innovative ways and techniques to sell its products and services more than the others.

The executives of the business companies are facing great deal of challenges in leading their companies through the great competition. He must possess the great qualities of leadership and management to come successful.

An executive is a leader of the business company. He is the brain, and the managers, offices and workers under him are his limbs whom he has to use to achieve his targets. To be well aware of the abilities and capabilities of the working hierarchy: managers, officers, workers, working under him, are the prerequisite of a good leadership and management quality. An executive must hold finer

administrative skills for the better management of the company or the organization he is working for.

An executive should have a direct relation with his working hierarchy under him at every level, so that he may be alert of their needs, demands and problems and be able to solve them in time.

An executive must be a visionary. He should envision targets to his working partners and make them their targets. Incentives for working should be material but he should make it in such an affectionate fashion that the workers feel like to do the job even if the material incentive are not in hand.

And executive must be bold and have courage to take risk for the benefits of his company. Endurance to stand and solve odds is the quality immensely needed for the leadership and management.

Today is the age of information technology the power of print and electronic media and Internet holds sway. People’s needs, demands, fashion, so much so, their behavior can be modified by the influence of media. An executive must be fully aware of the power of media. He must know how to use it to get to its set targets.

Leadership development is a great job. It is another great quality of a leader that he develops the required skills of leadership and management in others so that they can succeed him when needed. Sensing the great demand of executives in the market many institutions, schools, colleges, universities, websites on Internet have taken up the job of teaching and training of leadership devel-

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opment.

Executive education has become a part of education of economics, finance, commerce and management. A good leader needs to do a lot outside of the premises of his or her alma mater.

Experience is the greatest teacher.

In internship one must learn what one cannot learn in the classroom.

One should spend a good enough time assisting some executive. Another way of leadership development is to read biographies of the successful persons of the world.

For the same purpose seminar are held, too. Future leaders must participate in them to learn from the living leaders of their fields the ways to become successful leaders.

Now such seminars are available on Internet as well. Some websites invites renowned and eminent personalities of their respective fields as speakers to share their thought and experiences to interested individuals to make them future leaders. This is a very effective way of transmitting practical knowledge of leadership development to those who want to come into the shoes of the successful business leaders.

The Madinah Institute of Leadership and Entrepreneurship (MILE) brings senior executives and high potential leaders from all over the world for executive education to discover new dimensions in Leadership Development, Good Governance, Telecom Training HR Performance. http://www. mile.org.—

Citizens of small towns and cities across the nation are truly unsung heroes. The level of involvement, commitment, and intense effort to improve their communities sometimes go unnoticed. They serve in various capacities throughout our nation: some are doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, bankers, ministers, business owners, and the like. The full scope of their individual contributions may never be fully realized by those who do not understand the small town dynamic.

They are everyday people doing extraordinary things. Collectively, these exemplary individuals represent the heart and soul of small communities; and so, Rural Leader Magazine aims to recognize Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential Citizens. We need your help to find these deserving individuals.

Here's a hint of who we're looking for: 1. Nominee must reside within the United States and live or work within a small town or city with a population of 80,000 or less; 2. Nominee must be at least 18; 3. An Individual may self-nominate or be nominated by an individual, group, or organization; 4. Must have made a significant contribution to their community.

5. A completed nomination form must be submitted between June 1st and July 31st online or by submitting supporting documents via email to editor@ruralleadermagazine.com The 100 nominees selected will be featured in the December issue of Rural Leader Magazine as Small Town America’s Most Influential.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2016 7

Utilizing Leadership Philosophy to Achieve Greatness

by Chris D’Cruz

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eadership philosophy will surely lead you in achieving greatness. Utilizing the philosophies learned in being a good and effective leader will bring forth greater success. The methods and techniques applied in becoming a leader will aid you in scaling to greater heights. Leadership entails great responsibilities. It is a privilege and honor given to someone who is strongly believed to be capable in the task.

A great leader knows the capabilities and limitations of the team and will not stop until he or she is able to strengthen the capabilities of the team.

He or she will handle the collaboration of the work towards each other, working as a team to be able to achieve the set objectives. There are a lot of different forms and shapes in leadership. There are people who define leadership in a whole lot of way depending on their specification or field. Some will say that certain things aren't ride to be done and there are other things that should be done.

However, whatever it maybe, it is more advisable to expand your mind by allowing leadership to grow in you in order for you to benefit an organization.

For the subordinates, they expect highly from their leaders. They believe that the leaders should set an example. The leader should teach them the standards and train them to become better followers. Moreover, they are expecting leaders to always be transparent to them, informing them of what they need to know and most of all, to protect them in any mishaps or challenges.

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A good leader doesn't only tell his or her people to do this and that but train them as well to be effective in their responsibilities. Teach them what they need to learn. Tell them what they need to hear and be sensitive to their interests and dislikes. Everyone has their own meaning or opinion about leadership. They base it through various views and experiences of the people. Philosophies in leadership may not go along with everyone even if they have the same goal.

The great thing about leadership is that it will always develop to work on expanding your mind.

Whatever is the philosophy of leadership today may not exactly be the leadership philosophy in the future. Utilizing the philosophies learn in leadership will also give you a better and greater chance to excel more in other fields. As a leader you will not only be able to get the most out of your followers but more, especially when your followers will become better individuals and may emulate your ways and means in leading the team. You will be able to explore more horizons and fields if you are able to employ the philosophies you have learned in leadership. While most of the leaders have different philosophies, however, when you try to lead you should have a philosophy to follow as well.

You shouldn't be responsible only for your subordinates' welfare and well-being but for the team as well. The welfare of your team should be ahead first before your own welfare. In this way you'll have a harmonious working relationship with your people thus promoting success to the organization.—

Why Your Employer Wants You to Volunteer— And Why You Should Does your employer consider community service part of a job well done? If you’re wondering whether you should take advantage of your employer’s offer to pay you for volunteer time, keep in mind employee volunteerism benefits everyone involved your company, the organization you’ll help and you!

Approximately 21 percent of employers now give workers paid time off for volunteering, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.

Sponsoring volunteerism can help a company boost employee morale, enhance recruitment efforts and even improve the business’ standing in the community. Volunteering can also benefit you emotionally and in your career.

For example, through the Investing in America’s Health initiative, employees of Blue

report feeling more connected to their co-workers and their communities. Volunteering together can be a fulfilling and effective team-building activity. * Improving their community - Because employer-sponsored volunteer programs take place at a local level, when you participate you’re directly improving your own community.

M* Add depth to professional Workers involved in the BCBS initiative reported experiencing credentials - Current and future employers don’t just want many of the benefits commonly people with job skills, they want associated with volunteerism, to know they’re hiring compasincluding: sionate, caring and well-round * Emotional rewards - Muled individuals. Participation in tiple studies have shown that employee-sponsored volunteer volunteering makes people feel more socially connected and programs enhances your overall appeal as a professional. emotionally fulfilled, and can reduce feelings of loneliness and If you would like to become involved in volunteering depression. * Enhanced camaraderie with through an employer-sponsored program, here are some ways to co-workers - Employees who get started:—BPT volunteer together consistently GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2016 9

Cross Blue Shield’s 36 community-based and locally operated companies (BCBS) volunteered nearly 400,000 hours and provided more than $10 million in donations in 2015. BCBS workers volunteered and provided financial support to programs and organizations involved in improving public health.

Four Things Millennials Need to Know to Protect Their Financial Future

More than 100 million working Americans have no disability coverage other than Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Millennials - now the largest part of the workforce - may be most at risk. Millennials are least likely to have disability coverage offered through their employers or private insurance providers, according to a recent insurance industry study.

However, one in four 20-year-olds will become disabled before they retire, as noted by the Council for Disability Awareness. This is a reality many boomers are experiencing firsthand. Nearly 75 percent of all individuals receiving SSDI benefits today are between the ages of 50 and full retirement age, according to the Social Security Administration.

Life perspectives can be different for millennials, born in the early 1980s to early 1990s, when compared to boomers, born in the 1940s to early 1960s. But there are several practical steps that millennials can take to ensure they are prepared should they experience a disability, says Tricia Blazier, personal health and financial planning director for Allsup.

Understand SSDI eligibility.

Not everyone is eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Individuals must have worked and paid into Social Security through payroll taxes for five of the last 10 years in order to qualify.

They must also have been disabled before reaching full retirement age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Finally, they must meet 10 RuralLeaderMag.com |AUGUST 2016

Social Security’s definition of disability, which means they aren’t able to work because of a mental or physical disability that has or is expected to last for at least 12 months, or to result in death.

Know the benefits of SSDI. Eligible workers last year received an average monthly SSDI income of $1,166. More than half of beneficiaries receive monthly benefits in the range of $700 to $1,400. Blazier says dependents and spouses may be eligible for additional income benefits averaging a few hundred dollars a month.

Particularly important for younger workers, return-to-work incentives are also available to SSDI recipients. These incentives allow individuals to attempt work through the Ticket to Work program, while still providing disability benefits for a period of time.

Apply for and secure help getting SSDI benefits as soon as possible.

The SSDI application process can be confusing and frustrating. Most people who apply are initially denied. Those who appeal face a national backlog of more than 1 million claims.

“Getting expert help at the very beginning of the SSDI application process increases a person’s chance of being awarded at the application level,” explains Blazier. “They will have their benefits faster than the months or years many people must wait if they have to appeal.”

For more information on SSDI eligibility and benefits, call the Allsup Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 678-3276 or visit Expert.Allsup. com.—BPT

Volunteer, continued from page 9 * Talk to your human resources department about your company’s program to better understand how it works. For example, does the company have an established volunteer relationship with a charitable or community organization?

Or will your employer support your volunteerism with any qualifying organization? Will you receive paid-time-off for volunteering, and if so, how many hours per month? Does your employer also offer cash donations or a donation matching program to support charitable contributions? * If your employer has a policy that allows you to volunteer anywhere, identify the group you want to volunteer with. Be aware of any standards your employer may have established for qualifying organizations. Look for a volunteer opportunity that allows you to do something you’re

passionate about and that supports your local community. * Gather information from the volunteer organization on what you need to do in order to take part as a volunteer. For example, will you need to participate in any specialized training? Will you need to agree to a background check if you’ll be working with children?

If your employer doesn’t yet have a program, take the initiative and suggest they start one. This can be as simple as identifying your worthy cause and asking your employer for support in volunteering.

To learn more about how BCBS companies are improving the health and wellness of members and their communities, view the report at www. bcbs.com.—BPT

Emerging Trends in Nursing Instruction Signal Shifts Across Education

When patients are treated as individuals, they become engaged, active partners in their care plan and their health outcomes improve. This shift in providing customized care to patients is also being adopted by nurse educators, who are applying a similar approach that sets up nursing students for success in both the education and clinical setting. The customization of care is also a driving force behind four growing trends across education: individualized instruction, experiential learning, educating for cultural humility and increased access to education for military students.

Focusing on student success Individualized instruction is an emerging trend

that is designed to help students achieve greater confidence and overcome barriers to their education.

Each student has their own preferred methods of learning, their own challenges and their own goals.

When nurse educators care about the student’s individual success, everyone benefits.

“We believe that if we take extraordinary care of our students, they will in turn take extraordinary care of the patients and families they serve,” says Dr. Richard Cowling, vice president of academic affairs at Chamberlain College of Nursing. “We call this value system, ‘Chamberlain Care.’”

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Election Update: Americans Want Action on Housing and Credit Decisions made by the next * Keep interest rates low, esPresident and Congress could pecially during the first 100 change the way Americans buy days of the new presidency (34 and sell homes for generations percent). to come. Rising prices are mak* Make more credit available to ing it more difficult for working small businesses (11 percent). families and young adults to be- Few see the election improving come homeowners. Government their pocketbooks control over the vast majority of Most Americans expect their mortgages through Freddie Mac personal financial situation and Fannie Mae unnecessarily to either stay the same or get exposes taxpayers to risk and worse when new leaders take continue to stifle the innovation over the White House and Conof new lending products that gress. Only 6 percent think that responsible borrowers need and they will be better off as a result want. of the election.

More business as usual?

Each vote counts Depending on who is elected One out of every five Amerithis year’s presidential election cans said the candidates’ houscould either deliver a maning and finance policies will date for Washington to act on influence their vote. Another far-reaching reforms integral to 40 percent have not yet made our system of housing finance or up their minds. That is because bring more business as usual. only 9 percent think the can Here are the priorities Amer- didates have done a good job icans want the next President articulating their positions on and Congress to address, acthe economic issues that affect cording to a new research peoples’ daily lives. conducted for loanDepot, the Perception doesn’t match reality nation’s second largest nonbank Some 77 percent think it is consumer lender: just as hard or even harder to * Make homeownership more get a loan today than during affordable for middle- and lowthe Great Recession eight years er-income families (37 percent). ago. Young adults may be more 12 RuralLeaderMag.com |AUGUST 2016

discouraged than most; they worry about not making enough money and nearly half (46 percent) fear the election outcome will make it even harder to get a loan.

In fact, while guidelines have tightened since 2008, applications for purchase mortgages were more likely to be denied in 2008 than in 2014, the most recent year for which Federal Reserve data is available. Denial rates for home purchase loan applications hit 18 percent in 2008, while denials in 2014 topped out at 13 percent. Denial rates for home refinance applications in 2008 were 38 percent and dropped to 31 percent in 2014.

Find out if you qualify for a home loan Getting into the home of your dreams may be easier than you think, and qualifying for a purchase or refinance loan today can be done from the comfort of your home. Visit www.loanDepot.com today. Moreover, for more information about loanDepot’s 2016 Presidential Election Survey, watch the video on YouTube.—

Emerging Trends, continued from page 11 Through the Chamberlain Care Student Success Model, a team of Chamberlain faculty, advisors and mentors identify any barriers to the student’s success and deliver individualized academic coaching and a customized support plan to encourage and support students in reaching their goals.

Fostering active learning To help students reach those goals, nurse educators turn to another emerging trend: active learning.

A stark contrast with passive learning, watching a teacher in a classroom or learning from a textbook, nurse educators are cultivating active student participation and curiosity through direct patient care and simulated and virtual learning experiences.

Active learning promotes clinical reasoning and affords students the opportunity to see the outcome of their care decisions in real time. Simulation labs, a form of active learning, engage students to explore various clinical processes but instead of live patients, high-tech mannequins are used. In addition to these on-campus labs, Chamberlain also offers virtual learning environments for students pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Both simulation and virtual learning are types of experiential learning opportunities. When direct patient care isn’t an option, experiential learning opportunities can be created by nurse educators so students can learn how to respond to disasters, treat infectious diseases or participate in other scenarios they may not have exposure to otherwise.

“Active learning experiences allow students to practice the skills they need in a safe environment,” Cowling says. “Students feel in control of their own learning because they receive real-time feedback from instructors immediately following the experience, which helps in building confidence while they actively build their clinical knowledge and skillset.”

Promoting diversity In addition to transforming how students learn, current trends in health care influence what students learn. Today’s health care environment is becoming more complex - with a rise in chronic illness, an aging population, ever-changing technology and increasingly diverse communities. The role of the nurse is also rapidly evolving as the focus has shifted to person-centered and culturally congruent care.

Students who received individualized attention and a foundation in providing person-centered, culturally congruent care enter the workforce with a deeper understanding of the needs of today’s diverse patient populations.

“We have enhanced our Bachelor of Science in

Nursing (BSN) curriculum to align more closely with the evolving health care needs of our communities and the practice settings where new nurses will serve.

In fact, Chamberlain is piloting two programs to provide care to Hispanic communities and to military students,” Cowling says. “By customizing the learning experience, nurse educators help create a shift in both the education and health care industry by teaching others cultural humility and how to care for an increasingly diverse patient population in a person-centric way.”

Cultural humility is a continual process of self-reflection, self-awareness and self-critique by health care providers in order to develop and maintain mutually respectful and useful partnerships with individuals, families and communities. Rather than focusing on the mastery of many cultures as in cultural competence, cultural humility suggests that understanding other cultures requires a lifelong commitment to a learning process. This encourages an intentional examination of how the nurse’s beliefs, values and assumptions influence the delivery of health care and development of relationships with patients and their families.

Leading the next generation The nursing students today are the future nursing leaders of tomorrow. Nurse educators who place a high value on individualized instruction and active learning and prepare students to think about caring for diverse populations in a patient-centered way are helping drive the perspective of the next generation of leaders.

Whether these nurses of tomorrow go on to earn their MSN or Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, impact health policy, become nurse educators themselves or serve their local communities, students who receive customized education are empowered to achieve their goals. Thanks to the shift in education to a more customized approach, these students received the experiences, training and caring support necessary to transform health care on a local, national and global scale. —BPT

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Executive Leadership Coaching: Consultants Help Develop Talent

By Bruno Raynal

hen we talk about talent we’re referring to a person’s natural ability.

Athletes make easy examples. A basketball player may have a huge vertical leap and a gymnast may have amazing balance. Talented business leaders are sometimes born as well and, just as with athletes, this innate talent can be developed and perfected with the help of a coach.

If you want to train talent as an executive leadership coaching consultant, it’s important to remember that success starts with you taking a genuine interest in the people you are coaching. Get a clear understanding of what makes them tick, and then help them identify professional goals that are aligned with their personal priorities and the needs of the organization.

Honing leadership qualities doesn’t happen overnight, so make sure to forge a long-term partnership with a defined plan of action.

Effective executive leadership coaching also requires the ability to develop and sharpen skills that optimize their natural talent, so you can help put them on the right path to achieving their personal, professional, and organizational

objectives.

Take advantage of coachable moments by emphasizing the positive results of a negative event.

Above all, a constant focus on talent promotes confidence and creates momentum. As you progress along the path with an executive leadership coaching client, encourage a personal inventory: • Track record: The ability to execute, the time it took for them to execute, and the final result.

• Broader vision: What is the range of viewpoints that they consider while making the decision?

Do they put equal stress on all of the dimensions?

• Communication skills: What is the impression that they create to motivate others? How well can they influence their peers?

• Passion: Do they want to learn and try out new things? How willing are they to continuously learn and add to their knowledge?

• Empathy: How fast can they build relationships? Are they active listeners?

• Change management: Can they adapt to large-scale organizational change? How will they react if they need to perform tasks that are not familiar to them?

• Ability to tackle new situations: How well can they handle ob-

stacles and challenges? Are they willing to accept challenges that are difficult to manage because their people disagree about the direction of the department?

Getting honest with leaders’ assessments of their natural abilities is critical. But to be able to train exceptional leaders, you also have to convince them that they possess the ability to be great in the first place. Why are they successful now and how can they get better?

As an executive leadership coach, it’s your job to not only develop a leader’s natural talent but, by extension, to elevate the success of the organization.

If you want to learn more about becoming a coach with one of the top executive leadership coaching firms in the country, visit www.

ThinkBlueThinking.com or call 619.550.8052. Bruno Raynal is the president and CEO of Blue Thinking, a corporation based in San Diego, California. Bruno works with top level senior management to enhance their awareness of modern business practices and patterns so they can make informed choices, take the right action, and achieve their vision and goals. Learn more about Blue Thinking by visiting www.

ThinkBlueThinking.com or calling 619.550.8052.—

Join us for a Professioanl Business Mixer

Spononsored By Georgia State African American Chamber of Commerce and Icons Bar and Grill at 104 North Washington Street in Albany, Georgia.

September 6, 2016 5-6 PM (EST)

For more information, call 229-431-3157.

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Five Gigs that Will Help You Pay for College

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et’s face it - college is expensive. Whether you’re still in school trying to pay for textbooks and housing, a professional facing your student loans or a parent saving for your child’s future tuition, the cost of an education can result in debt that looms for decades.

More people are finding that fulltime jobs are not even beginning to cover the costs. Today’s gig economy and sharing economy offers many different avenues to supplement your budget and ease the burden of education-related expenses, all while providing flexibility and self-determinant hours.

Drive for a ride-sharing service.

Do you have a car, auto insurance and some spare time?

Ride-sharing apps, like Uber and Lyft, offer an opportunity to make quick cash by driving riders in your local area, using your own vehicle. Drivers work as independent contractors and receive a payment based off of how many hours or miles are logged each week. “They make it extremely easy to make quick money if I need it,” says Aidan Monheim, a student at the University of Massachusetts-Boston who drives for Lyft in his spare time to earn money for utilities and other bills.

“It allows me to be flexible around my classes and earn money without working a set number of hours a week.”

Rent your room.

Another “side-gig” opportunity that is gaining popularity is the home-sharing industry. Apps like Airbnb and HomeAway connect would-be travelers with locals willing to rent out rooms, or their entire home. Simply list your place on the site, and screen candidates based on your preferences. By listing your residence during peak travel times and arranging to stay with friends or family, renters can earn supplemental income for their education, with very little effort.

Become a direct seller.

Direct selling provides a flexible opportunity for people to make additional income on their own terms, and within their own networks. Take Nakul Arora, for example, who became an Amway Independent Business Owner to help pay for business school.

Amidst earning his degree, working full time as an accountant, and studying for professional certifications, 25-year-old Nakul worked his direct selling business in the evenings. “I saved every penny I earned through my Amway business to help pay for my education,” says Nakul. By joining a successful company like Amway, a global leader in direct selling, you can share and sell high-quality products to your friends, co-workers and colleagues to earn additional income. The unique flexibility of direct selling offers an opportunity

for you to work as little or as often as you want, around traditional day jobs, classes, family, or other responsibilities.

Work for a home services company.

Often described as the services used by those with more time than money, apps like TaskRabbit, Handy, Thumbtack and HomeJoy offer opportunities to get paid for home cleaning and maintenance work. Seemingly simple tasks, such as cleaning a home, mowing a lawn or assembling a piece of furniture can run up to $50 an hour. And the best part? Like Uber, direct selling and other gig economy services, you work on your own terms and can make your own schedule around studying, work or other commitments.

Sell your old stuff.

Is your closet piling up with unwanted clothes and shoes?

Maybe you have spare furniture cluttering your storage space, or a drawer full of old electronics. Why not turn your clutter into cash?

Apps like ThredUp, PoshMark and LetGo offer opportunities to sell your stuff in an auction-like setting, and do all the work for you simply list your items, watch them get purchased and place them in a shipping bag that is provided by the company. Selling old items is an easy and painless way to make extra money for tuition, textbooks, or loans.—BPT

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Tips for Navigating the Sharing Economy

housands of people stayed in rooms and houses last night that belong to strangers.

More hopped into cars with people they’d never met and accepted a ride to a restaurant or to their home. A young woman rented a designer dress she saw listed online.

These are a few examples of the sharing economy - a system in which people rent homes, arrange rides and borrow personal items typically through online services that facilitate the transactions. Rather than doing business with hotel chains, taxis or department stores, consumers are engaging with strangers in a way that is atypical of traditional business interactions.

The sharing economy generated about $15 billion in revenue in 2013 and is expected to hit $335 billion by 2025, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Like many big changes, the emergence of the sharing economy has required consumers and companies to re-educate themselves and rethink their approach. While there are many safeguards in place, owners and renters tend to overlook the role insurance plays in this new economy.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Resources such as Insure U from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) can help you avoid unex-

pected surprises in the world of shared rides and rooms.

A few things to keep in mind: Welcome home The vast majority of accommodations booked on HomeAway, VRBO or Airbnb go off without a hitch. Still, there are stories involving families coming home to torn-up couches, smashed-in walls and homes littered with trash.

If you regularly rent out a room in your home, it’s important to know many homeowners policies won’t cover guests’ injuries or property damages.

Talk to your insurance agent and determine if you need additional liability or landlord coverage.

Likewise, if your next vacation involves renting a room or villa, make sure your homeowners or personal liability insurance covers any damages that could happen during your stay.

Don’t be taken for a ride If you have a car and don’t mind driving, contracting as an Uber or Lyft driver may be a way to make extra money in your spare time and meet some colorful characters.

Before you start, make sure everything is safe for you and your passengers. With this in mind, insurance is one of the most important factors to understand.

The most popular ride-share companies offer contingent collision and comprehensive coverage when a driver accepts a ride

request or has a passenger in the vehicle. However, drivers need to understand that while you can insure your vehicle for personal use or for commercial use, in some cases you cannot insure it for both.

More insurance companies are creating policies that cover drivers who use their vehicle for both commercial and personal use. Contact your insurance representative to find out if there are any gaps in your coverage to reduce your liability and ensure a safe experience.

Goods and services for hire The sharing economy doesn’t stop there. It’s also now possible to make a little extra money by renting out your power tools, golf clubs, camera equipment and much more - including your time and labor.

Before you rent, get a security deposit and take plenty of photos to document the item’s condition.

Talk with your insurance agent to figure out what kind of information you need for your homeowners insurance policy to cover whatever it is you’re renting out.

Just like the sharing economy is all about convenience, Insure U (www.insureuonline.org) offers free tips and tools to help you get smart about insurance coverage in all situations.—BPT

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Healthy Career Outlook for Healthcare Professionals with Law Skills Career opportunities in the health care industry are expected to continue growing more quickly than in virtually any other industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Not only is the health care industry expected to add more than 2 million new jobs by 2024, many existing roles will continue to evolve, creating additional opportunities for professionals currently working in what is a very broad field.

Health care law is one area seeing significant growth, thanks in part to the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It’s one of the fastest-growing disciplines for graduate and post-graduate degrees, according to Lawyer & Statesman. The changes spurred by the ACA are also inspiring many professionals to learn more about the law to enhance their career opportunities and boost their skill sets.

“Health care professionals routinely find their dayto-day tasks affected by legal issues like regulatory compliance, risk management, malpractice, ethics, and patient privacy,” says Scott Johnson, professor of law at Concord Law School, part of Kaplan University. “ Recent laws and regulations governing these issues and the delivery of health services generally make knowledge of health care law a real career asset these days. A background in law can help a wide range of professionals, from administrators to clinicians to technology entrepreneurs be more effective in their current roles and better positioned to seize emerging opportunities.”

Legal expertise can benefit health care professionals and their patients across many aspects of the industry, but it is particularly helpful in three key areas, Johnson notes: * Regulatory compliance - Compliance professionals help providers prevent, detect, and correct any actions, policies, or procedures that are counter to the many regulations governing the health care industry. They also help promote ethical conduct.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 propelled growth in this area and regulatory compliance has been one of the fastest-growing professions over the past 15 years.

Health care professionals in a wide range of positions including those who work with electronic health

records, Medicare or Medicaid requirements, or the various requirements from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could benefit from knowledge of legal issues related to regulatory compliance. * Ethics - A subspecialty of regulatory compliance, knowing legal issues related to ethics is particularly important for professionals working in facilities where research also takes place. Bioethical principles and standards cover areas such as human subject research, genetic privacy, patient rights, rehabilitation ethics and more. * Risk management - This discipline focuses on reducing errors to protect patients as well as health care employers. This includes provider and institutional liability, notification and apology programs, risk assessments, patient safety, and adverse event reporting.

The growth of health care law has encouraged schools to create specialized degree programs for professionals seeking added legal expertise, but not planning to become practicing attorneys. For example, Kaplan’s Concord Law School offers a health care law track within its Executive Juris Doctorate (EJD) program. Since most industry professionals are working full-time, and often outside of the typical 9-5 work day, going back to school can be challenging. However, as the first fully online law school since 1998, Concord provides a unique solution.

“One of the great benefits of the online EJD Health Law program is that it is offered through our law school,” Johnson says. “EJD students take the same classes that our law students take and they learn from the same law professors. Attending our law school provides EJD students with a thorough understanding of the law. They enjoy the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to analyze the law and explain its impact. Plus, they get to do all of it in a flexible, online program. EJD students can apply these skills by helping health care providers and professionals comply with the myriad of state and federal laws that govern health care.”

To learn more about Concord Law School and the health care law track, visit www.concordlawschool. edu.—BPT

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Innovation: A Fundamental Factor in Family-Owned Business Success It’s no secret that there are countless challenges facing today’s family-owned businesses. In fact, less than one-third of family businesses successfully migrate from first to second generation ownership.

Another 50 percent never survive the transition from second to third generation, according to Forbes.

While every organization has its own priorities and category-specific issues to manage, family businesses that fail to innovate run the risk of losing market share to competitors, losing key staff or simply operating inefficiently so that they cannot survive.

Innovation is a key differentiator between market leaders and their rivals, and can ultimately ensure longevity.

IDEAL Industries, Inc., a manufacturing company based 60 miles west of Chicago, is consistently growing and expanding under four generations of family ownership, and is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year.

How has this electrical product supplier and hand tool company managed to stay relevant and produce results for 100 years? Their success story can be chalked up to their ongoing devotion to innovation and looking beyond traditional business pressures of hitting quarterly results.

Their philosophy is simple: focus on the markets that exist today, while ensuring that they are poised to serve those of tomorrow.

“The beauty of being family-owned is that we have the freedom to make executive decisions with the long-term in mind,” said IDEAL Chairman and CEO Jim James. “We think ten years ahead - how will our family, board and business be different? What are the risks that lie ahead and how can we mitigate them now? How do we put our core business out of business? Because if we don’t, someone else will.”

While IDEAL may best be known for their wire 22 RuralLeaderMag.com |AUGUST 2016

connectors, their innovations also touch the sky, as nearly every commercial jet flying today has been constructed using IDEAL wire strippers. They’ve even reached the moon, as part of the critical equipment on NASA missions. Their Audacy advanced wireless lighting system is installed at major league ballparks, college campuses and airports.

Best of all, they touch the daily lives of skilled tradesmen around the globe, who reach for IDEAL, Western Forge and SK brand hand tools to get the job done right.

However, innovation is not only about designing a new product or service to sell, but also focusing on the development of new business processes and best practices in order to improve efficiency, find new customers, cut down on waste, increase profits and keep employee retention rates up.

“At the end of the day, it’s very important for organizations to take a step back and ask themselves what is truly blocking the innovation process,” said Vicki Slomka, senior vice president of global human services at IDEAL. “Companies that constantly challenge themselves and are relentlessly focused on innovation will survive in this ever-changing globally competitive environment.”

Thus, in order to prevent becoming another failing statistic, companies have no choice but to prioritize innovation. Family stewardship must ensure their professional management team has the strategic alignment, patience and resources available to foster an innovative workplace environment - one that produces products and services that continuously cater to today’s competitive marketplace and consumer.

Family-owned businesses must commit to a high reinvestment rate in order to support a robust innovative pipeline that will allow them to survive and thrive into the next generation.—BPT

Five Hot Trends in School Supplies School supplies have never been this stylish.

Sure, you should stock up on classic highlighters and yellow pencils, but why stop there? Why not reach for a binder with an elegant rose-foil design or a zipper pouch with a sassy slogan? Will these expressive touches make your kid study harder?

They can’t hurt, especially if it makes them even a teensy bit excited to hit the books and stay organized. Here is a roundup of some of the year’s hottest trends for school supplies.

Precious metals and metallic accents Who says the pocket calculator has to be a style buster?

The Maze Calculator is dressed up with glitter for an instant accessory. Look for fun accents, such as metallic pencils and pens. Better Binders are stimulating with holographic patterns. Even backpacks, lunch bags and zipper pouches refuse to be anything but fabulous, as seen in a line that comes in metallic silver by designer Cynthia Rowley (find her line of school and office products exclusively at Staples).

Tropical themes This year’s hot tropical look is popping up all over back-to-school essentials.

Toucans, pineapples and palm trees can be found on notebooks and backpacks, bringing some fun into the classroom. A collection of “beach umbrella” pencils in hues of orange, purple, blue and

yellow from Ticonderoga are a great accent to brighten up your student’s day.

Bohemian vibe Bold, intricate prints adorn Mead notebooks and Carolina Pad binders, evoking a romantic, free-spirited, hippie-chic fashion sense. Expressive sayings about traveling the world are found on Gartner Studios notebooks, taking students out of the classroom and on their own personal adventure.

Fun with LOL cats “Cat selfies” and feline-themed vintage movie posters play up the laughs on C.R. Gibson 1-subject and composition notebooks. But if cute and cuddly is what your child likes, there is plenty of that as well. Spiral notebooks from Carolina Pad feature cute, graphic prints of large-eyed pandas, foxes and hedgehogs.

Timeless Of course, classic never goes out of style, and you can find notebooks, pens, folders and more at the lowest prices thanks to the Less List for School at Staples. You can also save money on technology (calculators, USB drives, batteries and ear buds) and additional items like storage totes, tissue, hand sanitizer and more on the Less List for School.—BPT GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2016 23

L

ast month, we introduced our newest feature- Rural Leader Magazine's collection-the Scholar of Collegiate Distinction Honors. The aim of this distinct honor is to recognize deserving individuals who have graduated in one or more of the following academic levels: associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from an accredited institution in the United States.

The honorees could self-nominate or be nominated by an organization, individual, or group. He or she must reside in a small community with a population of 300-175,000. He or she much graduated within 2015-2015 calendar year from an

24 RuralLeaderMag.com |AUGUST 2016

accredited college/university within the United States; and he or she much have demonstrated academic excellence in a field of study.

In 2017, Rural Leader Magazine will publish an the First Inaugural Scholars of Collegiate Distinction Issue. Nominations will begin in the Spring 2017. For more information, visit RuralLeaderMag.com or write to info@ruralleadermagazine. com.

Without further ado, we present to you the 2016 Class of Rural Leader Magazine's Scholars of Collegiate Distinction Honorees.—

T WENTY SIXTEEN HONOREES Boyd's ultimate goals is to become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security​.—

Kwane Boyd

Age 23 Hometown Georgetown, GA Degree Earned: Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Columbus State University (GA) Graduation: December 2015 Currently: Boyd is a candidate for Master's Degree in Public Administration with concentrations in Government Administration and Urban Policy at Columbus State University. ​Future Plans: Boyd plans to complete his Master's degree and to pursue a doctoral degree in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore at Shady Grove.

He also plans to join the Presidential Management Fellowship and become a member of the Senior Executive Service.

Aspen C. Evans Tre`Cherie Crumbs Age 22 Hometown Columbus, GA

Degree Earned: Bachelor of Science in Psychiatry, degree, Minor in Spanish, Magna Cum Laude at University of Georgia Graduation: May 2016 Currently: Crumbs is enrolled at Morehouse School of Medicine.

Future Plans: Crumbs plans to become a licensed Doctor of Psychiatry.—

Age 22 Hometown Military

Degree Earned: Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Savannah State University (GA) Graduation: June 2016 Currently: Evans is a freelance writer and photographer. She is also the CEO and Founder of Aspen Cierra Photography. Evans has written articles for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Atlanta Magazine, and the college newspaper.

Future Plans: Evans plans to become a world renowned fashion photographer. View her work at AspenCierraPhotography.com.—

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Sharmaine J. Mathis

Angela D. Thomas

Age 21 Hometown Cuthbert, Georgia

Age 22 Hometown Cuthbert, Georgia

Degree Earned: Associate of Science Degree at Darton State University (GA); Certificate of Academic Excellence (2014); Dean's List (2014-2015)

Degree Earned: Associate of Science in Social Work at Andrew College (GA)

Graduation: June 2016

Currently: Thomas is looking forward to her junior year of college.

Currently: Mathis is a member of a new mentor program for young girls called Girls 2 Women. Their mission is to coach and to transform young teenage girls into educated, positive, independent, and respectful young women.

Graduation: May 2016

Future Plans: Thomas will continue her education at Albany State University (GA) in the Fall 2016. She plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in social work. Thomas also hope to study abroad. —

Future Plans: August 2016, Mathis will attend Albany State University, to pursue a bachelor's of science degree. She plans to one day attain a doctoral degree and to become a Family and Marriage Therapist, Life Coach, and a Motivational Speaker.—

Leaders become great, not because their power, but because of their ability to empower others.— John Maxwell 26 RuralLeaderMag.com |AUGUST 2016

August 2016 Fundraiser Mouth Watering Smoked Slab of Ribs $25/Slab To Place an Order, Call 229-431-3157 Orders must be made on or before August 15, 2016.

Orders must be Pre-Paid.

GAAACC.org 629 Lockett Station Road Albany, Georgia 31721

Five Easy Ways to Reduce Digital Eyestrain Technology can be beautiful thing. It has expanded our worlds and our minds, connecting people in a way they’ve never been before. But if you’re regularly using mobile devices, it’s possible you’re one of 70 percent of U.S. adults who suffer from digital eyestrain. And if you’re using technology before bed, you’re probably suffering from the sleep- and heath-altering effects of blue light.

Blue light, which helps us see digital screens clearly in the daytime, is emitted from things you use every day: cell phones, tablets, laptop and desktop computers, and even TVs and digital billboards. And consistent exposure can cause disruptions in your circadian rhythm and sleep patterns, especially if you’re exposed to blue light before bedtime. The poor sleep quality caused by these disruptions has been associated with a myriad of health issues, from diabetes to heart disease.

Our technology consumption isn’t expected to decline anytime soon, but we still need our eyes to function properly to experience and interact with the world. Below are some tips that can help you maintain your health while using modern technology: Make sure you have the right tools.

For those who wear glasses or any kind of vision correction solution, Carl Zeiss Vision created an entire portfolio of products to help users maintain optimal eye health while interacting with our digital

world. From Digital Lens, which helps to combat digital eyestrain and support screen viewing, to Duravision BlueProtect which is specifically designed to protect against blue and violet light waves, these solutions help users better and more comfortably view the world.

Put your phone down before bed.

Avoid looking at bright screens two to three hours before bed so your body and eyes can “power down,” and help you start the essential nightly restoration process that is sleep.

Hack your sleep.

When sleeping, try to make sure all digital devices are completely off. Sleeping in a completely dark room has been shown to improve recovery and restoration from the day’s activities, allowing you to feel more rested in the morning.

Get out in the sun.

Exposing yourself to lots of bright light during the day will acclimate your body to the cycle of being alert and present throughout the day, and improve your body’s ability to sleep at night.

Go for the 20-20-20 solution.

Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen for 20 seconds and focus on something that’s 20 feet away. This gives your eyes time to adjust and refocus, reducing fatigue.—BPT GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2016 27

Five Ways Americans Unite to Help One Another

It seems as though there’s a lot of disagreement in our country these days. Political parties not only argue with each other, but they also fight within their ranks. Turn on the news and bickering is everywhere.

Click on any Internet story and you’ll read through pages of angry comments.

Despite all the noise, however, Americans truly are more united than divided. And one of the issues that unites all kinds of Americans is supporting our veterans. In fact, it’s part of a long tradition that goes back to the founding fathers, and there are plenty of ways you can reach out and show your appreciation as well.

A tradition of honoring heroism. In 1782, George Washington issued orders to honor soldiers who showed exceptional distinction by awarding them the Badge of Military Merit. Now called the Purple Heart, it’s given to men and women in uniform who have been injured or killed in combat or captivity. As the oldest medal currently in use, over 1.7 million have received the honor.Ordinary people giving.

Millions of Americans have shown their support for veterans by donating their time and financial support to organizations such as the Purple Heart Foundation.

This organization supports veterans and their families with many nationwide programs. They rely on ordinary Americans to volunteer and provide financial assistance to continue these important services. Investing in veterans. After the unemployment rate for veterans peaked at over 15 percent in 2011, Americans responded. Major companies like 28 RuralLeaderMag.com |AUGUST 2016

Walmart, Amazon and Uber have all pledged to hire thousands of veterans. Voters put pressure on their representatives to enact The Returning Hero’s Tax Credit, which gives companies incentives to hire vets. As a result, the unemployment rate among veterans has been halved. Helping vets tell their story.

A highly effective way to help vets reconnect with people and get a hold of the confusing emotions they experience when coming home is to allow them to tell their story.

Many organizations, colleges and community groups have set up programs that teach veterans the skills they need to find their voice and tell their story.

Professionals volunteering their time. All wondering how they can help, thousands of professionals such as lawyers, accountants and career coaches have reached out to volunteer their time. Because free legal and financial advice is invaluable to help veterans navigate the world they return to, this kind of assistance is incredibly important. Inspired by the outpouring of support, many Americans wonder what they can do to help.

Veterans organizations like the Purple Heart Foundation provide emotional, physical, educational and financial support for veterans and their families. In addition, the Purple Heart Foundation gives people the opportunity to volunteer, donate their vehicles or household items, or make cash contributions as a way of thanking veterans for the sacrifice they made.

To learn more, visit purpleheartfoundation.org.— BPT

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Interested individuals must submit resume to Rural Leader Magazine via email.

Candidate must have a background Candidates will be notified in Journalism or creative writing promptly of application status.

WANTED Can work on tight deadGraphic Designers lines and on assignment; Internship Scope: 6 months to a year Candidate must have background Position is none paid. in graphic design and proficient Interested individuals must submit in a wide-range of design apa resume' and a writing sample to plications such as Adobe InDeRural Leader Magazine via email. sign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

Candidates will be notified Be willing to work on assignpromptly of application status. ment and on tight deadline Position is none paid or may barter for free advertising WANTED Interested individuals must Photographers submit resume to Rural Candidate must have background in photography Leader Magazine via email.

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Candidate must be outgoing, personable, and a go-getter Must be willing to research targeted and/or prospective clients to sell advertising; Position is paid on commission. (Rate based on Experience) Interested individuals must submit resume to Rural Leader Magazine via email.

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Remember: One of the most important KEYS to success is having the DISCIPLINE to do what YOU KNOW you SHOULD DO, even when you don't feel like doing it. —